Sunday, November 25, 2018

On the lighter side-Movies-Charlie Chan at the Olympics (1937-B &W)-Warner Oland


An important aircraft is hijacked and its pilot murdered along with some important technology. Charlie Chan tracks it to 1936 Berlin Olympics to solve this mystery and retrieve the stolen technology. Recommended
And this concludes my review of all the important movies of Charlie Chan. Although I have put recommended in all of them, I know some of you would not like some of them. When I started watching, I was also not sure but the more I saw the more I enjoyed it and become addicted to it. And now I wonder if they could have made of it as it was entertaining and were short and to the point. No special effects and no gimmicks and they wrapped up nicely. Hopefully you would enjoy some of the very concise reviews that I wrote on them.

On the lighter side-Movies-The Black Camel (1931-B&W)-Warner Oland


Charlie Chan investigates a murder on his home turf in Honolulu, Hawaii. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Charlie Chan in Rio (1941-B&W)-Sydney Toler


Charlie Chan is on a trail of a killer who has murdered her lover but she also gets killed when Charlie Chan catches up to her. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo (1937-B&W)-Warner Oland


Charlie Chan gets involved in two murders while vacationing in Monaco. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Charlie Chan at the Circus (1936-B&W)-Warner Oland


Charlie Chan gets invited to a circus along with his family by the owner who asks him to investigate threatening letters to him eventually leading to his death. Charlie Chan investigates. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Charlie Chan at the Opera (1936-B&W)-Warner Oland


Charlie Chan solves murder at an opera house where one of the former employees is seeking revenge on the performers who are responsible for his current incarceration. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Charlie Chan in Egypt (1935-B&W)-Warner Oland


Charlie Chan tries to solve the murder of a expedition leader whose body is found in tomb. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Charlie Chan at the racetrack (1936-B&W)-Warner Oland


Charlie Chan solves a murder of the owner of a horse kicked to death. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Charlie Chan in London (1935-B&W)-Warner Oland


Charlie Chan is hired by a girl whose brother is scheduled to be executed if he is not cleared of a murder. Recommended

Saturday, November 17, 2018

Everybody’s streaming


And here I am only talking about movies and not music as music sites have their own streaming which is exploding every day. But streaming music is much easier and not uses as much data than the movies which needs lots of data even for streaming standard version of a movie. I just know a few of the sites legally that stream movies which includes Netflix, Hulu, Shudder, Screambox, full moon streaming, Amazon, not to mention the streaming services of the Pay TV channels like HBO, Showtime (please note all the services mentioned are owned by their copyright owners and are used here for reference purposes only) and others that are not mentioned here. Now Disney ® is coming to streaming too and it is really becoming crowded as each of the above mentioned services are investing heavily in original programming and trying to get as many customers to their services as possible.
As more and more streaming becomes the norm, it is becoming harder for people to choose only one streaming services for all their needs as one person in a family may want to watch one show, while the other one may want to watch another show which may not be on one streaming services. That will hit the finances of the family and it may ultimately be that some of the streaming services may either have to consolidate or forced to close. Although, streaming is good as it allows people to enjoy entertainment in their comfort of their homes, but it is becoming quite expensive and difficult to choose which one to subscribe to and which one not to.

On the lighter side-Movies-Charlie Chan in Shanghai (1935-B&W)-Warner Oland


Charlie Chan investigates murder and discover drug smuggling ring out of Shanghai. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Charlie Chan in Paris (1935-B&W)-Warner Oland

Charlie Chan investigates murders related to forged bonds. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Charlie Chan’s Secret (1936-B&W)-Warner Oland

Charlie Chan solves the murder of the heir to a huge fortune. Recommended

The latest California fires


I have been following the latest California fires and it has left me anguished and sorry for the people affected by it. A town called Paradise with a population of about 27,000 is almost completely destroyed by fire and many other towns including the celebrity filled beach town of Malibu have been ordered evacuated due to uncontrollable fires. Some five fires counted up till now are raging in California and with no chance of rain and dry winds coming in, the fires may spread further. Now it is useless to go through the ritual of why people are building homes in fire zones and they should not be there in the first place. California is really crowded and people have to live somewhere and since it is also expensive, wherever people will find place, they will try to make it their home. It is not as if this is the first fire, it has been happening each year but the solution is not there to be found as government keeps on providing assistance to the affectees’ each time somebody looses their house.
But I guess that the memories of this fire will also fade away except for those directly affected by it and things will resume as normal as it is done each year. But is this the only solution or the government is just shying away from seeking a permanent solution that will be hurt the tax payers less as the intensity of fires keeps on increasing due to climate change and the human impact. If the government keeps on doing the same thing over and over again each year and avoids painful decision to mitigate this situation, we will keep on seeing more devastation and heart breaks each year.

