Tuesday, January 25, 2011

FIGHTS!

October Frights presents...


FEBRUARY FIGHTS 

If some shit starts, the Frights team is ready to throw down. We do action movies now!

BUDDIES




The Dion Brothers (1974) - Stacey Keach and Frederic Forrest are the titular brothers in this long lost buddy-scoundrel comedy gem.






Freebie and the Bean (1974) - 70s buddy-cop bliss! A classic R-rated goof-off. Finally (semi) available in glorious widescreen (via Warner Archive).





Running Scared (1986) - Gregory Hines and Billy Crystal did buddy-cops in the 80s, only to be practically erased from history a year later by the mighty Lethal Weapon.








 DUDES





Charley Varrick (1973) - Matthau toplines this bad boy, runs around the desert with a bunch of mob money. Check him on that poster. He's like, "I got this."


Johnny Handsome (1989) - Largely unseen Walter Hill joint starring Mickey Rourke. This was right before we lost him for like two decades.






The Soldier (1982) - "You don't assign him. You unleash him." Some of that 80s magic where terrorists are starting some shit and only one man can stop them.










TEENAGERS



If Looks Could Kill (1991) - This favorite of my nine-year-old self escaped onto DVD only recently via Warner's burn-on-demand service. I don't want to over-hype it, but it's easily Richard Grieco's best work pre-Night at the Roxbury.




Never Too Young to Die (1986) - Another from the "wasn't allowed to rent it when I was a kid" pile. Gene Simmons is a hermaphrodite terrorist. John Stamos (Stamos!) steps up to take him down because -- wait for it -- he's a high school gymnast. I can't wait to watch this piece of shit.
 


Rad (1986) - This, on the other hand, is from the "I saw the living shit out of it when I was a kid" pile. It's about a kid training for a really hard BMX race (the "Helltrack"). The sound of, "Next on HBO...Rad," was like hearing, "We will now celebrate your birthday again, for the hell of it."




LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: STALLONE






Cobra (1986) - See the poster? Yeah, you get it.








Lock Up (1989) - Sly in the joint, vs. evil warden Donald Sutherland.






Nighthawks (1981) - A key early Stallone film where he has a beard.











OTHER GUYS


Bulletproof (1988) - Busey as the hero! Look at him in that letterman's jacket, no doubt getting ready to make a wisecrack. This looks good.



Dead Bang (1989) - Don Johnson in a John Frankenheimer film I've never even heard of. I only read as far as, "They killed his partner on Christmas Eve," and I booked it.




Excessive Force (1993) - Thomas Ian Griffith? And he wrote it? Yeah, they gave it a shot. This shit was in theaters!










OFFICIAL SELECTIONS



Best of the Best (1989) - I considered making us watch all of the Best of the Best films, but then I figured, let's save something for July Fights.




Fortress (1992) - Christopher Lambert breaks out of a futuristic prison. Latexy gore effects are involved. From Frights idol Stuart Gordon.


Miracle Mile (1988) - Cult film where Anthony Edwards picks up a ringing payphone and is told that the a nuclear war will start in 70 minutes.




Shakedown (1988) - Peter Weller and Sam Elliott take on an army of crooked cops. Classic tagline: "Whatever you do...don't call the cops." Also notable for being made during the best phase of Elliott's hair.







Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991) - Dolph Lundgren and Brandon Lee. I don't know if they're friends or enemies or what in this, but that poster is making a lot of promises. From Mark Lester, director of Fights favorite Class of 1984.

War Dog (1986) - Fans of The Stabilizer take note. This is Official Selections' own nutbar, a coked out Swedish squibfest. Holds some kind of record for number of innocent bystanders mowed down.



THIS WEEKEND, FIGHT!