The Duel at Silver Creek

The Duel at Silver Creek
Universal
September 5, 1952
Western
DVD
D+

Having the marshal narrate is a nice touch, but otherwise I wasn't interested.  Don Siegel directed sixteen years before Coogan's Bluff.

Dudley Do-Right

Dudley Do-Right
Universal
August 27, 1999
Comedy
DVD
C+

Goofy, amiable movie that never quite hits the heights of the cartoon, although bless it for trying.  Opens with an actual Fractured Fairytale cartoon featuring a cameo with the then seemingly eternal June Foray.  (She'd die at 99 in 2017.)  Hugh Wilson wrote and directed.

DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp

DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp
Disney
August 3, 1990
Animation, Fantasy
DVD
D+

Bigscreen release of the TV show (reviewed here https://reviewingsometvshowsidontown.blogspot.com/2018/09/ducktales-send-in-clones.html), marred by vague racism (white hero ducks, brown rat stereotypical Arabs) and definite sexism.  (What I thought might've been Scrooge's niece or grand-niece turns out to be the dumb, pink-wearing friend of Huey, Louie, and Dewey.)  Bob Hathcock directed.

Duck Season AKA Temporada de patos

Duck Season AKA Temporada de patos
Warner Independent Pictures
22 October 2004
Comedy
DVD
C-

Two teen friends hang out, playing video games and drinking a lot of Coke.  Not much else happens in the first quarter hour, but I've certainly watched more boring movies for this project.  Fernando Eimbcke directed and co-wrote.

The Drummer

The Drummer
Emperor Motion Pictures
11 October 2007
Crime Drama
DVD
C

For a story about gangland rivalries, this isn't bad, with a sense of humor and passion (as well as cute animals).  However, it does have the title character being threatened with having his hands chopped off for fooling around with the gang leader's girlfriend.  Kenneth Bi wrote and directed.

The Drowning Pool

The Drowning Pool
Warner Bros.
July 18, 1975
Mystery
DVD
D+

Sequel to 1966's Harper (which I've never seen) and based on the Ross Macdonald novel The Movie Target, I didn't care about the mystery or the characters, although the '70sness was mildly interesting, like the reference to the Bicentennial.  Stuart Rosenberg directed.

Drowning on Dry Land

Drowning on Dry Land
Unipix
October 1999 (direct to video)
Drama
DVD
C-

Since this is mostly a two-character movie (with others passing through), it matters that I didn't like the Hershey character, although at least she wasn't as horrible as Liz Taylor in The Driver's Seat.  (Naveen Andrews is as likable and gorgeous as he'd be in Bride & Prejudice five years later.)  Carl Colpaert directed.

The Driver's Seat AKA Identikit

The Driver's Seat AKA Identikit
AVCO Embassy
20 May 1974
Drama
DVD
D-

Shrill, poorly shot vehicle for Liz, directed by Giuseppe Patroni Griffi, who adapted the Muriel Spark novella.

Dreamgirls

Dreamgirls
DreamWorks and Paramount
December 25, 2006
Musical, Historical Drama
DVD
C+

Bill Condon wrote and directed this award-winning adaptation of the Broadway hit.  I feel like, despite the acclaim, there's a dazzling movie trapped in a not bad one.  I'm not really sure what the issue(s) I have are about it, but I think it's that the operatic and soap-operatic elements don't really jell with the more realistic, human moments.  Like the clash within the movie between "soul" and "glitz."  Note that while I could see dashes of James Brown and Little Richard in then-45-year-old Murphy's performance, it also reminded me some of the cocky twentysomething Eddie of the 1980s.

Dragonslayer

Dragonslayer
Paramount & Disney
June 26, 1981
Fantasy
DVD
D+

Slow-moving tale, directed and co-written by Matthew Robbins.

Dawn of the Dragon Racers

Dawn of the Dragon Racers
DreamWorks
November 1, 2014 (direct-to-DVD)
Fantasy, Comedy
DVD
C-

I couldn't really get into the TV series although I liked the films.  This, which was sort of a bridge between them, plays like a video game, with some not terribly intelligent comedy.  The look is nice of course and I appreciate that the original voice cast hung in there.  Elaine Bogan and John Sanford co-directed.  And, yes, my library shelves this under "Dragons."

Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan

Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan
Toei Company
6 March 1993
Anime, Sci-Fi
DVD
D+

Sorry, I thought "Dragon Ball" was one word, so this isn't exactly alphabetical.  And, yeah, I don't know much of the back story.  And I don't really care.  But, yeah, I've seen worse anime.  Shigeyasu Yamauchi directed.

Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story

Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story
Universal
May 7, 1993
Historical Drama, Action
DVD
C-

Autobiography of the action star, based on a couple books, including one by Lee's widow, and directed by Rob Cohen.

Dracula Untold

Dracula Untold
Universal
October 10, 2014
Horror, Historical Drama
DVD
D+

Well, there's a click-bait title.  Yes, based on Bram Stoker, as always.  Gary Shore directed.

Dracula (1931)

Dracula (1931)
Universal
February 14, 1931
Horror
DVD
C-

The movie that stereotyped Lugosi until his death and beyond (see Plan Nine from Outer Space if you somehow still haven't).  It's slow and "atmospheric," despite being short (75 minutes, which means I quit with an hour to go and no one had been bitten yet).  Directed by Tod Browning and of course based (via a stage play) on the Bram Stoker novel.

Dr. No

Dr. No
United Artists
10 October 1962
Action
DVD
C

I was surprised that I almost liked this first James Bond movie.  (Well, the first quarter hour of it anyway.)  Oddly enough, it's the very "stodginess" of it that caught my interest, along with the pop-art opening credit sequence.  Even Connery is almost genuinely charming and much less smug.  Still, I didn't care about the plot threads.  Terence Young directed.

Downhill Racer

Downhill Racer
Paramount
October 29, 1969
Sports Drama
DVD
D+

Redford and Hackman have some sort of past, no, not that kind, in the world of skiing.  This is based on Oakley Hall's novel The Downhill Racers and directed by Michael Ritchie.  And it's the fifth Gene H. movie I've rejected, although the earliest released.

Doubt

Doubt
Disney [!]
December 25, 2008 [!]
Historical Drama
DVD
C

Streep is a strict and somewhat sinister nun, while Hoffman is cast against type as a kind priest.  And, yes, Disney Christmas movies have changed since the 20th century.  John Patrick Shanley directed and wrote the screenplay based on his award-winning stage play.

Double Jeopardy

Double Jeopardy
Paramount
September 24, 1999
Crime Drama
DVD
D+

Predictable story of an upper-middle-class wife framed for her husband's murder, with lovely Washington State scenery.  Bruce Beresford directed.

The Doors

The Doors
TriStar
March 1, 1991
Historical Drama, Musical
DVD
C-

Like the student film that Morrison makes, this is a bit pretentious, although, yes, Kilmer makes a pretty Jim M.  Oliver Stone directed and co-wrote.

The fifth hundred movies on this blog

Five hundred movies into this project, and the success rate holds steady at 12%, that is getting a C+ or higher. 

Sadly, there is now an F- (the first on any of my blogs), and two F's instead of one, but F+s simply went from eight to ten.  The D-s grew from 32 to 40, the D's from 50 to 66, and the D+s from 82 to 103.  The C-s increased from 124 to 152 and the C's from 50 to 61.  The C+s, those movies just  good enough to finish, rose from 17 to 20, while B-s somehow jumped from 16 to 24.  However, there are still 13 B's and three B+s.

As for the decade distribution, there are still just four 1920s movies, but now 20 instead of 17 from the '30s.  The '40s grew from 17 to 21, the '50s from 30 to 34, and the '60s from 21 to 25.  The '70s are now at 31 instead of 23.  The '80s increased from 41 to 49, the '90s from 59 to 72.  The 2000s are still the leading decade, with 133 now rather than 105.  The 2010s remain runners-up, with 110 instead of 105.  And, yes, there's now a lone 2020s movie.

"Based on a book" is still a tag for over a quarter of the movies, now 131 of them.  And now there are 63 Warner Bros. movies.

Predictions?  I think the next hundred movies will finish off not only the letter D but the letter E.  As for the quality of the movies, it'll probably be much like it has been, a few gems or at least decent rocks mixed in with the mud and crap.

Doomsday

Doomsday
Universal
March 14, 2008
Sci-Fi, Action
DVD
F+

Bob Hoskins acting (in both senses) like he wandered in from another, much more interesting, less gory movie, bumps this up from an F.  Neil Marshall wrote and directed, six years after Dog Soldiers.

