The Hunt for Red October

Released in 1990, and based on a Tom Clancy book of the same name, The Hunt for Red October is a Cold War thriller that features a pretty impressive cast. I already briefly mentioned this film in one of my earliest blog entries 10 Sean Connery Movies Everyone Should See, and it currently holds a spot on My Top 100 Favorite Films list but, I've never given it its own dedicated post.

The story centers on a well-respected Soviet submarine captain named Marko Ramius (played by Sean Connery). Ramius has been tasked with taking the newest Soviet sub, the 'Red October', out to sea for some training exercises. However, Ramius murders the ships political officer and gives the crew false orders to head toward the East coast of the United States. This change of plans alarms both the U.S. and the Soviet government, as neither side wants a rogue captain with an armed nuclear submarine out in the ocean. Thus the hunt for the Red October is on. The one additional wrinkle in the scenario is that the Red October is equipped with a state-of-the-art "caterpillar drive" which makes it virtually undetectable to sonar. While both sides see Ramius as a threat, CIA analyst Jack Ryan (played by Alec Baldwin) is convinced that Ramius wants to defect and plans on turning over the Red October to the United States. So, the race is on to see who can get to Ramius first Jack Ryan or the Russians... Spoiler Alert! for a 30 year old movie: Jack Ryan reaches the Red October and Ramius successfully defects.

I love this movie. It's not without flaws but, I think the plot is very engaging, it's well shot, the actors are all pretty good, the musical score is solid... It checks all of the boxes or me. I highly recommend this one if you've never seen it.
4.5 out of 5

Medicine Man

Following the success of Predator, Die Hard, and The Hunt for Red October, 1992's Medicine Man was a bit of an odd choice for Director John McTiernan. It didn't do well with critics and it barely broke even at the box office. I personally have gone back and forth on this one over the years. It's far from a perfect movie, but there are enough things I like about it that I have rewatched it multiple times.

First off, I think the core premise is compelling: A scientist living in the rain forest discovers a cure cancer, but for some reason he can't seem to replicant the serum. Additionally, I think Sean Connery is good in the movie, and the musical score by Jerry Goldsmith is solid.
On the opposite end of things, I think Lorraine Bracco was a bad casting choice, it's not particularly well-written, and it feels about 15-20 minutes too long. 
With some minor changes this could've been a really good movie but, as is, it's just ok. 

If you're a big Connery fan like myself, then you'll probably be entertained. Otherwise... well, it's a 26 year old movie that most people have either never seen or forgotten about, so you can probably skip it.
I give it a 2.5 out of 5


For some movies that you shouldn't skip, check out '10 Sean Connery Movies Everyone Should See' 

A Bridge Too Far

I haven't reviewed a war movie in a while, so today's film is 1977's A Bridge Too Far.
The film takes place during WWII and tells the story of a failed Allied mission to break through German lines, and seize several bridges along the way. The plan was to have paratroopers drop in behind enemy lines and secure the bridges, making a path for tanks and heavy artillery to reach the town of Arnhem. Unfortunately, a series of setbacks including problems with radio communication, and underestimating German firepower in the region, doomed the operation. 

This is a well directed film and, even if you're not a big fan of war movies, the cast is amazing. Starring the likes of Laurence Olivier, Michael Caine, Gene Hackman, Anthony Hopkins, James Caan, Ryan O'Neal, Elliot Gould, Robert Redford, and Sean Connery this film is worth watching based on cast alone. Now I really like this movie, but if I have nitpick it's the runtime. I have no problem sitting down to a long film, as long as the length is necessary to tell the story. A Bridge Too Far clocks in at just under three hours and it really doesn't feel like needs that much time. 

Overall, I highly recommend this one. It's about 20 mins too long, but it's worth it.
4.5 out of 5

80's Month Day 17: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

1989 was a pretty good year for movies, and some of my favorites of the 1980's came out that year. films like Batman, Field of Dreams, UHF, and today's movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. It's a bit of a close call between this one and Raiders of the Lost Ark but I tend to enjoy the third entry in the franchise a little more.

Harrison Ford reprises his role as the iconic Indiana Jones, but in this one he is also joined by screen legend Sean Connery who plays Indiana's father Henry Jones. As much fun as it is to watch Indiana's adventures in these films, it's Connery that pushes this one to the top of the group (this film was even on my list of "10 Sean Connery Movies Everyone Should See" which you can check out by clicking here).

Early on in the film Indiana learns that his father has gone missing while searching for the Holy Grail and, believing that his father must be in trouble after he receives Henry's 'Grail Diary' in the mail, he sets out to find him. Using the diary Indiana pieces together enough clues to find his father who has been captured by Nazi's. After the two are reunited the fun really starts: escaping the castle where Henry was held captive, a motorcycle chase, tanks, an aerial dogfight between the Joneses and German Luftwaffe fighter... and all throughout a really entertaining dynamic and great chemistry between Ford and Connery. Eventually they reach the temple where the grail is kept and, as with all Indiana Jones films, it's full of booby-traps, but Indiana does end up finding the Grail. Start to finish this whole movie is a ton of fun, it's a solid action-adventure flick, and it's definitely worth watching if you've never seen it.

I give this one a 5 out of 5.


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Today's Movie: Dr. No

Before all the fancy gadgets and huge action set-pieces would become common-place in Bond films, there was a simple but entertaining spy movie that would kickoff the James Bond franchise. That movie is 1962's Dr. No.

