Thunderbirds

Thunderbirds

Universal

20 July 2004

Action

DVD
D+

I was never a fan of the '60s puppet show, but at least it was more visually interesting.  Jonathan Frakes directed.

McHale's Navy

McHale's Navy

Universal

April 18, 1997

Comedy
DVD
D+

Who was asking for this one?  I mean, at least Beverly Hillbillies was wildly popular in its day.  Also, it's weird to have Penthouse jokes in a "family film."  Bryan Spicer directed.

The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle

The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle

Universal

June 30, 2000

Comedy, Animation

DVD
C

I was rooting for this to at least hit the C+ level, like Dudley Do-Right, but even twenty minutes in, it just hadn't clicked, although there were touches I like and the cast is certainly interesting.  I think the fact that Natasha (Russo) did almost nothing but pose didn't help.  Des McAnuff directed.

This is on a "Four Movie Marathon" pack of "Family Comedies," all of them based on TV shows, although Josie & the Pussycats (which I'm skipping over since I own it) was a comic book first.

Four Jacks

Four Jacks

Studio Unknown

7 August 2001

Action

DVD
D+

I would've enjoyed this Aussie underground thriller more if it was about the restaurant business.  Matthew George wrote and directed.

The Four Feathers (1939)

The Four Feathers (1939)

United Artists

20 April 1939

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

Not my kind of story, but early color is used well, especially on the costumes.  Based on A. E. W. Mason's novel and directed by Zoltan Korda.

The Founder

The Founder

The Weinstein Company

January 20, 2017

Historical Drama

DVD
B-

Keaton as the anti-hero who convinced the world he founded McDonald's, although he sometimes foundered, Offerman and Lynch as the brothers he swindled and enriched.  John Lee Hancock directed.

45 Years

45 Years

Film4

28 August 2015

Drama

DVD
C-

A long-married couple's anniversary party is spoiled by the defrosting of his old girlfriend in the Swiss Alps, which sounds like a dark comedy but isn't.  This is based on David Constantine's short story "In Another Country" and directed by Andrew Haigh

The Forgotten

The Forgotten

Columbia

September 24, 2004

Mystery, Sci-Fi

DVD
B-

This is a very strange film, in the sense that I didn't even know what genre it was for a long time, early on thinking that the Moore character was being gaslighted by her husband and her psychologist.  She is the anchor of the movie, even carrying us through the increasingly implausible plot, although there are some good supporting performances, Woodard's in particular.  Joseph Ruben directed.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Universal

April 18, 2008

Romcom

DVD
C+

I saw and liked this at the time, but I do have to say that rewatching it a dozen years later, no one is living up to their potential here (except maybe Russell Brand), star/writer Segel in particular.  Still, it was fun spotting everyone, the Hawaiian scenery is of course lovely, and there are some scattered good lines.  Nicholas Stoller directed.

Forever Young

Forever Young

Warner Bros.

December 16, 1992

Historical Drama, Romance

DVD
D+

Gibson can fly a plane but not have a normal conversation with his girlfriend.  Steve Miner directed about three years before Big Bully.

The Forest of the Lost Souls AKA A Floresta das Almas Perdidas

The Forest of the Lost Souls AKA A Floresta das Almas Perdidas

Anexo 82

26 February 2017

Drama

DVD
D+

Arty story of a girl who goes into the woods to drown herself in the lake, with no dialogue until about fourteen minutes in.  José Pedro Lopes wrote and directed.

Force Majeure

Force Majeure

TriArt Film

15 August 2014

Dramedy

DVD
C-

Slow-moving story of a family ski trip, except for the avalanche of course.  Ruben Ostlund wrote and directed.

Forbidden Planet

Forbidden Planet

MGM

March 23, 1956

Sci-Fi

DVD
C-

Leslie Nielsen meets Robbie the Robot on a planet that looks like a Yes album cover.  And, yes, this is based on The Tempest.  Fred M. Wilcox directed.

For Your Eyes Only

For Your Eyes Only

United Artists

June 24, 1981

Action

DVD
C-

Well, this has one of the best Bond title songs, by Sheena Easton (although the rejected Blondie song is good, too).  John Glen directed.

