Harry's Gauntlet

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Former stuntman and director Hall Needham was hot off the success of Smokey and the Bandit and Hooper so he was interested in making a movie about a cross country car race that he and other fellow stunt men use to run. He was still having a hard time selling this thing until buddy Burt Reynolds stepped in and ended up bringing an all star cast with him and made one of the last great road movies. Along with Burt came (Oh man, most of this cast is no longer with us) the eternal beauty of the late, great Farrah Fawcet, Dom Deluise, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, and an awesome turn by Jack Elam. Also starring and still with us, Roger Moore, Terry Bradshaw, M-m-m-Mel Tillis, Adrienne Barbeau, Jamie Farr, Peter Fonda, and many more. Also making his first American appearance is Jackie Chan. Always a funny movie to kick back to and be sure to watch the end credits.

This is not a bad action movie about a plane being hijacked by terrorists and turned into a carrier of toxic gas to deliver to the East coast. A special designed plane that can link up to the hijacked airliner is deployed with a special forces team to retake the plane. A still somewhat skinny Steven Seagal leads the team and is assisted by intelligence operative Kurt Russell to identify the terrorists among the civilians on board. Can they take back the plane? Can Seagal skip the drive-thru on the way to the airport?

On December 13 Sly gives an extended cut of last year's best action movie. Hopefully this will tide me over until August when Expendables 2 comes out.

Sons of Anarchy is the home stretch and it is getting good. I am not sure how Clay comes out of this alive. American Horror Story has been giving us some insight of what is going on the past 2 Halloween episodes. The show has been green lit for next season so I am onboard. Jessica Lange is so great in this show, she should win every tv supporting actress award next year. AMC's Walking Dead continues and Hell on Wheels debuted and I will stay on for now. I see alot of Josey Wales in this story and I will always give a Western a chance.

Still suffering baseball hangover so we will get into the off season next week.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Eastwood is back! As Dirty Harry...

Movie Poster Wednesday

New Release Tuesday

By far Pixar's weakest movies but the toys for both movies have made over a billion dollars so there is quite a demand from little boys. And there happens to be one of those in my house so it will have a place here. I actually liked this one better as it gave a wink to the Bond franchise and made Mater an American spy. By far my boys' favorite movie this year.

Sly's most unappreciated movie. The guy known for his body and action movies more than his acting, writing, and directing changed gears and put on 40 pounds to star with an ensemble cast as a small town sheriff of a bunch of New York cops that "own" the town. Stallone turns out a terrific effort here as the guy that lays low but looks to be the hero in this cop caper. Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Harvey Keitel, and Peter Berg lead a great cast. Stallone did this film for scale pay which was roughly $500 a day. Quite a turn around for guy who was making upwards of $15 million a pic then.

This is the Captain America I grew up with. The great Reb Brown stars as the Captain in these two TV movies from the late 70's when the craze of TV's Wonder Women, Spiderman, and The Hulk were on the air. Not the best movies but cool for memorabilia sakes.

Still watching Sons of Anarchy, The Walking Dead, and American Horror Story. AMC has the new western series Hell on Wheels starting this Sunday so that is another show I will check out. I am still bitter about HBO cutting Deadwood.

Congratulations to the American League Champion Texas Rangers! You came one strike away from winning it all. Twice. Games six will go down as one of the best ever and I do not think I have ever been on such an emotional roller coaster ride, thanks. There are 28 others teams that would gladly exchange places with you so hang your heads high. Go get em' next year. 107 days until pitchers and catchers. So long C.J.