if that machine can do what you say it can do ... destroy it before it destroys you!

Average rating: 7.25. Mostly good ones.

Mickey Blue Eyes (1999) - " English art dealer Michael Felgate (Hugh Grant) is dumbfounded to learn that his girlfriend, Gina Vitale (Jeanne Tripplehorn), cannot accept his marriage proposal because her entire family is involved with the Mafia. Undeterred and in love, Michael meets Gina's father, mob boss Frank (James Caan), who immediately takes a shine to the young suitor. But before he can give his blessing, Frank has plans for Michael that may or may not end in wedding bells."
length: 1 hour, 42 minutes

source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: I read somewhere that Hugh Grant has fond memories of this film, about which I know nothing
IMDB: 5.9/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 45% Audience: 42%
my IMDB: 6/10

MPAA rating: PG-13

notable quote: "Hey, fuggeddaboud id!"

directed by: Kelly Makin, Carl Gottlieb

my notes: trots out every bad ethnic joke that remotely relates, involves some dumb characters and maybe some dumb actors, and centers around a romance that's not at all believable. Other than that . . . I did enjoy Burt Young as Uncle Vito Graziosi, and James Fox as delightfully clueless Philip Cromwell. It's got a sort of mesmerizing shitshow appeal; I could barely turn away.

overall: mildly recommended

 

The Secret of Convict Lake (1951) - "After a group of convicts escapes from prison, they take refuge in the wilderness. While most of the crew are ruthless sociopaths, Jim Canfield (Glenn Ford) is an innocent man who was jailed under false pretenses. When Canfield and his fellow fugitives reach an isolated farming settlement where the men are all away, it creates tension with the local women. Things get more dire when rumors of hidden money arise, and Canfield discovers that the man who framed him is part of the community."
length: 1 hour, 23 minutes

source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: I'd seen it before and liked it a lot

    previously reviewed here
IMDB: 6.9/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: N/A% Audience: 58%
my IMDB: 8/10

MPAA rating: Approved

notable quote: "'No decent human being can kill a person in cold blood.'

    'Start any trouble and you'll find out different.'"

directed by: Michael Gordon

my notes: wonderful cast, good story, well acted and directed. Gene Tierney and Glenn Ford are outstanding in the leading roles. Ethel Barrymore (!), Ann Dvorak, and Ruth Donnelly are great in support. This is a good one.

overall: strongly recommended

The Time Machine (1960) - "Scientist H. George Wells (Rod Taylor) builds a time machine, and despite the warning from his friend David (Alan Young) against 'tempting the laws of providence,' decides to visit the future. Jumping ahead 14 years, he observes changes in women's fashion. Jumping ahead 40, he meets David's son (also Young) amid a terrible war. Finally, he travels thousands of years ahead to discover a post-apocalyptic world inhabited by humanoid Eloi and the monstrous Morlocks that feed on them."

length: 1 hour, 43 minutes

source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection
I watched it because: I hadn't seen it before and am curious
IMDB: 7.5/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 76% Audience: 80%
my IMDB: 7/10

MPAA rating: G

notable quote: "When I speak of time, gentlemen, I'm referring to the fourth dimension."

directed by: George Pal

my notes: I didn't know how to rate this, because I don't know what to about it. Weird, sexist, preachy, unintentionally funny, spectacular, bloody, thoughtful.... Alan Young was very good. Yvette Mimieux was 17 years old, playing up to 30-y-o Taylor, which is skeezy and gross. Still, it's worth seeing, for cultural references and for something to think about.

Academy Award winner: Best Effects, Special Effects—Gene Warren, Tim Baar

overall:  recommended

The Magnificent Seven (1960) - "A Mexican village is at the mercy of Calvera, the leader of a band of outlaws. The townspeople, too afraid to fight for themselves, hire seven American gunslingers to free them from the bandits' raids. The professional gunmen train the villagers to defend themselves, then plan a trap for the evil Calvera."

length: 2 hours, 8 minutes

source: I own the DVD
I watched it because: it was mutually agreeable
IMDB: 7.7/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 89% Audience: 87%
my IMDB: 8/10

AFI: 100 Years…100 Thrills (2001) #79

MPAA rating: Approved

notable quote: "The graveyards are full of boys who were very young and very proud."

directed by: John Sturges

my notes: more sober than the 2016 remake (reviewed here and here). Terrific cast (I love Yul Brynner) and the score is a classic. It's one of those movies that's impossible to resist.

Academy Award nominee: Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture—Elmer Bernstein
overall: strongly  recommended

 

[the title quotation is from The Time Machine]