Posts by Phantomstranger

Gorch and I must be watching the same channels because I also just watched

"Posse From Hell" (1961)
-Audie Murphy

Plot:
Banner Cole is professional gunfighter who is deputized by the dyeing town marshal,he forms a small posse to go after 4 death cell escapees who killed the Marshall , robbed the bank, and kidnapped a woman.

Phantom's Review: Solid , well made western adventure. While the plot is pretty standard, the action is terrific, the actors all do a great job and it leads to an exciting conclusion. One of Audie Murphy's best westerns. Plenty of recognizable character actors appear in this film (Royal Dano, John Saxon, Lee Van Cleef, Vic Morrow, Rudolfo Acosta) This is a great way to spend a lazy afternoon.

I loved this show when it was on back in the 80's.I was sorry it didn't last longer. I remember reading an interview with Garner a few years after the show had ended and he talked about how, if the show had made it to a second season, he was going to bring back Jack Kelley as brother Bart and they were going to split the series between them like the original show had been. That's why Kelley appears in the shows finale. Too bad it didn't make it.

"The Wild Wild West": The Night Of The Steel Assassin.
-Robert Conrad, Ross Martin, John Dehner
Plot: A Civil War soldier, long thought dead, returns years later as a human cyborg (half man, half machine) and takes vengeance on those he feels wronged him, including President Grant.

Phantoms Review: I'm a huge fan of both westerns and science fiction/fantasy, so to me "The Wild Wild West" was the perfect blend of these different genre's. This episode, from the shows first season, is one of it's most outrageous and entertaining. The great character actor John Dehner plays"Iron Man" Torres out for blood, and our heroes Jim West and Artemus Gordon must stop him.Full of great fight scenes, humor and action. A Terrific episode from one of tv's classic shows.

"Men In Black III" (2012)
-Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Josh Brolin

Plot:
Even though agents J and K have been protecting the Earth from alien scum for many years, J still does not know much about his gruff partner. However, J soon gets an unexpected chance to find out what makes K tick when an alien criminal called Boris the Animal escapes, goes back to 1969, and kills K. With the fate of the planet at stake, J goes back in time and teams up with K's younger self to put things right.

Phantom's Review: Fun, entertaing sequel. Better than Part 2, but number one is still the best. The best part of the film is watching Josh Brolin do an amazing job as the young Agent K. You could really believe he would eventually turn into Tommy Lee Jones. I really enjoyed this film.

"Revolt At Fort Laramie" (1957)
-John Dehmer
Plot: IMDB
It's just prior to the Civil War and Fort Laramie's problem is the Sioux Indians. When it is announced that war has been declared the fort becomes divided between northerners and southerners. The fort Commander and the southerners resign and head south. But they have to go through Sioux territory and are soon attacked. A messenger gets back to the fort to relate their hopeless condition and the new northern commanded must decide what to do.

Phantom's Review: Decent, little "B" western. The film has a couple of good action scenes and the acting is all right. It's not a great movie by any standards but it is entertaining. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon.

Even though it only ran one season, "Brisco"is one of my all time favorite shows. A combination of western adventure, science fiction and a little bit of old Time movie serials. A true joy to watch.

A new cable t.v. network named Cozi has been running episodes of Hopalong Cassidy (as well as The Lone Ranger, Roy Rodgers and The Virginian).I hadn't seen these shows in years and it's amazing how well they hold up. Hoppy was a great show and it's easy to see why he became such a cultural phenomenon.

"Gammera The Invincible" (1966)

Plot:
After the atomic bombs carried by a shot-down Soviet bomber explode in the Arctic, a 200 foot tall, fire breathing, flying turtle monster (Damn, what were they smoking back then) awakens from it's hibernation and goes on a destructive rampage.

Phantom's Review: Japanese cheese at it's finest. Cool monster, bad dubbing, lots of destruction. And like the original "Godzilla' before it, this film has been "Americanized" with footage showing soldiers, scientists and talk show hosts dealing with the monster. These scenes are hysterical. A fun way to spend an afternoon.

"House Of Dark Shadows" (1971)
-Jonathan Frid

Plot :IMDB
Recently unleashed from his coffin by local drunk, Willie Loomis, the vampire Barnabas Collins goes on a killing spree, while at the same time charming his present day family members. In the process he meets local girl Maggie Evans and notices that she looks exactly like his deceased fiance Josette. Barnabas assumes that she is the reincarnation of Josette, and plans to make him his unholy bride for eternity.

Phantom's Review: One of my favorite vampire films. Good story (adapted from the soap opera) plenty of Hammer film style gore and atmosphere. And some fine acting from the stars. Highly entertaining.

A night of perfect western action:

"Fistful Of Dollars"
"For A Few Dollars More"
"The Good, The Bad and The Ugly"
-Clint Eastwood (well. duh)

Sergio Leones classic trilogy about a mysterious "Man With No Name" and the adventures he gets in to.