On the lighter side-Movies-Charlie Chan on Broadway (1937-B&W)-Warner Oland


Charlie Chan solves a murder while visiting New York. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-The Scarlet Clue (1945-B&W)-Sidney Toler

Some spies are trying to steal government secrets and don’t hesitate to kill people in the process. In comes Charlie Chan to investigate them. Recommended 

Another Shooting


There was another shooting in the U.S. where a lone gunman came and shot thirteen people including himself in dance bar. And with no surprise in this, he was a white male.
He was not a Muslim terrorists or an illegal immigrant or even an immigrant but a decorated soldier, who just snapped (or did he?) and just went out and killed and also he had the time to update his post on social media. The media reports that he has some sort of PTSD (Post traumatic stress disorder) or simply he had some mental health issue that prompted him to shoot and kill people. Now I don’t know the whole story about the motives behind this massacre as the law enforcement is still trying to determine it but what was the fault of the bar people that they fell to the wrath of this mad man. Is it more convenient for the general public to lay the blame on mental health and brush aside other factors?
The gunman was fully aware of what he was doing as he had a social media account and updated his post while killing. He used a smoke grenade to confuse his victims and when his magazine was empty, he started to load it again. He had a magazine which is illegal in California. So now folks, where does mental health comes into this, when all the above things point out to a sane person meticulously do all the stuff just to kill people. Another point to note is that I can understand that until 1973, the military had a draft where people had to join in so PTSD can be attributed to the involuntary killing of civilian and other human beings but after the draft ending, the military became and is a voluntary service where one knows exactly that when he or she joins, there is a highly and certain possibility that they will see combat and will have to kill people so I don’t get the PTSD part in this all voluntary army. One is voluntarily joining a service where you will be killing another human being, so the PTSD part is hard to understand. It is just me but I hope some of my readers can highlight this issue. Anyway, my heart goes out the folks whose sons and daughters died a tragic death.

On the lighter side-Movies-Charlie Chan at the Wax Museum (1940-B&W)-Sidney Toler


A murderer escapes from a prison and hides in a wax museum where he hopes to have a plastic surgery to get back at Charlie Chan. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Dark Alibi (1946-B&W)-Sidney Toler


Charlie Chan tries to pinpoint the real robbers who were behind a robbery in order to exonerate an innocent man. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Dangerous Money (1946-B&W)-Sidney Toler


Charlie Chan encounters counterfeiters and others in his quest to solve the murder of a treasury agent aboard an ocean liner. Recommended

Sunday, November 11, 2018

On the lighter side-Movies-Charlie Chan in the Chinese Cat (1944-B&W)-Sidney Toler

Charlie Chan investigates the murder of a chess expert in a locked room. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-The Jade Mask (1945-B&W)-Sidney Toler


Charlie Chan investigates the murder of a scientist in an old mansion. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Charlie Chan at Treasure Island (1939-B&W)-Sidney Toler


Charlie Chan solves a murder committed by a phony psychic at the world exposition in San Francisco Treasure Island. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-The Shanghai Cobra (1945-B&W)-Sidney Toler


Charlie Chan tries to solve a series of Murders connected to stealing of radium from a bank Vault. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Dead Men Tell (1941-B&W)-Sidney Toler


Charlie Chan tries to solve a murder aboard a docked ship. Moody and atmospheric. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Charlie Chan in Reno (1938-B&W)-Sidney Toler


Another one of the Charlie Chan movies in which the detective solves a murder in a Nevada Hotel. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Castle in the Desert (1942-B&W)-Sidney Toler


Charlie Chan is invited to investigate a serious of deadly poisonings at an isolated Castle in a desert. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Charlie Chan in Honolulu (1938-B&W)-Sidney Toler


Distracted by the impending birth of his first grandchild, Charlie Chan and his No. 2 son holds a ship at the Honolulu harbor while investigating a murder. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Charlie Chan in Panama (1940-B&W)-Sidney Toler


Charlie Chan tries to catch a spy ring bent of destroy the Panama Canal Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise (1940-B&W)-Sidney Toler


