Diabolical_Shadow Blog

Under discussion:

Doomed  Production Year

DOOMED

2006 – NR – 76 Min.

D: Michael Su

S: Sarah Diaz – Drew Russell – Steve Cryen – Michael Kehoe

Maverick Entertainment DVD

Fullscreen / 5.1 Surround

Extras: Trailers

Ten people serving long sentences for myriad crimes are dropped on the Isola De Romero *cough* and divided into teams of two. These teams are instructed to try to make it to the other side of the island where millions of dollars and a complete pardon await them. Freedom, riches, everything they could want, with one catch… The island is overrun with the living dead. All this will be filmed and broadcast on the popular TV show Survival Island 2020. There’ll be alliances, betrayals, and many other staples of successful reality television. The kicker is that nobody has survived so far and the show is still looking for its first heroic victors. Will this episode finally find a winner? Will you even care? This feisty independent borrows from places too numerous to list here and attempts to come up with something a little different. They definitely achieved that, just not to any degree of satisfaction. Although a warning about graphic violence and gore is slapped on the case, you won’t find any in the movie. This is much more action than horror, that itself is not the problem. No depth, no staying power, no viewer involvement, these are the problems. The action choreography is well done and at 76 minutes the pace is brisk. Some clever touches are present, such as explaining the cameras at the outset, but none of it’s enough to keep interest piqued. These are all hardened criminals, mass-murderers in some cases. Who really cares if they end up as zombie-poop anyway? Sounds like they deserve it! So that’s Doomed. A valiant effort; it tries hard but is unable to achieve better than ‘average at best’. Worth a rent.

Under discussion:

Manhattan Melodrama  (1934)

MANHATTAN MELODRAMA

1934 – NR – 90 Min.

D: W.S. Van Dyke

S: Clark Gable – William Powell – Myrna Loy

Warner Home Entertainment DVD – Released as part of the Myrna Loy And William Powell Collection

Fullscreen / Dolby Digital Mono

Extras: Comedy Short – Classic Cartoon – Theatrical Trailer

Though most notorious for being the film John Dillinger was gunned down after seeing, Manhattan Melodrama has more to offer than its notable connection with historical trivia. The now overly familiar plotline tells the story of two boyhood friends who helped each other navigate through some amazing hardships only to end up on opposite sides of the law in adulthood. Familiar though it may be, these particular plot conventions have rarely been used in quite this way. Blackie (Gable) has nothing but respect and admiration for his old buddy Jim (Powell) and wants only the greatest success for him. They remain fast friends, but that friendship becomes more complicated (and strained) as Jim’s political career begins to take off. Also, there is Eleanor (Loy). She begins with Blackie but soon finds herself in love with Jim and the happy, secure, life he can offer. Not even this turn of events can sour the friendship between the protagonists. When murder enters into the scenario Jim will find himself, and his relationship, nearly crushed beneath the weight of his moral quandaries. Excellent performances and tight direction save this from becoming silly and overwrought. The first section of the film, featuring Mickey Rooney as the young Blackie, seems to be heading down that very path, but as soon as the characters reach adulthood we are treated to a relentlessly engaging tale that is as powerful as it is satisfying. Loy is fantastic, as always, and this marked her first pairing with Powell. Also of interest; a musical number performed at a club, The Bad In Every Man, was the original incarnation of the song Blue Moon before it was rewritten to be more commercial friendly. Whether you are a classic movie fan or just love seeing Powell and Loy together on screen, Manhattan Melodrama comes highly recommended.

Under discussion:

Hit the Deck  (1955)

HIT THE DECK

1955 – NR – 112 Min.

D: Roy Rowland

S: Walter Pidgeon – Ann Miller – Tony Martin – Debbie Reynolds – Vic Damone – Russ Tamblyn – Jane Powell – More.

Warner Home Entertainment DVD – Newly released as part of the Classic Musicals From The Dream Factory: Volume 3 collection.

Anamorphic Widescreen (Cinemascope) / Dolby Digital 5.1 And 5.0 / Dolby Digital 5.1 Music Only Track

Extras: Comedy Short – Classic Cartoon – Outtake Song – Theatrical Trailer

Three sailors on a 48-hour shore leave fall in love, get into trouble, and must sort out their relationships with family, embittered girlfriends and the Navy itself. Will it all work out in the end? What do you think!? Bright and attractive Cinemascope title features a lot more singing and dancing than plot. What there is to the story will bring a strong sensation of deja-vu to just about any fan of Hollywood musicals. Redundancy aside, Hit The Deck’s many catchy set-pieces are fun, though they feel somewhat reserved, and certainly offer less to take in than many of the more popular MGM musicals that preceded it. There are several bright spots as well; the fun house number and just about any of the comedy scenes that feature Kay Armen are notable standouts. This is the sort of movie that improves a little as it rolls along. A definite slow starter, it’s above average at best, mundane and predictable at worst, but never takes itself altogether too seriously and that’s a good thing. Though it would serve most fans of the genre better to revisit On The Town instead, Hit The Deck is still an agreeable way to pass a couple of hours as long as expectations aren’t very high to begin with.