Doom (2005)

Doom (2005)
Universal
October 21, 2005
Sci-Fi, Action
DVD
D

Based on a video game (which may someday be a tag, but not yet), I did actually like a couple of the design elements of this, but definitely not my genre.  Andrzej Bartkowiak directed.

Don't Say a Word

Don't Say a Word
20th Century Fox
September 28, 2001
Crime Drama
DVD
D-

Alternately boring and offensive, but then it does star Michael Douglas.  Based on the Andrew Klavan novel and directed by Gary Fleder.

Don't Let Go

Don't Let Go
OTL Releasing
August 30, 2019
Crime Drama, Sci-Fi
DVD
D+

A policeman's dead niece tries to communicate with him through cell phones.  I might've gone as high as C- or even C, but the dead bodies were (understandably) gory.  Jacob Estes directed and co-wrote.

Donovan's Reef

Donovan's Reef
Paramount
June 12, 1963
Dramedy
DVD
C-

The main appeal for me was the South Pacific scenery and seeing who would turn up next, but I didn't care about the story, with its seemingly endless threads.  John Ford directed, and it does feel a bit Westernish at times.

Donnie Brasco

Donnie Brasco
TriStar
February 28, 1997
Crime Drama, Historical Drama
DVD
D+

Hoods in the disco era.  This is based on the real Joseph D. Pistone's book Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia and directed by Mike Newell.  And it's the sixth Johnny Depp movie (so far) on this project, of which I've accepted three.

Don McKay

Don McKay
Image Entertainment
April 24, 2009
Drama
DVD
D+

Apparently this turns much darker after I tuned out, but what I saw was a poor schnook of a janitor going to stay with his ex-girlfriend in a town where everyone is a little bit off.  (Which sounds like a comedy.)  Jake Goldberger wrote and directed.

The Don Is Dead

The Don Is Dead
Universal
November 14, 1973
Crime Drama
DVD
D+

Bumped up a notch for Abe Vigoda of course.  (Making it the 100th D+ for this blog, roughly one-fifth of the movies I've brought home, not a good sign.)  This is based on the Marvin H. Albert novel and directed by Richard Fleischer six years after Doctor Dolittle.

Dominick and Eugene

Dominick and Eugene
Orion Pictures
March 18, 1988
Drama
DVD
D+

I really don't want to watch a movie about a medical intern, his trashman twin, and their dog, no matter how good the acting is supposed to be.  Robert M. Young directed.

Domestic Disturbance

Domestic Disturbance
Paramount
November 2, 2001
Crime Drama
DVD
B-

I liked this more than I expected, especially with a title like that.  Since I haven't seen any of Vaughn's other dramas yet, I found it interesting that this plays off of the duality of his persona, the charm and the creepiness (which I noticed in DodgeBall as well).  Casting him as the nice-seeming psychopathic stepfather works, as does Travolta's average Joe persona for the ex.  (And of course Steve B. is very Buscemi.)  I did think the movie got a bit silly, especially in the last twenty minutes, but it certainly held my interest.  And I like that it's a PG-13 crime drama, more about the suspense than the violence.

Harold Becker directed, about five years before City Hall.

Dolittle

Dolittle
Universal
January 17, 2020
Fantasy
DVD
C

While I enjoyed this more than the '60s Rex Harrison version, especially the look of it, I still didn't care enough about the characters to continue.  Stephen Gaghan directed and co-wrote.  And, yes, my first movie from the 2020s!

A Dog's Purpose

A Dog's Purpose
Universal
January 27, 2017
Dramedy
DVD
C-

Canine reincarnation, based on the W. Bruce Cameron book and directed by Lasse Hallström about sixteen years after Chocolat.

Dog Soldiers

Dog Soldiers
Pathé
31 March 2002
Horror
DVD
D

There are dogs, "dogs," and soldiers, in Britain.  Neil Marshall wrote and directed.

DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story

DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story
20th Century Fox
June 18, 2004
Sports Comedy
DVD
D

Crude, homophobic, and unfunny except for sort of the pirate.  Rawson Marshall Thurber wrote and directed, a dozen years before Central Intelligence.

Doctor Doolittle [1967]

Doctor Doolittle [1967]
20th Century Fox
December 19, 1967
Musical
DVD
C-

This adaptation of the Hugh Lofting series for some reason starts out with a comical Irishman, as if we have to "meet" the doctor through him.  At least the animals are kind of cute and the scenery is nice.  Richard Fleischer directed.