Phantom"s Review: Well there's really nothing that I can say, that hasn't already been said about these films. There great. There classics. There the best of the "Spaghetti Western" genre. 'nuff said.

Happy Halloween everyone!
Stay safe, have fun..and save me a Milky Way bar

"Curse Of the Undead"(1959)
-Michael Pate, Eric Fleming

Plot: IMDB
Young women in a small Western town are dying one by one of an unknown malady involving massive blood loss. The Carter family's ranch is being terrorized by ruthless land baron Buffer. And a mysterious black-clad gunfighter with an aversion to sunlight has just arrived in town.

Phantom's Review: I love this film. I watch it every Halloween. While most definitely a "B" movie, this is actually a very good "B" movie. It's able to combine elements from both supernatural horror and western into one story and make it good. Filled with familiar character actors that are easily recognizable to fans, some nice creepy atmosphere and a great spooky music score. This is a fun Halloween treat for those of us who are fans of both Horror and Westerns.

Probably going to awful, but it has a good cast. Might be worth it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvFsoS8iF6c

"Snow White And The Huntsman" (2012)

Plot: IMDb

In a twist to the fairy tale, the Huntsman ordered to take Snow White into the woods to be killed winds up becoming her protector and mentor in a quest to vanquish the Evil Queen.

Phantom's Review: First the good things, Charlize Theron is excellent as the evil queen. The movie is beautifully filmed, it has a kind of "Lord Of The Rings"style going for it. Some good special FX and fine action scenes.
The Bad things: Sadly, the worst thing about the movie is Snow White herself. Kristen Stewarts vacant, dead behind the eyes stare gave her a look of somebody who is perpetually stoned. Her acting abilities are non existent and she has the emotional range of a paper bag. I have never seen her before in a movie and if this is the best she can do, then I truly don't understand her popularity. This is a film that should have been great but instead is only OK.

Just got back from the "Frankenstein/ Bride Of Frankenstein" double feature. What a truly awesome way to see these classics. A good crowd of fans and excellent copies of both films. This is a great way to celebrate Halloween.
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http://blastr.com/2012/10/losts-carlton-cuse-bringi.php

"House Of Dracula" (1945)
-John Carradine, Lon Chaney jr

Plot: IMDB
Dracula arrives at Dr. Edelman's office asking for a cure to his vampirism. However, this is a ruse by Dracula to get near Dr. Edelman's beautiful female assistant and turn her into a vampire. Meanwhile, a sincere Lawrence Talbot, AKA the Wolfman, arrives seeking a cure for his lycanthropy. When Dr. Edelman's first attempt fails, Talbot tries to commit suicide by jumping off a cliff, but instead finds a network of underground caves where Frankensteins Monster is in stasis. Chaos ensues as the three monsters fight for dominance of each other.

Phantom's Review: The last of the "serious" Universal horror films. Not quite as good as "House Of Frankenstein" but still highly entertaining. John Carradine makes for a very classy Count Dracula, Chaney gives his usual fine performance as The Wolf Man and Glen Strange is an awesome looking Frankenstein Monster, although he spends most of the movie strapped to a lab table. Like most of the Universal films, this one has great atmosphere, fine music, sets and costumes. A minor classic, definitely worth watching.

August 16th, 1956 the world lost horror great Bela Lugosi.
To honor this star today's movie is (what else)

"Dracula" (1931)

Universal's classic about the vampire king going to England for a bite (sorry). One of the best.
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"Silverado" (1985)
-Kevin Kline, Scott Glen

Plot: IMDB

A misfit bunch of friends come together to right the injustices which exist in a small town.

Phantom's Review: One of my all time favorite westerns. They take practically every cliche in the book, mix it up and create a wonderful light hearted western adventure. Wonderful cast, fun story and great action. I love this film.

"Hatfields And McCoys" (2012)
-Kevin Costner, Bill Paxton

Plot: IMDB
'Devil' Anse Hatfield and Randall McCoy. Close friends and comrades until near the end of the Civil War, they return to their neighboring homes - Hatfield in West Virginia, McCoy just across the Tug River border in Kentucky - to increasing tensions, misunderstandings and resentments that soon explode into all-out warfare between the families. As hostilities grow, friends, neighbors and outside forces join the fight, bringing the two states to the brink of another Civil War.

Phantom's Review: From what I have read on the net, the true life descendants of the Hatfields,McCoys, and "Bad" Frank Phillips have all claimed that this epic History Channel Mini-series is not nearly as historically accurate as the History Channel says it is, but as an entertainment I thought it was an excellent show. Terrific acting from the entire cast, interesting and well written story,and plenty of action. It may not be totally accurate but it was definitely worth watching.
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