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The Great Unwatched: Scanners

We continue our series, 'The Great Unwatched' with 'Scanners', though this is a bit of a cheat.  I've seen parts of it over the years, but never the whole thing.  I've owned it for probably 4 years or so.

So it seems there are a bunch of folks out there that not only can read your thoughts, but can control your body and do some truly nasty things to you.  Let's call them 'Scanners'.  There's one particular Scanner named Darryl Revok, played by the always bad ass Michael Ironside.  Man, that's a great last name.  Ironside.  

So Revok is recruiting other Scanners to fight the evil ConSec corporation.  Well, that's his story at least.  ConSec recruits a Mr. Cameron Vale.  Vale doesn't understand what's happening to him as his abilities develop.  He begins working with Dr. Paul Ruth, played by Patrick McGoohan of 'The Prisoner' fame.  Ruth trains Vale to harness his abilities in order to stop Revok.  

Conceptually, I love Scanners. It has some truly inspired moments, and features another memorable scene from a Cronenberg film, as we discussed last time with 'The Brood'.  I'm sure you're all familiar with the 80's nerdy guy's head exploding.  Just YouTube 'Scanners', and it'll come right up (in fact, the whole film is available to watch) But unlike 'The Brood', 'Scanners' does not feel as accomplished.  The most distracting part being the performance of our hero, Stephen Lack.  He pulls you out of the film each time he's on screen.  It's as if he's reading his lines off a teleprompter, after being dared to suck the emotion out of every line.  But one thing it does excel at, is cheesy 80's sci-fi/horror goodness.  It seeps out of the film.  Everything you may love about that genre during that time, over the top acting, cheesy special effects and gore, and oh those fashions!

Overall the film is a success.  Not as good as 'The Brood', but Cronenberg delivers again, even with a troubled shoot.  It seems they were indeed writing the movie as the filmed due to Canadian film tax regulations at the time.  It's an engaging, sci-fi thriller with a nice twist at the end that it does a fine job of masking.  Definitely worth a rental.

Grade: B-

Next: The John Huston noir classic, 'The Asphalt Jungle'.

The Great Unwatched: The Brood

The Great Unwatched:  A series of film reviews that focus on Scalzo's extensive library of films he owns, but has never watched.  It's kind of sad really.

Ahhh David Cronenberg.  Nobody delivers the psychological and bodily horror like Cronenberg.  I think it's safe to say one of the more terrifying movie monsters are children.  Be they possessed, psychotic, zombies, or just all around creepy.  Art Hindle stars as Frank Carveth, one of the more unlucky fathers in the history of cinema.  He's separated from his mentally unbalanced wife, Naula, played by Samantha Eggar, and attempting to gain custody of their daughter, Candice.  Naula is being treated by Dr. Hal Raglan, played quite earnestly by Oliver Reed.  Dr. Raglan's treatment is considered a sham.  He calls it 'psycoplasmics', where the mentally ill let go of their feelings through physical changes to their bodies.  This treatment has a unique effect of Naula, and leads to the death of those that stand in the way of her keeping her family intact.  

Our assailants appear to be children, but who are they and where do they come from?  I'm not going to get any further into detail as not to spoil anything.  And even if you've done the math already, you're not going to anticipate the climax.  Granted you may already be well familiar with it.  The film is over 30 years old, and the ending is one of the more famous scenes in the history of the horror genre.

Oliver Reed's performance is the stand out as the bullish, ego maniacal doctor, that eventually realizes the terror he has wrought. Art Hindle does a fine job as our beleaguered father, and Samanatha Eggar is one of the more creepy moms I can recall.  Cronenberg paces the film perfectly.  Consistently, increasing the dread and foreboding as the film speeds to its disturbing end.

What's just as interesting as the film itself, is how auto-biographical it is.  Not that Cronenberg had any killer kids running around his life at the time (but if anyone would…), he was going through a custody battle with his estranged spouse.  And leave it to him to find the most twisted way of bringing those feelings to the screen.  I'm sure the ex was able to petition for more alimony if she is at all the basis for Naula Carveth.  

