Cinema Cycle - The Century-America's Time, Episode 1

CINEMA CYCLE

(Cardio Workout And Reviewing Movies At The Same Time)

DATE REVIEWED: 03/31/2017

TITLE: The Century-America’s Time, Episode 1

FORMAT: VHS

TIME RIDDEN / FILM LENGTH: 45 minutes

DISTANCE RIDDEN WHILE VIEWING: 10.1 miles

TOTAL CINEMA MILES LOGGED: 6471.6 miles

SYNOPSIS: The evolution of American culture and society are chronicled from 1900 to 1915.

CONCEPT IN RELATION TO THE VIEWER: History and the things we don’t remember.  It is more than just monuments and dates.  Humbling stuff.

PROS AND CONS:  I have seen this whole series before. It is possibly one of the best and even handed view of American history in the 20th century that exists.  

Watching it through this second time, I was struck by the high production value in the form of script and score.  The imagery is striking as well.

This series weaves a tapestry of what was like to live in the times being referenced and how we stand on the shoulders of legions of people that came before us, through hardships we can scarcely imagine.

To read an overview of this project, check out this status posting.  

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 BeastMaster

CINEMA CYCLE

(Cardio Workout And Reviewing Movies At The Same Time)

DATE REVIEWED: 03/29/2017

TITLE: The Beastmaster

FORMAT: Laserdisc

TIME RIDDEN / FILM LENGTH: 2 hours 1 minutes

DISTANCE RIDDEN WHILE VIEWING: 26.2 miles

TOTAL CINEMA MILES LOGGED: 6471.6 miles

SYNOPSIS: An orphaned son with special powers sets out to avenge the death of his people.

CONCEPT IN RELATION TO THE VIEWER: Dungeons and Dragons before the onset of Computer Graphic Imagery (CGI).  There is a lot more here than you might expect.

PROS AND CONS:  I started out on this thinking it would be a bit of campy groan-fest but was surprised at the depth of it’s story and high production value.

If Quentin Tarantino made a Sword and Sorcery film, it would probably be similar to this (but with a bit more gore).

This isn’t a simple film, there are a lot of plot twists and it never really ends.  Just when you think you have seen the last frame, there are still 20 minutes left to go.  It is basic good movie making on a budget.

To read an overview of this project, check out this status posting.  

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.

The Six Questions.

The Six Questions

On my birthday, 03/08/2017 at the Point Arenas lighthouse, where I read all of the answers. 

For my surprise 60th birthday party, my wife had all the guests fill out a questionnaire.  These were sealed and given to me to read three days later on my birthday while traveling through Northern California.  

Here are some of the more choice responses.....

How and when did you first meet Bruce and what were your impressions of him?

101 years ago in Mexico.

The day I was born.

About 10 years ago.  First Impression, Sue traded up!

I hired him, 1st impression, competent….that's why I hired him.

Met him at a happy hour, First impression was that he had a lot of opinions.

Greek God.

What do you think that Bruce should put on his Bucket List for the next 5 years?

Deep intuitive trips into southern Mexico.

Trip around the moon on Space-X.

I could see you hiking in the wilderness for a week or two.

Enter a Bill Murray Look-A-Like contest.

Ride the Trans Siberian Railway

Learn a new language

Must get at least 20 dogs at one time.

Do you think he should attend his ex-wife’s murder traill?  Why?

Yes, it will make for a great story.

No, if she gets off she might come after him next!

No, life is too short!

Absolutely, everyone deserves a good laugh.

No, just because.

Nah, let it go.

Depends on who the judge is.

Nah, Ex is Ex.

How has Bruce enriched your life?

Took Me To Burning Man.

He has interesting insights on life.

Brought Sue into my life.

He provided booze for his party.

What, if anything, pisses you off about Bruce or a behavior trait you think he should work on?

Man Hugs

Over-Achiever

He should be younger and better looking.

Wear tighter pants.

His table manners, atrocious!

What final words of wisdom/advice do you want to give him for his future?

Don’t pee uphill in your socks.

Give up your Liberal Ways!

Sue is always right.

Allow wisdom to come, meet and converse with those you can learn something from and those that want you to learn something about themselves.  Be sure to look interested.  Have a good time.

