WHAT THE PEEPER SAW

WHAT THE PEEPER SAW (1972)

Featuring: Brit Ekland; Mark Lester; Hardy Kruger

Director: James Kelly

Still on the subject of horror movies there is this seventies British flick starring Brit Ekland and Mark Lester.

Elise (Brit Ekland) who is newly wedded to widower Paul (Hardy Kruger) comes home one day to find her new stepson, Marcus (Mark Lester) standing in the door. She hasn't met him before as he is supposed to be still away at boarding school. But from the get go it is clear they are not going to get along. Then something happens that turns the relationship even more sour and before long Elise starts to fear that the child might mean her dangerously serious harm.

As far as horror movies go, this one is very tame; almost no blood and guts. It is actually more of a psychological thriller. But for me the biggest let down was the casting of Mark Lester in the role of what is supposed to be an evil character. With his natural angelic looks and gentle disposition, he simply does not fit. The basic concept of the movie is not bad but the final execution thereof is, to say the least, unconvincing.

I'll rate it at 3 out of 5 stars.

Mark Lester and Brit Ekland

  

THE GREEN MILE

THE GREEN MILE (1999)

Featuring: Tom Hanks; Michael Clarke Duncan; David Morse

Director: Frank Darabont

A while back I started looking at some of the movies made, based on the works of Stephen King. This is the last one - for a while anyway.

It tells the story of Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks) who is in charge of a prison cell block housing death row inmates. He is also the one that oversees all executions and to make sure they are carried out properly. To him this has basically always been a job just like any other. That is until John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan) enters the scene. He has been convicted of the murder of two little girls. But it doesn't take Paul and the rest of his small staff very long to realize that not only may John be innocent, there is also something very special about this giant of a man: he seems to be able to perform miracles...

As always Tom Hanks delivers a solid and flawless performance. But it is Michael Clarke Duncan that steals the show with a powerhouse performance that won him a couple of awards and got him nominated for several more. This film is generally regarded as one of the best big screen adaptations of one of Stephan King's books. Well worth watching even if you have seen it before. It's also a must for any serious DVD collection.

I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

Tom Hanks, Michael Clarke Duncan and David Morse walking the "green mile"...

 On set with director Frank Darabont, writer Stephen King and starring actor Tom Hanks...

JASPER JONES

JASPER JONES (2017)

Featuring: Levi Miller; Angourie Rice; Aaron McGrath

Director: Rachel Perkins

Based on the popular novel by Craig Silvey, this coming of age movie is being labeled as "Australia's Stand By Me" which in turn was based on the short story "The Body" by Stephen King.

Fourteen year old Charlie Bucktin (Levi Miller) is a bit nerdish and struggles with all the usual issues of growing up. He also has a crush on the free spirited Eliza (Angourie Rice) and contemplates on how to approach her. But then one night his whole world gets turned upside down when the local outcast, Jasper Jones (Aaron L McGrath) calls upon him for help clearing the former from a murder which he says he did not commit. And to complicate matters even further, the murder victim turns out to be Eliza's older sister.

In every genre there is a standard. For coming of age it is Stand By Me (1986). Unfortunately this film doesn't make the cut. And even though it isn't bad overall it simply is not on par to justify the comparison. The only real highlight is the performance of Toni Collette as the mom which is, as usual, outstanding.

I rate it at 3 out of 5 stars.

  Levi Miller as Charlie and Angourie Rice as Eliza

 

FIRESTARTER 2

FIRESTARTER 2: REKINDLED (2002)

Featuring: Malcolm McDowell, Marguerite Moreau; Danny Nucci

Director: Robert Iscove

Even though there is a "2" in the title, this isn't a sequel. As a matter of fact it was produced as a four part mini series for TV. It is merely based on the concept and characters from Stephen King's book and the original 1984 movie.

