Debt to Cinema

Debt to Cinema 108: The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)

Some films are claimed to be so bad that they are scary, so with Halloween still in the air, and Ron Perlman in the cast, we decided to see what all the fuss is about. What we got is a legendary history of a troubled production, stars impersonating each other on film, awesome makeup, and a fairly interesting tale with just a few too many issues to overlook.

Debt to Cinema

Debt to Cinema 100: 100 Rifles

Contrary to common belief, the longer you do something doesn’t make it easier to do. Join us for our second triple digit episode where I chronicle just how tiring certain screenings can be despite having fun moments. Burt Reynolds, Jim Brown, Raquel Welch, and Jerry Goldsmith’s score go a long way here, but this one’s a #DimeADozen (or 10 of them depending on who you ask).

Dollar Reviews

Dollar Reviews 042: The Big Sick/Spider-man: Homecoming/War for the Planet of the Apes

Welcome to our first triple feature, starting with the true romcom of Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon’s lives #IdBuyThatForADollar, followed by Sony’s third go at Spidey (24:23), and finally Matt Reeves’s conclusion to the Apes trilogy (48:23) #IBTFAD. Also, Steve shares thoughts on The Exception (1:20:07), Kirikou and the Sorceress (1:24:19), and a double feature of The Philadelphia Story/Palm Beach Story (1:27:06). Meanwhile, I caught This is John (1:32:04) and Videodrome in 35mm (1:36:37) – then my Goodwill Corner featuring a surprise announcement (1:41:08).

Dollar Reviews

Dollar Reviews 041: Baby Driver

Having done the UK proud and Canadian manga fans one better, what has Edgar Wright brought to musically inclined getaway drivers of the South? #SilverDollar – I also played plenty of rhythm games in our month long absence headlined by DJ Hero (27:46), went to the cinema for Captain Underpants (31:47) and Transformers: The Last Knight (34:30) in 3D, and stayed home for Adam Sandler’s The Cobbler (43:17). Meanwhile, Steve caught Cars 3 also in three dimensions (52:03), Collateral Beauty (55:10), and The Girl on the Train (59:37), before I close with my many Goodwill finds featuring an ad for the org (1:03:42).

Debt to Cinema

Debt to Cinema 093: Bullitt

Cool as ice Steve McQueen shines alongside a Ford Mustang fastback 2+2 in this reminder of how suave New Hollywood was before absolute power corrupted absolutely. If Edgar Wright got your engine revving this week like us, you owe it to yourself to see one of Baby Driver’s inspirations #SilverDollar

Debt to Cinema

Debt to Cinema 085: Howard the Duck

Always a fan of seeing the worser things in cinema, I’d been meaning to get around to this culturally aborted Lucasfilm/Marvel bomb. As a fan of Waterworld, or better yet, Bio-Dome, how bad could it be? The premise and talent makeup sound quacktastic, but this bizarre, 1980s failure, despite bright moments, is far from being a campy romp.

Dollar Reviews

Dollar Reviews 037: The Handmaiden

We sadly missed Chan Wook-Park’s latest offering in theaters, but thanks to the modern state of cinema, were gifted a free screening as part of our Amazon Prime memberships. There’s a lot to say about this darkly comedic, erotic thriller, especially as counter programming to our last episode, but what it comes down to is #IdBuyThatForADollar. Steve also rewatched the Disney Channel Original Movie, Phantom of the Megaplex (32:10) while I give my early impressions of Ready at Dawn’s Deformers (36:52) and Garfunkel and Oates: Trying to Be Special (43:21).

Debt to Cinema

Debt to Cinema 082: Jesus Christ Superstar

We return to the land of Jewison just in time for the second coming of our Easter themed spectacular. Come for Steve’s song of an opening line, true to this dialogue absent 70s rock opera, stay for our discussion of my trip to Israel, why Superman is a better version of the Jesus story, and this film’s connection to Along Came Polly.

Debt to Cinema

Debt to Cinema 081: The Fly (1958)

Winding up our remake series is the original Fox adaptation of last week’s Cronenberg masterpiece. Despite the Cinemascope, nice color, and general likeness between the two flicks, we found ourselves mostly unkind to this first outing starring Vincent Price. There’s a lot to be said about the power a remake can have and even more about the nature of sequels here, but this version is sadly, proof re-imaginings can be a good thing.

Dollar Reviews

Dollar Reviews 034: Power Rangers

Mighty morphing tentpole franchises invade your ears this week as we open with Saban’s Power Rangers before I jump ship to Kong: Skull Island (45:55). I also give my first impressions of Rocket League’s Dropshot mode (53:35) and brag about my latest thrift store finds (57:47); while Steve caught Jeff Nichols’s Loving (59:03) and the forgotten Paul Walker thriller, Into the Blue (1:04:00).