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One Million Years B.C. (1966) Directed by Don Chaffey

Posted by: Frank Veenstra Posted date: 10:22 AM / comment : 0 , , , , , , , ,





(Review originally written at 28 December 2007)

A scarcely dressed Raquel Welch, a cat-fight and Ray Harryhausen dinosaurs. What more do you need to have a good time?

This movie is better than it's remake, that's for sure. The movie was remade only 4 years later, under the title "When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth". This movie in itself is also a remake of the 1940 movie with the almost similar title "One Million B.C.", starring Lon Chaney Jr. and directed by Hal Roach and his son with the original name Hal Roach Jr.

This is not the sort of movie you would expect from the Hammer studio's. Not only its concept and settings differ from their normal horror productions but also the atmosphere is totally different and it doesn't at all feel like an Hammer movie. Guess this was the touch of director Don Chaffey, who was more experienced in making entertaining and adventurous productions, such as for instance the classic production "Jason and the Argonauts" from 1963.

There isn't much story present in the movie, or perhaps I was just too busy staring at Raquel Welch's breasts. It's just the one prehistorical event and fight after the other basically. The movie is made more in a documentary sort of style. But that's OK, this isn't really the sort of movie that requires a story.

It's sort of funny to see 'giant' real iguana's, turtles and tarantulas being presented as big prehistoric flesh eating monsters. It of course makes the movie look terribly outdated this present day but it at the same time is also part of the charm of these sort of movies. 'Historicaly' it of course doesn't has any value.

The stop motion-effects for the dinosaurs and the dinosaur battles were done by none other than Ray Harryhausen, who was at the top of the game at the time. The effects are also good looking in this movie and also surely provide the movie with its most memorable and classic moments. The dinosaur fights are definitely more classic and better known than the actual movie on its own.

Next to its effects, the movie is also otherwise a good looking one. I liked the settings and costumes and all, though it always remains sort of funny in these sort of movies that the actors all seem to have perfect white teeth.

Good fun prehistorical nonsense, that features all of the elements you would expect.

7/10

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The Biggest Bundle of Them All (1968) Directed by Ken Annakin

Posted by: Frank Veenstra Posted date: 8:59 AM / comment : 0 , , , , , , ,





(Review originally written at 22 September 2006)

This movie is a fun and good enough little movie, that has a weak plot and some poor acting but amuses nevertheless.

This is a pretty weak little comedy that never manages to become really funny. The characters were fun in their potential but somehow it doesn't work out on screen. The movie has perhaps too many characters on which it focuses far too little. It makes the characters as well as the story feel pretty empty and distant. Still thank goodness there is Raquel Welch, who still puts some life and spirit into the movie. Even though her character really isn't that significant it still spices up things. And watching her dance in a bikini is also of course never a bad thing.

The story is too simple and predictable from start till finish, although the premise itself is certainly amusing. Having a bunch of amateur criminals planning a major heist sounds like pretty good comical material but yet the movie in the end does very little with its fine potential and premise. The movie falls flat as a fun comedy but thanks to its characters, which are obviously not to take very serious and a couple of good sequences, the movie still remains an amusing one that might not entertaining constantly but also certainly does not bore.

The acting is really below par, even though the movie has some 'big' names in it. Robert Wagner is terrible as the tough talking guy and wannabe leader of the group. The movie also feature Edward G. Robinson, who was quite a big name in the business in the '40's. He's good enough in his role but his role is too restrained and limited to make a big impression.

Sort of only worth watching when you really have nothing else to do- or watch.

6/10
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