Cinema Cycle - Meet The Beavers

CINEMA CYCLE

(Cardio Workout And Reviewing Movies At The Same Time)

DATE VIEWED: 07/29/2015

TITLE: Meet The Beavers

FORMAT: Streaming (Google Play)

TIME RIDDEN / FILM LENGTH: 1 hour 11 minutes

DISTANCE RIDDEN WHILE VIEWING: 17 miles

TOTAL CINEMA MILES LOGGED: 2233.9 miles

SYNOPSIS: First time attendees at the Burning Man Festival document their journey at a theme camp run by lesbians.  

CONCEPT IN RELATION TO THE VIEWER: Finding yourself is much easier when you strip away society’s stigmas and are accepting of those around you.

PROS AND CONS: A little background here.  This is one of the streaming videos that I cued up on my random media viewing generator.  I added streaming media to Cinema Cycle early on because there are a lot of great films out there that will never make it onto cable or into movie theaters.  From time to time I browse iTunes and Google Play to see if anything new peaks my interest and add it to my spreadsheet.  That is where I ran across ‘Meet The Beavers’.

A little more background.  I am a “Burner”.  While I don’t use the moniker much, I have been to the event 5 times so I guess I am qualified to use the term.  There are a lot of films about Burning Man out there.  It is a very cinematic event.  However, as this film points out, filming Burning Man does not really explain what it is.  It isn’t a thing, it is state of mind and place in the universe.  So, with that in mind, this was a very good film.

This film focus more on the transitory nature of the event and how it affects those that attend.  To be sure there is a lot of promiscuity and nudity in this film as there is at Burning Man, but that eventually fades into the background as you start to hear the stories of the burners.  

To read an overview of this project, check out the initial post for this series.

Clicking on the title will take you to the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) entry for this film. 

This film was viewed while exercising on my recumbent cycle.  A summary of my time spent working out on my journey through movie-land can be found on Strava.com.

Cinema Cycle - The Resurrected

CINEMA CYCLE

(Cardio Workout And Reviewing Movies At The Same Time)

DATE VIEWED: 07/27/2015

TITLE: The Resurrected

FORMAT: LaserDisc

TIME RIDDEN / FILM LENGTH: 1 hour 46 minutes

DISTANCE RIDDEN WHILE VIEWING: 24.3 miles

TOTAL CINEMA MILES LOGGED: 2216.9 miles

SYNOPSIS: A private investigator looks in the bizarre behavior of his client’s husband, only to discover dark secrets about eternal life and cannibalism.

CONCEPT IN RELATION TO THE VIEWER: Don’t do stupid things, like going into underground dungeons with only one flashlight.  

PROS AND CONS: As horror movies go, this is probably a passable attempt at the genre.  While the film showed some level of professionalism, in that they were trying to make a good film, the overall quality of the work falls flat, somewhat akin to a daytime soap opera.  

I was never totally clear about what the plot really was, even with the evil creatures monologue in the final death scene.  It was something about cannibalism and immortality, and the dead coming back to life and consuming the people that stole their souls, yadda, yadda, yadda.

The one thing that can be counted on in films such as this, is that they are total fantasy.  Not in the surreal / fairy / sci-fi way, but in the ‘there is no way rational human being would act this way in real life’ way.  

To read an overview of this project, check out the initial post for this series.

This film is a part of my LaserDisc Collection.

Clicking on the title will take you to the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) entry for this film. 

This film was viewed while exercising on my recumbent cycle.  A summary of my time spent working out on my journey through movie-land can be found on Strava.com.

Cinema Cycle - The Avengers '63 - Volume 9

CINEMA CYCLE

(Cardio Workout And Reviewing Movies At The Same Time)

DATE VIEWED: 07/24/2015

TITLE: The Avengers ‘63 - Volume 9

FORMAT: VHS

TIME RIDDEN / FILM LENGTH: 1 hour 42 minutes

DISTANCE RIDDEN WHILE VIEWING: 23 miles

TOTAL CINEMA MILES LOGGED: 2192.6 miles

SYNOPSIS: (from Wikipedia)

• The Golden Eggs:  A burglar steals two gold plated eggs from a laboratory not knowing that they contain a deadly virus.