Cinema Cycle - The Emperor Jones

CINEMA CYCLE

(Cardio Workout And Reviewing Movies At The Same Time)

DATE REVIEWED: 03/27/2017

TITLE: The Emperor Jones

FORMAT: Laserdisc

TIME RIDDEN / FILM LENGTH: 1 hour 15 minutes

DISTANCE RIDDEN WHILE VIEWING: 18 miles

TOTAL CINEMA MILES LOGGED: 6445.5 miles

SYNOPSIS: An enterprising black man in the 1930s hustles his way to power and wealth only to be tormented by all those he has wronged in the end.

CONCEPT IN RELATION TO THE VIEWER: A morality play that shows the pitfalls of vice and corruption.  Early serious black cinema with a message.

PROS AND CONS:  The film is dated and shows it, but as an historical document it is a treasure trove of performances and culture that have been lost or forgotten in the modern cinema.

Robson commands the screen in this film, having performed the play for years prior to making the film.  

By today’s standard the film is terribly politically incorrect, but not so much in its day.  This was apartheid America and it shows in every scene.  The film becomes long in the end with the extended dream sequences that come back to haunt the Emperor.  In the end a great film that shows the pitfalls of not doing things the right way.

To read an overview of this project, check out this status posting.  

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 - Naked City: The Night The Saints Lost Their Halos

CINEMA CYCLE

(Cardio Workout And Reviewing Movies At The Same Time)

DATE REVIEWED: 03/24/2017

TITLE: Naked City - The Night The Saints Lost Their Halos

FORMAT: DVD

TIME RIDDEN / FILM LENGTH: 54 minutes

DISTANCE RIDDEN WHILE VIEWING: 12.6 miles

TOTAL CINEMA MILES LOGGED: 6427.4 miles

SYNOPSIS: (from Wikipedia)

Guest stars: Jo Van Fleet as Dr. Anna Chaloupka, Martin Sheen as Phil Kasnick, George Voskovec as Jack Selken, Peter Fonda as Joey Selken, Eli Mintz as Watchman, Janet Fox as Female Patient, Charles Bolender as Mugasha. When the son of a close friend is involved with a robbery, a woman doctor tries to shield him from the law. Notable Locations: Coney Island, Steeplechase Park

CONCEPT IN RELATION TO THE VIEWER: The east coast point of view.  Media as seen through the eyes of the Broadway stage and the G-Men of the NYPD.  Back in the day, everything was ethnically / religiously based.

PROS AND CONS:  Not a great episode to be entertained by but a fascinating film to watch for it perspective of what culture and etiquette were like back in the day.

This entire series takes place in New York and the cultural diversity is the star here.  The mixing pot of European Emigrants is on full display as are the righteous and dogged determinations of the police officers that act as autonomous robots with a conscious.

The bonus Easter eggs in this series are the up and coming stars that appear early in their careers.  Here we get to see Peter Fonda, Martin Sheen and Jo Van Fleet long before they were household names.  

To read an overview of this project, check out this status posting.  

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 Deceivers

CINEMA CYCLE

(Cardio Workout And Reviewing Movies At The Same Time)

DATE REVIEWED: 03/22/2017

TITLE: The Deceivers

FORMAT: Laserdisc

TIME RIDDEN / FILM LENGTH: 1 hour 43 minutes

DISTANCE RIDDEN WHILE VIEWING: 24.2 miles

TOTAL CINEMA MILES LOGGED: 6415.1 miles

SYNOPSIS: A British officer in 1850’s India uncovers a society of assassins.

CONCEPT IN RELATION TO THE VIEWER: Historical to a certain degree.  Borders on the creepy in places.  

PROS AND CONS:  A young Pierce Brosnan is the centerpiece of this lavish period piece set in the time of the Raj.  The plot and storyline are based on true events according to the crawl at the start of the film.

There are some interesting twists and use of camera and acting here.  Enough to hold your interest for two hours.  This is one of those films that goes so far back in time that it is difficult to determine how historically accurate it is.  If this is accurate, the Jewel in the Crown was a very, very strange place.

To read an overview of this project, check out this status posting.  

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.