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The Cheyenne Social Club, a review by Rogmeister

The Cheyenne Social Club (1970)
Cast: James Stewart, Henry Fonda, Shirley Jones, Sue Ane Langdon
Director: Gene Kelly

This movie is available on a double-feature DVD...it is also part of the box set James Stewart: The Signature Collection.  A lot of people think of Jimmy as an "Aw, shucks" kind of actor but he's been downright serious in most of his westerns. He did do a couple comedy-westerns in his time as well, one was the comedy classic "Destry Rides Again" and this was another. In this he co-stars with another big-name actor who also did his share of westerns, Henry Fonda. The film is directed by that legendary song and dance man, Gene Kelly...but no musical numbers in this movie.

As the movie opens we find them in texas branding cattle when Stewart's character receives a letter from a lawyer in Wyoming. It seems his brother has died and left him something so he and Fonda set out for Cheyenne to see what it's all about...with Fonda yapping all the way to Wyoming. Stewart finally tells him to pipe down after Fonda starts telling a particular story for the third time. It turns out that what Stewart's character has inherited was a brothel, populated with a handful of pretty ladies and quite popular with the men of the town. Stewart, uncomfortable with the whole situation, plans to close down the brothel and that's what starts the trouble.

I guess you would call this a fairly amiable comedy...it's got some nice humor but never falls into the slapstick-style humor that films like McLintock! do. There's a bit of action to keep it moving and I enjoyed it...but it's not the kind of film I'll be seeking out too often. It can currently be found on a double-feature DVD (along with another Stewart-Fonda teaming, Firecreek). The DVD includes a short featurette on the film (and you even get a few words from Gene Kelly so you can know for sure it was really him) and the original theatrical coming attraction.   

(From Roger's Ongoing Westerns Marathon on July 15th, 2009)

May, a review by Rich

Title: May

Movie Count:12  
TV Ep. Count:8  

Runtime:89
Certificate:18
Year:2002
Genres:Horror, Comedy

Plot:May is a terrifying tale about a young woman's desire for friendship, which ultimately turns to obsession. As the subject of constant ridicule from her peers and parents as a young girl, May is forced into a life of unwanted seclusion, Publicly outcast, she believes that her only true friend is the homemade doll given to her by her mother. Now that she's an adult, her deeply rooted scars manifest in vengeful behaviour. May finds herself envying specific body parts of the people she pursues for affection. After numerous failed attempts at companionship, she comes to the conclusion: If you can't find a friend, make one.

My Review:
Not horror at all, despite quite an exciting blurb on back cover, it actually turned out to be just a weird and fairly boring movie. The freakiness is mixed up with some interesting lesbian scenes, and the acting of Angela Bettis and Anna Faris was above expectations.
The script was a let-down, and the gore and special effects minimal. A distinct lack of tension has your finger hovering over the fast forward button, and the doll wasn't creepy at all.
More of an arty film about loneliness, not sure who it would appeal to?



(From Rich's October Horror Fest on October 11th, 2009)

NCIS Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

17. AN EYE FOR AN EYE
A petty officer commits suicide after the N.C.I.S. team investigates him, which leads the team to one of the officer's lecturers who works for the CIA.

My Thoughts:
This is a pretty good episode. But not really one of my favorites. I liked the parts towards the beginning... but it kinda lost me when Tony and Kate left the country... as the story really slowed down for me.

My Rating:

18. BIKINI WAX
The N.C.I.S. team suspects a possible stalker when a pregnant female petty officer is murdered backstage at a bikini contest.

My Thoughts:
This is a fun episode. I got a kick at the look on Tony's face when he realized the crime scene was at a bikini contest.

My Rating:

19. CONSPIRACY THEORY
Ducky believes love triangles can be murder, at least in the case of the petty officer who was thought to have committed suicide after suffering a supposed "nervous breakdown."

My Thoughts:
Another one I enjoyed quite a bit. I liked how they showed the cause of the nervcous breakdown. It shows in this day and age just because something sounds crazy... that isn't always the case.

My Rating:

20. RED CELL
A Marine in an ROTC program is murdered and Gibbs and his team suspect the soldier was involved in a game with deadly consequences.

My Thoughts:
This is a good... but really standard episode. Nothing really special to talk about.

My Rating:



21. HOMETOWN HERO
A heroic Navy medic killed in Iraq is the prime suspect in a murder in his hometown and Gibbs and his team work to clear his name.

My Thoughts:
This is a good episode. I liked how hard the team fought to to clear the medic's name.

My Rating:

22. SWAK
Tony opens a letter only to release a mysterious powder into the N.C.I.S. squad room. Now the team must work to discover an antidote before it's too late.

My Thoughts:
This is such an excellent episode. When you first watch this episode you get the feeling we are about to loose one of the regular characters of the series. I liked how this episode showed no matter how much they argue Kate really does care about Tony... and will go through much to help him.

My Rating:

23. TWILIGHT
Attempting to thwart an assassination attempt on Gibbs, the N.C.I.S. team pays the ultimate price with the death of a team member.

My Thoughts:
Another just excellent episode. And this time we actually do see the end of one of our favorite characters. And it happens so all the sudden and so in your face graphically that to this day... after seeing this episode at least 5 times... it still gets a reaction out of me. Very well done... very strong episode.

My Rating:



(From NCIS Marathon on December 8th, 2009)