Doc Hollywood

Doc Hollywood
Warner Bros.
August 2, 1991
Comedy
DVD
C-

Based on Neil B. Shulman's book What?  Dead...Again? and directed by Michael Caton-Jones, this feels like a sitcom with swearing in it, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I didn't feel drawn into the story or the characters.  Also, and I know this is no one's fault, but at 30 Fox still didn't look old enough to be a doctor or even in med school.  On the other hand, it's a trip to hear "Winchester" with a "hick" accent.

Django Unchained

Django Unchained
Columbia
December 25, 2012
Western
DVD
D

This is my first Quentin Tarantino movie, but I was less surprised by the violence than by the assumption that the viewers were morons who, one, needed things spelled out, and two, don't know what a German accent sounds like.  The music is of course the best thing about the movie.

The Divine Weapon AKA Singijeon

The Divine Weapon AKA Singijeon
CJ Entertainment
4 September 2008
Historical Drama, Action
DVD
C-

As with The Dirty Dozen, not my genre but pretty well done.  Yoo-jin Kim directed.

Disobedience

Disobedience
Bleecker Street
10 September 2017
Drama
DVD
D

An annoying woman goes to her father the rabbi's funeral.  This is based on the Naomi Alderman novel and directed by Sebastián Lelio.

The Dish

The Dish
Roadshow Films
19 October 2000
Historical Comedy
DVD
D+

The transmission of the moon landing, as seen through Australians' eyes.  Rob Sitch directed and co-wrote.

The Dirty Dozen

The Dirty Dozen
MGM
June 15, 1967
War Drama
DVD
C-

Although this is very much not my genre, I do have to say that the first quarter is well done, especially the acting and the clever way the (late) opening credits appear.  The movie is based on the E.M. Nathanson novel and directed by Robert Aldrich.

Dirty Dancing

Dirty Dancing
Vestron
August 21, 1987
Historical Drama, Romance, Musical
DVD
D+

Since I was 19 when this movie came out, I wasn't necessarily the target audience (both too young for the nostalgia and too old for a teen movie) but I was aware of it of course.  Watching it now, it seems a very '80s take on the early '60s, especially the very anachronistic hair.  I bumped it up from a D because there were moments (in the first quarter hour) where Grey got at the longing under her character's pretentiousness.  Emile Ardolino directed.

Dinner at Eight

Dinner at Eight
MGM
August 29, 1933
Dramedy
DVD
C+

George Cukor directed this pre-Code "classic" that I've been curious about for decades but didn't get around to seeing until today.  And, well, some of the comedy works, I'm less convinced by the drama, particularly the John-Barrymore-as-his-future-self plot thread.  You'll probably want to watch this for Harlow (and her wardrobe!), but I most enjoyed Billie Burke as the very Burkey airhead society matron.

Ironically May Robson, 83 by then, would eight years later in Playmates tell John Barrymore (as himself and then 59 but looking much older) that she saw him onstage as a little girl.

Dinner & Driving

Dinner & Driving
Studio Unknown
1997
Comedy
DVD
C+

A man has a wonderful girlfriend but can't get over his college girlfriend until he sleeps with her.  Oh, and there are a bunch of other couples for contrast.  Lawrence Trilling directed and co-wrote.

Dillinger (1945)

Dillinger (1945)
Monogram
April 6, 1945
Crime Drama
DVD
C-

Short (70 minutes, of which I watched 15) and therefore fast-moving but not exactly absorbing tale of the gangster.  Max Nosseck directed.

Die Hard

Die Hard
20th Century Fox
July 20, 1988
Drama
DVD
C-

Apparently this turns into an action movie at some point after I tuned out from the marital woes and travel complications.  This is based on the Robert Thorp novel Nothing Lasts Forever and directed by John McTiernan.

Die Another Day

Die Another Day
MGM
20 November 2002
Action
DVD
C-

I appreciate the lack of graphic violence and misogyny, and even the racism was kept to a minimum.  So not bad for James Bond.  Note that I tuned out before most of the name performers showed up.  Lee Tamahori directed this the year after the abysmal Along Came a Spider.

Di Di Hollywood

Di Di Hollywood
Maya Entertainment
15 October 2010
Drama
DVD
D+

While the story of aspiring actress Di Di is somewhat interesting, I got tired of watching all the sexual harassment.  Bigas Luna directed and co-wrote.