The film is based on the 1958 Ian Fleming novel of the same name and it's one of the few James Bond stories that I actually have not read so I won't compare the two, but as far as the film goes plot is pretty simple: James Bond (played by Sean Connery) is sent to Jamaica after a British Intelligence radio transmission regarding the disruption of rocket launches from Cape Canaveral is unexpectedly interrupted. Once in Jamaica he learns of this mysterious guy named Dr. No (played by Joseph Wiseman) who owns an island called Crab Key. No one who ever goes to Crab Key comes back alive, but since it seems that Dr. No may be behind the rocket launch tampering Bond goes to the island. Of course Dr. No is the bad guy and he works for the evil organization SPECTRE. In the end, Bond foils Dr. No's plan, kills him, and gets the girl in the end.

So, with 24 Bond films to choose from why does this one stand out? First off, Sean Connery (the best Bond in my opinion) is really good in the film. Also,Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress) is one of the most iconic of all the 'Bond Girls'. Now, like I stated before, the film doesn't get caught up in all the fancy (and sometimes stupid) gadgets: there's no invisible car, rocket cigarette, or alligator submarine. Sure, one could argue that Dr. No's plan is kind of dumb, but there are far more convoluted and idiotic evil schemes in other Bond films.

Overall, I think this one is a fun, entertaining, and it's one of my top James Bond flicks.

I give it a 4.5 out of 5.

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A Look Back At: The Untouchables

"You can get further with a kind word and a gun than you can with just a kind word."

The Untouchables is a 1987 crime film Directed by Brian De Palma, and featuring a strong cast consisting of Kevin Costner, Robert De Niro, Andy Garcia, Charles Martian Smith, and Sean Connery. Speaking of Connery, he nabbed a Oscar for 'Best Supporting Actor' for his role in the film, and in a movie with solid acting, a really good score, and top-notch cinematography, he still manages to steal every scene he's in.

The film takes place during Prohibition with Al Capone (played by Robert De Niro) running nearly the entire city of Chicago and, opposite him is a Treasury agent named Eliot Ness (played by Kevin Costner) who has sent to stop him. Ness soon builds a team consisting of a beat cop named Jimmy Malone (played by Connery), a rookie fresh out of the Police Academy named George Stone (played by Andy Garcia), and an accountant named Oscar Wallace (played by Charles Martian Smith).
 Early on they successfully raid a Post office warehouse full liquor owned by Capone, who later kills the henchman in charge of the warehouse with a baseball bat as a warning to the other top men working for him. After that initial raid, Wallace discovers that Capone has not filed an income tax return for several years and suggests that Ness try to build a tax evasion case against him, as they likely won't be able to directly tie him to any other crimes. It isn't long before Malone learns of an incoming liquor shipment and, seeing an opportunity to hurt Capone again, the team heads to the U.S.- Canadian border to intercept it. After a shootout with some of Capone's men, they convince a bookkeeper to testify against Capone. But, once they arrive back in Chicago, one of Capone's henchmen kills the informant, as well as, Wallace.

 After realizing that it was the police chief who tipped of Capone, Malone forces him to reveal the whereabouts of Capone's top bookkeeper, Walter Payne. The stakes are further raised that night, when Malone is shot by the same guy who killed Wallace. Luckily, before he dies Malone is able to tell Ness which train Payne will take out of town. Later, at the train station, Ness and Stone find Payne being escorted by several gangsters. Then, a gunfight breaks out resulting in arguably the best scene in the entire film and when all is said and done all of the henchmen have been killed and Payne is taken alive. 
  Payne then testifies at Capone's trial, Ness kills the guy who killed Malone, and Capone is sentenced to 11 years in prison. The film ends with a reporter asking Ness what he'll do if Prohibition is repealed, and he replies, "I think I'll have a drink."

Overall, this one is really entertaining from the opening scene to the very end. For me, everything in this movie just clicks, it's up there with some of my favorite movies about organized crime and I highly recommend it. I give it a 5 out of 5.


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...and don't forget to check out my '10 Sean Connery Movies Everyone Should See' list by clicking here.

Western Wednesday: Shalako

This 1968 Western stars Brigitte Bardot and Sean Connery, and was one of the films that just barely missed the cut on my "10 Sean Connery Movies Everyone Should See" list (you can check out that list here).

The film starts off with a group of wealthy Europeans who are on a hunting trip in New Mexico. For whatever reason they've ventured into Apache territory, and that proves to be a terrible idea.

 A French countess named Irina Lazaar (played by Brigitte Bardot) wanders off and she is soon confronted by some Apaches. Luckily for her she is rescued by Sean Connery wearing cowboy hat... I mean, "Shalako".

Shalako is a former Civil War cavalry officer and has been sent by the Army to get the party out of Apache territory. However, the leader of the party, Frederick von Hallstadt refuses to leave and the Apache soon raid the party's camp. To make matters worse, the party's guide Bosky Fulton takes off with the stage coach, guns and ammunition, and supplies, leaving the party stranded. But they have Shalako, and he's gonna to lead them on foot to an Army fort. Along the way, some Apaches catch up with the hunting party and there is a one-on-one spear fight between Shalako and the Apache chief's son Chato. Shalako is about to win and kill Chato, but the chief intervenes and offers to let the party go on their way safely to the fort if Shalako will agree to spare his sons life.
So, they get to the fort, the hunting party is safe, and Shalako and The Countess ride off together.

Overall, it's not great but it's a decent movie and pretty entertaining. I like Brigitte Bardot in the film and Sean Connery, though not someone you'd typically cast in a Western, is still good.

I give this one a 3 out of 5.


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