• School for Traitors:   During a spate of suicides at a university, a burglar seeks a note to Venus. Steed uncovers a sinister plot to blackmail students into espionage activities.

CONCEPT IN RELATION TO THE VIEWER: The underlying theme of British drama is that everyone has an ulterior motive and nothing is what it initially seems.  Complex dialog and complex camera work abound.

PROS AND CONS: I have several seasons of this series that I found in a thrift store several years ago.  All of the episode so far have been somewhat similar in tone and camerawork.  This is still the ‘early’ Avengers before it was widely distributed in the United States.  This series is in black and white and Diana Rigg has yet to replace Honor Blackman as Catherine Gale.  The usual theme of these early works is espionage and intrigue.  When the series matured, it became more sci-fi and fantasy oriented.  

Watching these episodes, it is always tongue and cheek regarding exactly who Gale and Steed are.  Apparently they are not lovers.  They appear to be government agents but that is never made clear either.  One thing that is clear is that Gale appears to be to Steed what Kato was to the Green Hornet.  The sidekick that kicks ass when you least expected.  

It is interesting to note that in these two episodes, Julie Stevens is featured prominently.  In fact she is the female lead in School for Traitors, since Catherine Gale makes no appearance in that episode.  

To read an overview of this project, check out the initial post for this series.

This film is a part of my LaserDisc Collection.

Clicking on the title will take you to the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) entry for this film. 

This film was viewed while exercising on my recumbent cycle.  A summary of my time spent working out on my journey through movie-land can be found on Strava.com.

Cinema Cycle - Deep Cover

CINEMA CYCLE

(Cardio Workout And Reviewing Movies At The Same Time)

DATE VIEWED: 07/22/2015

TITLE: Deep Cover

FORMAT: Laserdisc

TIME RIDDEN / FILM LENGTH: 1 hour 48 minutes

DISTANCE RIDDEN WHILE VIEWING: 23.4 miles

TOTAL CINEMA MILES LOGGED: 2169.6 miles

SYNOPSIS: A young police officer goes undercover for the federal government to try and brings down a large narcotics trafficker.

CONCEPT IN RELATION TO THE VIEWER: Concepts of right / wrong / loyalty and the truth are all explored here.  How much damage are you willing to do in order to combat the greater evil?

PROS AND CONS: Surprisingly, a good film.  Well acted and written with good camera work and a good soundtrack.  Laurence Fishburne is a bit moody in the work, but Jeff Goldblum is always fun to watch.  

The film explores the larger issue of how the 1% (those in power) control the masses, specifically the selling of drugs to underprivileged African Americans and the politics of the ‘War on Drugs’.  

As I watched this film with its smooth urban soundtrack, I saw similarities to ‘Blade Runner’, where the primary protagonist is thrust into a world that he wants no part of and which also holds forbidden desires and larger issues than he could have imagined.  

To read an overview of this project, check out the initial post for this series.

This film is a part of my LaserDisc Collection.

Clicking on the title will take you to the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) entry for this film. 

This film was viewed while exercising on my recumbent cycle.  A summary of my time spent working out on my journey through movie-land can be found on Strava.com.

Competency Lost

Wife wakes up with no food intake prior to medical testing. - Normal

Wife gets half way to doctor and realizes she forgot paperwork,  turns around to go back to house while cursing - Typical

Wife gets home and realizes that paperwork was in back seat of car all along, more cursing - Humorous,

Wife gets to Hospital listed on paperwork 20 minutes late for appointment and finds hospital has moved, address not updated on referral paperwork, drives to new hospital cursing and crying. - Priceless

Wife arrives at hospital, but receptionist has no record for scheduled appintment.  Wife almost goes ballistic.  Ultra Priceless

Hospital discovers error, refers to next building over, checked into receptionist hour an a half late, behind 2 other patients.  -  Uber Priceless

If you think you are having a bad day, be glad you are not my wife.

Cinema Cycle - The Big Trees

CINEMA CYCLE

(Cardio Workout And Reviewing Movies At The Same Time)

DATE VIEWED: 07/17/2015

TITLE: The Big Trees

FORMAT: DVD

TIME RIDDEN / FILM LENGTH: 1 hour 33 minutes

DISTANCE RIDDEN WHILE VIEWING: 20.5 miles

TOTAL CINEMA MILES LOGGED: 2146.2 miles

SYNOPSIS: An unscrupulous logger plots to steal giant redwoods that a religious order has sworn to protect.