This was the time, when I had not many movies to choose from and I have heard about Charlie Chan before but had never bothered to see its movie. So I decided that why not go back in time and see these movies which are easily available on the internet and they are short like around one hour give or take. This humble and very polite Chinese-American detective based in Honolulu, Hawaii was done by two white actors at a time when very few characters were given to Chinese or African American actors. Charlie Chan most of time appeared with this Chinese son who was named No. 2 son who provided a comic relief from the very serious Charlie Chan.  His best lines were, Correction please and Contradiction Out of around four dozen movies, I saw 27 or so movies in no chronological order. I hope you also will enjoy these movies as I will give brief synopsis of what is usually happens in these murder mystery movies.
Charlie Chan on a cruise across the Pacific Ocean tries to uncover a killer aboard.
Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Deadpool 2 (2018)-Ryan Reynolds


Although not as good as the first one, but entertaining nonetheless as Deadpool assemble a group of super heroes to protect an uncontrollable mutant from an evil alien enemy. As usual, a foul mouthed and action packed movie. Recommended

American Embassy in Jerusalem and Palestinians


When the Americans decided that they will move their embassy from Tel Aviv, Israel to Jerusalem, there was a lot of dire warnings and opposition from almost every part of the world but as I wrote it in my blog, there was nothing that was much going to happen and I was proven right. Now the Brazilian President has decided to move its country’s embassy to Jerusalem and there is again opposition but it is very mild, as the Arabs don’t care much about Palestinians and anything they say in their support is just to appease the small population of Arabs who oppose Israel as the efforts of the Arabs have now to been to how to isolate another Muslim Country Iran and in this sense, the Arabs have aligned their lot with the Israelis and the Americans. The Palestinians are the only ones who will fight this war and they should forget about their supposedly Arab brothers who don’t have the means or the will or the care to support them.
Instead of wasting their time and energy on symbolic efforts to discourage other countries not to locate their embassies to Jerusalem, they should concentrate on trying to strengthen their diplomatic skills on showcasing what is happening in their territories and present a united front. It is useless for them to rely on their so called Arab brothers as they have failed them time and time again. Ultimately, the Palestinians will live or die on their own as they will be the only ones face the guns of Israel as the other Arabs and Muslims go into a deep slumber.

On the lighter side-Movies-Revenge (2017-French)


When a man brings his mistress to his home where he has friends who would join him in a hunting party, things does not quite go the way it should be as the mistress takes bloody revenge when she is raped by one of his friends. Bloody and brutal French movie. Recommended

Sunday, November 4, 2018

On the lighter side-Movies-Meatball Machine: Kodoku (2018-Japan)


A mild mannered middle aged Japanese guy who is broke in every sense of the world is infected by an alien virus which has an opposite effect on him starts to fight the aliens taking over his neighborhood in this bloody and gory Japanese hyper movie sequel to the first one which I did not see. With scenes of naked breast, simulated sex and cut of penis, this film is not for all tastes and I really mean it. Recommended with caution.

On the lighter side-Movies-Apostle (2018)


A man travels to an isolated island to rescue his sister in this bloody horror movie. Recommended with caution.

Caravans to a better future in the United States


Initially a large group of migrants trying to escape from poverty and violence in their war torn countries of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras started organizing groups of people to walk to the U.S. border to gain asylum. And now encouraged by the success of some previous small groups entering the United States, more and more groups of migrants are making the treacherous trek to the so called Promised Land-the United States. And with these groups comes the hardened attitude of the United States government as it bolsters the border protection forces by regular military troops. The President first tried to cut off the aid of the above mentioned countries, but with the action failing to stem the follow of the illegal immigrants, he has decided to send in regular troops to stop the migrants from entering the country through illegal routes at the border. He is also saying that the migrants will be housed in tents along the border areas till their cases are heard which maybe months or years in the making.
Although I feel for these migrants who are escaping poverty and violence in their respective countries but right now it is the worst time to try to get to the United States as the rise of racism and nationalism will slow down their progress to enter or gain legal status before the already millions of illegal migrants already in line to seek change to their status. Also these migrants need to understand that the legal path is always the right one even when you are trying to escape poverty and violence. If whole countries decide to migrant, then their countries will never improve. These citizens should realize that not everything will be solved even when they reach the United States as they will be treated as illegals for years to come and will never be able to assimilate in their adopted country.