For Richer or Poorer

For Richer or Poorer

Universal

December 12, 1997

Comedy
DVD
D

Unfunny story of an unappealing couple, but the costumes and sets aren't bad.  Brian Spicer directed.

Footloose (1984)

Footloose

Paramount

February 17, 1984

Drama, Musical

DVD
C-

I saw this at the time and maybe once or twice since then.  As the title song played over the cute "foot" credits today, I sort of remembered the lyrics.  But once it got into the story of the two "rebels," I remembered not particularly caring about Ren, and actively disliking Ariel.  (The supporting cast is better of course.)  Anyway, there's not enough nostalgia to carry me through more than a quarter hour.  Herbert Ross directed.

Follow Me, Boys!

Follow Me, Boys!

Disney

December 1, 1966

Historical Drama

DVD
C+

Long, uneven, but somewhat entertaining tale of a dedicated scoutmaster, with the un-Disney topics of alcoholism and infertility handled in the Disney manner.  Kurt Russell, in his first Mouse House movie, gives the best performance.  Note that part of the muddle of the movie is the way it handles a "feminist" speech.  This is based on MacKinlay Kantor's book God and My Country and directed by Norman Tokar, eleven years before Candleshoe.

The Flying Scotsman

The Flying Scotsman

Verve Pictures

29 June 2007

Sports Drama

DVD
C-

The title character is a bicyclist.  I of course liked the Scottish scenery.  Douglas Mackinnon directed.

Flying Leathernecks

Flying Leathernecks

RKO

August 28, 1951

War Drama

DVD
D+

I liked the glimpses of the men's loved ones back home (including parents of a Native American), but otherwise this is a standard John Wayne World War II movie.  Nicholas Ray directed.

The Flying Deuces

The Flying Deuces

RKO

November 3, 1939

Comedy
DVD
C-

A. Edward Sutherland directed this comedy set (at least the first part) in Paris, France, and I have to say, I got a greater appreciation of Bob Denver and Alan Hale, Jr., who'd do this same shtick in the '60s but sometimes make me laugh with it in the '70s.  (Even as a little kid, I was not a L & H fan, preferring the Marx Brothers, among others.)

Fly Away Home

Fly Away Home

Columbia

September 13, 1996

Children's, Drama

DVD
B-

Unlike Flipper, and some of Ballard's other movies, this finds the right balance of humans and animals.  Corny at times, with some supporting characters barely fleshed out, it does ultimately work, of course helped along by some lovely cinematography.  This is somewhat based on Bill Lishman's autobiography, Father Goose: One Man, a Gaggle of Geese, and Their Real Life Incredible Journey South.

Flower

Flower

The Orchard

March 16, 2018

Dramedy

DVD
C

One of those movies where I don't really like the characters but I'm sort of entertained, although I quit after the first quarter hour.  Max Winkler (Henry's son) directed and co-wrote, eight years after Ceremony.

The Florida Project

The Florida Project

A24

October 6, 2017

Drama

DVD
D

I didn't like any of the characters in this, especially the bratty kids, but the vintage motels were kind of cool.  Sean Baker directed and co-wrote.

Florence Foster Jenkins

Florence Foster Jenkins

BBC Films

May 6, 2016

Historical Drama 

DVD
C+

I saw this in the theater at the time, but today it wasn't as funny or moving as I remembered (I probably would've given it a B- then), although still entertaining enough to finish.  I think part of the problem is that director Stephen Frears never quite finds the right tone, or blend of tones.

Flipper (1963)

Flipper

MGM

August 14, 1963

Drama

DVD
C

The humans are less interesting than animals, but I can kind of see how this launched so many spin-offs.  James B. Clark directed.

Flight of the Phoenix

Flight of the Phoenix

20th Century Fox

December 17, 2004

Action

DVD
D+

Good soundtrack, but I disliked the characters so much that I was rooting for the sandstorm.  And, no, I haven't seen the 1965 version.  John Moore directed, three years after Behind Enemy Lines.

Flatliners (2017)

Flatliners

Sony 

September 29, 2017

Sci-Fi, Horror

DVD
B-

I liked this movie much more than I expected, since the premise is not of a sort that usually appeals to me.  But I thought the performances were good and I was pleased that it's more psychological horror than gory horror.  There were some threads that hung loosely (for instance, why is Ray too saintly to resist flatlining, and what is his backstory?), but overall it worked for me.  And, no, I haven't seen the 1990 version.  Niels Arden Oplev directed.

