Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on May 24, 2011

(1963) Directed by William Castle; Written by: Robert Dillon; Based on a novel by: J.B. Priestley; Starring: Tom Poston, Robert Morley, Janette Scott and Joyce GrenfellAvailable format: DVD Rating: *** ½ The Old Dark House is best described as a macabre comedy/mystery. This odd little product   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on May 19, 2011

(1984) Directed by Stephen Frears; Written by: Peter Prince; Starring: Terence Stamp, John Hurt, Tim Roth; Laura del Sol; Available on DVD Rating: **** Here are three words that are seldom associated with each other: existentialist crime drama. The Hit rises above a genre that’s admittedly n   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on May 19, 2011

(1984) Directed by Stephen Frears; Written by: Peter Prince; Starring: Terence Stamp, John Hurt, Tim Roth; Laura del Sol; Available on DVD Rating: **** Here are three words that are seldom associated with each other: existentialist crime drama. The Hit rises above a genre that’s admittedly n   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on May 15, 2011

(1979) Written and Directed by Nicholas Meyer; Based on a novel by Karl Alexander; Starring: Malcolm McDowell, David Warner and Mary Steenburgen; Available on DVD Rating: **** ½ What’s It About? What if H.G. Wells had actually constructed a functional time machine so that he could witnes   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on May 15, 2011

(1979) Written and Directed by Nicholas Meyer; Based on a novel by Karl Alexander; Starring: Malcolm McDowell, David Warner and Mary Steenburgen; Available on DVD Rating: **** ½ What’s It About? What if H.G. Wells had actually constructed a functional time machine so that he could witnes   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on May 7, 2011

(1971) Directed by Roy Ward Baker; Written by: Brian Clemens; Starring: Ralph Bates, Martine Beswick, Gerald Sim, Lewis Fiander and Susan Brodrick; Available formats: Netflix Streaming (DVD - Out of print) Rating: **** The early 70s marked a transitional phase for Hammer horror films, with productio   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on May 7, 2011

(1971) Directed by Roy Ward Baker; Written by: Brian Clemens; Starring: Ralph Bates, Martine Beswick, Gerald Sim, Lewis Fiander and Susan Brodrick; Available formats: Netflix Streaming (DVD - Out of print) Rating: **** The early 70s marked a transitional phase for Hammer horror films, with productio   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on April 26, 2011

Strange Behavior (aka: Dead Kids) (1981) With an emphasis on story rather than cheap thrills, this isn’t your typical early 80s slasher flick. Strange Behavior was filmed in New Zealand, but the setting is mid-America. Male high school students are being recruited for psychological experimen   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on April 21, 2011

(1954) Directed by Richard Fleischer; Written by Earl Felton; Based on the Novel by Jules Verne; Starring: Kirk Douglas, James Mason, Paul Lukas and Peter Lorre; Available on DVD Rating ***** What’s It About? It’s the year 1868. Multiple warships are being lost under mysterious circums   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on April 21, 2011

(1954) Directed by Richard Fleischer; Written by Earl Felton; Based on the Novel by Jules Verne; Starring: Kirk Douglas, James Mason, Paul Lukas and Peter Lorre; Available on DVD Rating ***** What’s It About? It’s the year 1868. Multiple warships are being lost under mysterious circums   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on April 8, 2011

Word-of-mouth, whether it’s initiated by the major studios or internet pundits, can undeniably contribute to a film’s success or failure. At the end of the day, however, it takes more than buzz to get my attention. I’ve listed five of the biggest offenders below that underscore t   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on April 8, 2011

Word-of-mouth, whether it’s initiated by the major studios or internet pundits, can undeniably contribute to a film’s success or failure. At the end of the day, however, it takes more than buzz to get my attention. I’ve listed five of the biggest offenders below that underscore t   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on April 5, 2011

(1994) Directed by John Carpenter; Written by Michael De Luca; Starring: Sam Neill, Jürgen Prochnow, Julie Carmen, David Warner, Charlton Heston; Available formats: DVD and Netflix Streaming Rating: *** ½ When does fiction end and reality begin? This is the basic premise of John Carpenter&#   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on April 5, 2011

(1994) Directed by John Carpenter; Written by Michael De Luca; Starring: Sam Neill, Jürgen Prochnow, Julie Carmen, David Warner, Charlton Heston; Available formats: DVD and Netflix Streaming Rating: *** ½ When does fiction end and reality begin? This is the basic premise of John Carpenter&#   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on March 29, 2011

Pom Poko (1994) This lesser-known animated film from Studio Ghibli follows the exploits of a group of raccoon dogs or tanuki (referred to simply as raccoons in the dumbed-down English translation), as they endeavor to survive the incursion of their habitat by humans and their Tama Hills suburban Tok   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on March 29, 2011

Pom Poko (1994) This lesser-known animated film from Studio Ghibli follows the exploits of a group of raccoon dogs or tanuki (referred to simply as raccoons in the dumbed-down English translation), as they endeavor to survive the incursion of their habitat by humans and their Tama Hills suburban Tok   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on March 24, 2011

I’ve spent more time than I care to recall watching movies. A good film is like quality time with a cherished friend, while a truly bad film can be compared to a rectal exam. If I thought about all the 90+ minute segments that have been stolen from my life...   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on March 17, 2011

This month’s Classics Revisited turns the spotlight on a modern classic. So, what constitutes a “modern” classic? Admittedly, the criteria are more arbitrary, based on personal preferences rather than a critical consensus. The film needs to have withstood the test of time, being   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on March 3, 2011

(1995) Directed by Yoshifumi Kondo; Written by Hayao Miyazaki Available on DVD Rating: **** The Japanese-animated Whisper of the Heart is the sort of film that could never have emerged from the Hollywood system. Its deliberate (some might say slow) pacing, allows the viewer to be introduced gradu   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on February 19, 2011

(1936) Written and Directed by Charlie Chaplin; Starring: Charlie Chaplin, Paulette Goddard; Available Formats: DVD & Blu-Ray Rating: ***** Today’s posting of Classics Revisited is first in a monthly examination of classic films, culled directly from the Cinematic Catharsis Archives (S   read more