On the lighter side-Movies-Tag (2018)-Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner


Based on a true story about a group of friends who organize an annual game of tag just for the sole purpose of tagging the one friend who has never been tagged in his life. After a while, it wears you out, but still entertaining enough to get you through it. Recommended with caution.

On the lighter side-Movies-Why don’t you play in Hell? (2013-Japan)


An amateur film crew gets involved with filming the clash of two Yakuza feuding clan in this over the top and extremely brutal bordering on cartoonish violence bloody movie. Recommended for utter craziness.

On the lighter side-Movies-The Scorpion King: Book of Souls (2018)-Zach Mcgowan


Cheaply done action movie in the continuing saga of the scorpion king, this time trying to find a weapon with which he can defeat an evil warrior and his clan. Not Recommended

The worst mass murder of Jews in U.S. History


During the time the failed mail bomber was captured without anybody getting killed, another white racist who was filled with anger about Jews,  attacked a synagogue and kill 11 Jewish people who were there exercising their freedom to religion. Also in the ensuing gun fight, the gunman was injured, along with four officers. After capturing and presenting him in court, he has entered a Not Guilty Plea, which seems incredible as he was clearly the one who did the shooting as witnessed by many people. I think that there should an overhaul of this kind of justice system where he should not be deemed innocent as he clearly was the killer and after all the trials and drama, if he is proven guilty then what is the use of spending millions of dollars on a guilty person who has been proven guilty. I know I am just yapping about and I have deviated from the topic which is a white person full of hatred against Jews, can’t control his anger and decide to embark on his evil quest to kill as many Jews as possible.
I know that there are people out there who would give these kinds of acts of terror on the current U.S. President rhetoric about nationalist ideology but despite this, an overwhelming majority of people are acting out their anger by killing people. I know the level of racism has increased since he was elected President, and in this charged atmosphere where the whole country is divided and angry, there may be some people who may have been influenced by all this news and get encouraged to act out their racist tendencies which was kept inside for a long time. Anyway, it is a very evil act to kill innocent worshippers just because the killer acted on his perceived anger against a religious group who was not harming anybody. I hope justice is done and he should get the maximum punishment allowed by law.

On the lighter side-Movies-What the waters left behind (2018-Argentina)


An Argentinean horror movie based on a sad tragedy when a dam broke in a town which was flooded and numerous people were killed. So the premise of the movie is when the water receded, the town was deserted. This is when a documentary crew came to town to film its history and gets caught in a cannibalistic family who is ready to make them their dinner. Some bloody special effects and sex included, but nothing special. I thought the horror scenes were few and far apart. Not Recommended

The failed mail bomber


Recently after a series of bombs mailed through the U.S. postal system, a person was apprehended after a single DNA was found on a package sent by him to prominent critics of the U.S. President. And now he has appeared in a court with tears coming out of his eyes. The things that are coming out for this person is quite sad and sometimes hilarious. Let me elaborate, he was a loner and strapped for cash and did different jobs and supposedly was a very enthusiastic supporter of the U.S. President. It has been reported that he was a white supremacist and thought that only whites and those with racist and nationalist credentials ought to be in this world alone. The hilarious part is that he was not even a white guy but his father was a Filipino who married a white woman of Italian descent and so he was half white and half Filipino.
It is also reported that he wanted the world to go back to the Hitler days but now you can just imagine the low IQ of this guy. If he was in the Hitler days, his father would have been killed because he was a Filipino and his mother would have been killed because she married a Filipino man and this mail bomber would have been killed just because he was of mixed breed. Even if he was in Philippines, the Japanese would have killed him since Japan was occupying Philippines at the time of Hitler. So before becoming a so called white supremacist (which he is clearly not as mentioned above and reported by various media outlets), he should have read some history to see where do a mixed race person fit into a world of White supremacy.

On the lighter side-Movies- The Lady Hermit (1971-Hong Kong)


A student seeks a reclusive master so that she can fight an evil strong man. Plenty of martial arts action. It looked great at that time, but now it seems dated and slow. Recommended with caution

On the lighter side-Movies-Death Kiss (2018)


Slow moving and ultimately unsatisfying rip off of Death wish movie with a Charles Bronson lookalike going after criminals in his own way. Not Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Wrath in Silence (2018-China)


A father looks for his son who is missing in this slow moving mystery action movie. Not for all tastes. Recommended with caution.