As part of Cronenberg's oeuvre, I'd rank this near the top.  This is years before he crossed over to more dramatic thrillers, ala History Of Violence & Eastern Promises.  I've been meaning to catch up this for years, and only owned it for over a year.  

Grade: B

Next up: The Cronenberg train keeps rolling on with 'Scanners'.  Yes, I know…

TFR MS Ep. 2: Hansel & Gretel - Witch Hunters

And we're back! It's the latest episode of our ground breaking series, The First Run Morning Show!  This week Scalzo discussed this weekend's #1 film at the box office, 'Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters'. More wake and recording action with your second favorite host!

Damn, that guy's handsome.

TFR MS Ep. 1: Gangster Squad

The first episode of a new First Run series, 'TFR Mornin' Show' is live with Scalzo's review of 'Gangster Squad'.  So hit play and enjoy Scalzo in all his just woken up glory...

Fringe: Season 5, Episode 11 - 'The Boy Must Live'

We're coming to the end of one of the more entertaining and smart science fiction shows ever broadcast.  The great thing about this season, though it is abbreviated, is that Fox was kind enough to let the series end on its own terms.  I'm sure that has just as much to do with its loyal following, but still in a time when other networks that rhyme with 'NBC' jerk around one of their best, and understandably cult, shows, it's nice to see a show end the right way.

So now we have 3 episodes to go, including this one.  Walter has been dealing with an inner conflict for much of the season.  He has been scared of becoming the man he used to be.  A man consumed with discovery, no matter the cost.  Beginning with the previous episode, Walter has a moment with Michael, the alleged savior child, that unlocks his compassion and emotion.  It's been an interesting journey for Walter, as he fights the uncaring Observer's as he's dealing with his own inevitable march to a life ruled only by reason and science.  Michael halts this process for Walter, and it's vital he does.

Each season has belonged to a particular character.  Season 1 & 2 is Olivia Dunham's, Season 3 belongs to Peter Bishop.  I'd have to assign 4 to the team, but 5 is all Walter Bishop.  And that has never been more prevalent than in 'The Boy Must Live'. 

Fringe has always done a great job balancing the sci-fi, action with emotion.  Well, it has since Season 2 when it shifted from a weekly procedural to its more expansive story line.  Some were turned off by this switch, but it has enabled the show to grow and show truly some of the most daring sci-fi stories on television.

As promised, we dive head long into 'Who & Why' this week.  The last episode revealed who the mysterious 'Donald' is, and this week we find out why.  But that's not all, the Observers themselves are explained, and we even get a glimpse at their own time.  Saving the world is always going to come with a price, and this week the cost becomes a little bit clearer.  'The Boy Must Live' is heavy on emotion and exposition, but exceedingly rewarding for it.  Pushing the story forward to its double episode finale next week.  But don't worry, there's plenty suspense at the end.  Not so much action, but suspense.  Who doesn't love when our heroes are running from a closing in dragnet with a mad dash to a train, as the noose closes tighter, and tighter…

I'm anxious to see where we end up next week, but truly saddened that the curtain is about to drop.

Grade: A-

Scalzo's Ranked Bond Films

We haven't posted anything in the Outtakes page in over a year!  So let's get back to it with my master list of Ranked Bond Films.

From Worst to Best:

23. A View to a Kill
22. Die Another Day
21. The Man with the Golden Gun
20. The World is Not Enough
19. Diamonds Are Forever
18. Moonraker
17. Octopussy
16. Live and Let Die
15. Tomorrow Never Dies
14. Quantum of Solace
13. Licence to Kill
12. You Only Live Twice
11. Dr. No
10. For Your Eyes Only
9.  GoldenEye
8.  The Living Daylights
7.  Casino Royale
6.  Thunderball
5.  The Spy Who Loved Me
4.  On Her Majesty's Secret Service
3.  Skyfall
2.  Goldfinger
1.  From Russia With Love 

Agree, disagree?  Absolutely hate the list?  Let me know so I can tell you how wrong you are, or drown you in appreciation for agreeing with me!