CONCEPT IN RELATION TO THE VIEWER: True love conquers all and makes the evil righteous in the end.  But there are a lot of plot twists and turns before the final big ending.

PROS AND CONS: I wish this film had been better quality.  The film itself is very good, however the color and detail are below par in this pressing.  The colors were so muted it almost appears that this movie has been colorized from black & white.  

Out side of the appearance, a very well written and acted film, although a bit hokey in places.  I have see a theme developing in films starring Kirk Douglas from the 1950s.  Kirk evidently liked roles in which his character was rather complex and the plots not easy to unravel until the end.  A similar film in this genre would be the previously reviewed “Ace In The Hole”.

To read an overview of this project, check out the initial post for this series.

Clicking on the title will take you to the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) entry for this film. 

This film was viewed while exercising on my recumbent cycle.  A summary of my time spent working out on my journey through movie-land can be found on Strava.com.

Cinema Cycle - Pointer Sisters / So Excited

CINEMA CYCLE

(Cardio Workout And Reviewing Movies At The Same Time)

DATE VIEWED: 07/15/2015

TITLE: The Pointer Sisters / So Excited

FORMAT: LaserDisc (8” format)

TIME RIDDEN / FILM LENGTH: 29 minutes 52 seconds

DISTANCE RIDDEN WHILE VIEWING: 8.3 miles

TOTAL CINEMA MILES LOGGED: 2125.7 miles

SYNOPSIS:

Filmed Music Videos include:

1. I'm So Excited
2. Jump
3. Dare Me
4. Freedom
5. Baby Come And Get It
6. Back In My Arms
7. Twist My Arm

CONCEPT IN RELATION TO THE VIEWER: African American Women Empowerment.  Between Disco and Rap there was music such as this.  

PROS AND CONS: An entertaining little time capsule.  Acts like this gave Ariana Grande and Miley Cyrus their start.  I can see Beyonce watching these videos as a child and dreaming of being them someday.

The group and their songs sing of joyful empowerment and being assertive.  Gone are the songs of waiting for love and here are the songs about women going out and finding it on their terms.  

To read an overview of this project, check out the initial post for this series.

This film is a part of my LaserDisc Collection.

Clicking on the title will take you to the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) entry for this film. 

This film was viewed while exercising on my recumbent cycle.  A summary of my time spent working out on my journey through movie-land can be found on Strava.com.

Cinema Cycle - Princess From The Moon

CINEMA CYCLE

(Cardio Workout And Reviewing Movies At The Same Time)

DATE VIEWED: 07/13/2015

TITLE: Princess From The Moon

FORMAT: Streaming (Hulu+)

TIME RIDDEN / FILM LENGTH: 2 hours 39 minutes

DISTANCE RIDDEN WHILE VIEWING: 32.3 miles

TOTAL CINEMA MILES LOGGED: 2117.4 miles

SYNOPSIS: An alien baby crash lands in feudal japan, is raised to young adulthood, is sought after by three princes and then returns home to the moon.

CONCEPT IN RELATION TO THE VIEWER: Not really sure.  The film does not really have an arc where there is a conclusion or revelation.  The film seems to dwell more on the Japanese psyche and the concepts of right and wrong and the devotion to duty.

PROS AND CONS: First, the bad.  This is not a great film in the western sense.  The plot and acting are difficult to follow because the film is steeped in Japanese tradition, mannerism, and language.  Therefore this fairy-tale set to celluloid may have some western audiences shaking their head.  The flip side is that it is a fascinating look into Japanese culture.

The Good?  A gorgeous movie to watch.  The entire film is like walking through a museum of Japanese antiquities.  Many of the robes and royal dresses in this film are way over the top regarding style and color.  It appears that the average costume weighed over 80lbs. The “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” ending was a bit on the disappointing side.  

To read an overview of this project, check out the initial post for this series.

Clicking on the title will take you to the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) entry for this film. 

This film was viewed while exercising on my recumbent cycle.  A summary of my time spent working out on my journey through movie-land can be found on Strava.com.