Flashdance

Flashdance

Paramount

April 15, 1983

Drama, Musical

DVD
C-

I of course remember this movie coming out (when I was 15), and the songs I heard in the first quarter hour were definitely familiar from their heavy play on the radio.  But watching it today, I don't feel like I missed much.  Adrian Lyne directed.

Flashbacks of a Fool

Flashbacks of a Fool

Anchor Bay Entertainment

18 April 2008

Drama

DVD
D-

Craig stars as an unappealing Brit living in decadence, and Southern California.  Baillie Walsh wrote and directed.

Flags of Our Fathers

Flags of Our Fathers

DreamWorks

October 20, 2006

War Drama

DVD
D

Yet another World War II drama about how they weren't really heroes but of course were.  Based on the book by James Bradley and Ron Powers, and directed by Eastwood.

The Five Heartbeats

The Five Heartbeats

20th Century Fox

March 29, 1991

Historical Drama, Musical

DVD
C-

Robert Townsend directed, co-wrote (with Wayans), and stars in this story of a '60s soul group, which I wanted to like because of the music, but I didn't care for or about the characters.

The Fits

The Fits

Oscilloscope

January 22, 2016

Sports Drama

DVD
D+

Not unlike the British teen in Fish Tank, a young African-American tomboy wants to be a dancer, but with less dialogue in this movie.  Anna Rose Holmer directed and co-wrote.

Fish Tank

Fish Tank

BBC Films

11 September 2009

Drama

DVD

C-

An angry British teenage girl wants to be a dancer and free a horse.  Andrea Arnold wrote and directed.

First Reformed

First Reformed

A24

May 18, 2018

Drama

DVD
D+

Paul Schrader wrote and directed this slow-moving tale of a pastor who keeps a diary.

The First Purge

The First Purge

Perfect World Pictures

July 4, 2018

Sci-Fi

DVD
D+

Dystopia, from back when we didn't know what 2020 would look like.  Gerard McMurray directed.

First Man

First Man

Universal

October 12, 2018

Historical Drama

DVD
D

Listless view of Neil Armstrong as a grieving father, based on the book First Man: The Life of Neil Armstrong by James R. Hansen, and directed by Damien Chazelle.

First Knight

First Knight

Sony 

July 7, 1995

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

My grade probably would've been lower if I'd stayed tuned long enough to try to buy 64-year-old Sean Connery as King Arthur.  Jerry Zucker directed.

First Kill

First Kill

Lionsgate

July 21, 2017

Drama

DVD
D+

A dad (Christensen) decides that what his young son with anger issues needs is hunting lessons. At least the scenery is nice, and I tuned out before any actual violence.  Steven C. Miller directed the year before Escape Plan 2.

The First Grader

The First Grader

National Geographic Entertainment

September 4, 2010

Drama

DVD
B-

The mostly true story of an 84-year-old Kenyan goat-farmer who becomes the title character, and the young teacher (Harris) who believes in him, directed by Justin Chadwick.  The movie alternates between moving and overdone.  (For instance, the mini-documentary reveals that the teacher's husband was supportive, while here there is marital stress without resolution.)

The First Emperor of China

The First Emperor of China

IMAX?

Documentary, Historical Drama

January 5, 1990

DVD
C-

An odd blend of narration (by Plummer) and reconstructed events.  I watched fifteen minutes, which is over a third, but wasn't interested enough to continue.  Tony Ianzelo and Liu Hao Xue co-directed.

The First Deadly Sin

The First Deadly Sin

Filmways Pictures

October 3, 1980

Crime Drama

DVD
D

Although I didn't enjoy, for instance, the cross-cutting between a murder and surgery, I kind of liked the banter between cop Sinatra and Dunaway as his hospitalized wife.  This is based on the Lawrence Sanders novel and directed by Brian G. Hutton.

Firewall

Firewall

Warner Bros.

February 10, 2006

Crime Drama

DVD
C-

I was sort of interested in the identity-theft thread, but of course then the protagonist (Ford)'s family had to be tortured.  Richard Loncraine directed.