Events take place (supposedly) sixteen years after Charlie destroyed the previous secret government facility. Since then she (portrayed in this film by Marguerite Moreau) also changed identity and is now working as a researcher at the same university that conducted the erstwhile experiments on her parents. But what she doesn't know, is that the same person who was responsible for those experiments is still alive and in the meantime went and rebuild the whole thing in a different location. And worst of all that he is looking for her...

If you watch this as a totally separate movie, not at all related to the novel or the original film, you'll most probably find that it is not bad after all. There is a lot of action, much of which is ending in big fiery explosions and burning bodies. And the menacing presence of Malcolm McDowell's character is just creepy enough to make your skin crawl.

So my advice if you want to watch this movie is to do so without thinking of Stephen King or Drew Barrymore. However, I didn't have any prior warning and did compare. Therefor I can only rate it at 2 out of 5 stars.

Danny Nucci and Marguerite Moreau

  

FIRESTARTER

FIRESTARTER (1984)

Featuring: Drew Barrymore; David Keith; Heather Locklear

Director: Mark L Lester

Last year I started looking at some of the films that were based on the novels and short-stories of Stephen King. This is yet another one.

In an effort to make some extra cash, two students volunteer for what seemed to be an innocent medical experiment. But when they later get married and have a baby it soon becomes clear that the experiment was anything but innocent after all. Because as the child grow older she begins to exhibit a strange quality: the ability to make things catch fire by just looking at it. However, when the secret government agency who conducted the experiment in the first place gets wind of it, they start hunting the family down.

This was Drew Barrymore's third outing on the big screen and, although not quite as polished as we grew accustomed to later in her career, she was not half bad. After all she was only eight at the time the movie was shot. Unfortunately, back in the day, reception of the movie was lackluster and it never became a box office hit. Today, of course, it is a cult classic and a must have for any serious DVD collection.

All things considered, I rate it at 3 out of 5 stars.

Trailer:

 Drew Barrymore, David Keith and Heather Locklear 

MELODY

MELODY (1971)

Featuring: Mark Lester; Jack Wild; Tracy Hyde

Director: Waris Hussein

The memory of that "first love" is something we all hold dear and just gets more precious with every passing year. A while back in 2014 I looked at a movie on this blog that expresses this very sentiment: the British film Melody. For a full review, check out my post dated Thursday, 4 December 2014. Unfortunately it was a bit 'hidden' away among the other '5 star' movies I also reviewed in the same post.

However, when it comes to the issue of celebrating puppy love, this film is of such significance that I simply has had to give it its own dedicated post. That being said, what needed to be said about this movie, I cannot say any better here than what was already said in the previous post. So, without any further ado, here is the trailer:

And below is a picture of the stars from this movie, Tracy Hyde, Jack Wild and Mark Lester

 

 

LOVE, SIMON

LOVE, SIMON (2018)

Featuring: Nick Robinson; Josh Duhamel; Jennifer Garner

Director: Greg Berlanti

By all accounts this is a ground breaking movie. It is the first time that a big Hollywood studio like Twentieth Century Fox tackled the until now taboo subject of teenage homosexuality. And boy, did they hit the nail on the head!

Simon Spier (Nick Robinson) is a 'normal' seventeen year old who has to deal with all the usual stuff of growing up and coming of age. Only thing is, he is gay and nobody knows it. Heck, nobody even suspects it. And has every attention of keeping it that way. Until one fateful day when the class clown accidentally discovers his secret and decides to 'out' him...

Based on the book "Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli, this is a powerful yet sensitive account of the anguish and inhumane agony that faces every gay person at some point or the other in their life. Some, like Simon, get through it rather unscathed - others are not so lucky. And even though this film was generally very well received by audiences and critics alike, don't expect to see much of it - or any at all - at this year's Oscars. The Hollywood establishment and other elite is still reeling after what happened with Call Me By Your Name at last year's Academy Awards.

Be that as it may, I award this gem of a film with my very rare 5 out of 5 stars!

Simon with his friends before they knew...