Perfect Strangers (4½ Stars)

I bought this film on Blu-ray this week because it was directed by Alex de la Iglesia. He's one of my favourite directors, and definitely my favourite European director. I'll buy any film that he makes without hesitation.

The film is almost a Kammerspiel. Most of it takes place in the dining room of Alfonso and Eva, a wealthy couple who live in Madrid. Alfonso is a plastic surgeon, Eva is a psychologist. They've invited a few friends round for dinner. To be precise, they've invited six people: two married couples, a single friend and his girlfriend. The girlfriend doesn't want to come, so it's seven people who sit down for dinner.

Eva complains that mobile phones alienate people. Everyone sits typing or talking on his phone while ignoring his friends. She suggests that they play a game. While they're eating they have to put their phones on the table. Any text messages or emails that arrive have to be read out loud. Any telephone calls have to be answered with the speaker on, so that everyone else can hear.

As the evening progresses the seven people, some of whom have been friends for 20 years, realise that they don't know one another at all.

My first impression when I watched the film was that Alex de la Iglesia is revisiting a theme that was the basis of his last film, "The Bar", in which eight strangers are trapped together in a sidewalk cafe/bar. Maybe that really was his intention, but it's more complicated than that. "Perfect Strangers", Spanish title "Perfectos Desconocidos", is a remake of a 2016 Italian film called "Perfetti Sconosciuti", which means – you guessed it – "Perfect Strangers".

They say that you know a foreign film is good if it's remade in English. That isn't quite the case here, because it's an Italian film that's been remade in Spanish. But wait... "Perfect Strangers" has been remade in Spanish twice already, Alex de la Iglesia's film in 2017 and a Mexican film in 2018. It was also remade in Greek in 2016, only a few months after the release of the original version. A Bollywood version was made in 2018, called "Loudspeaker". It's also been remade in Russia, China, Hungary, Korea, France and Turkey. That's TEN remakes within three years after the initial release. Is that a record? Something about this story has fascinated people on a global scale.

Success Ratio:  + 5.8

Ai Shinozaki Month, Day 28

This is the 28th day of my Ai Shinozaki month, a tribute to the world's most beautiful actress. It's the last day of the month, and I'm sorry it's come to an end so soon, so I'm posting more photos than usual. The month needs to end with a climax.

Photos from Moecco TV, 2008.

End of Days (5 Stars)

This is a film that's been slammed by the critics, despite being a moderate box office success. I know what's wrong with the film. The plot doesn't always make sense. Or rather, the film's premise doesn't make sense, but if you close your eyes to these faults it's an excellent supernatural action film. It stands out as a film in which Arnold Schwarzenegger proves he can act well when he wants to. That doesn't happen often.

Gabriel Byrne's performance as the Devil is stunning. He's exactly as I imagine the Devil to be. He's not openly evil, but he has a seductive way of talking. He has a way of making his point of view seem positive. He sounds very persuasive when he tells people he's the good guy and God's the bad guy.

Nevertheless, this is Arnold Schwarzenegger's film. He's moving as an ex-policeman who's lost his faith. How can a man without faith stand up against the Devil? Only by finding his faith once more.

Success Rate:  + 0.1

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I'm thinking about doing something different next month. I'll be on holiday for two weeks, and I doubt I'll have time to write reviews, at least not detailed reviews, so I'll post at least one holiday photo each day.

I also intend to listen to all of Klaus Schulze's albums in order. At the moment I don't think I know how to review music. All I can say about a piece of music is whether I like it or not. If I don't know what to write I'll just post a picture of the CD cover and a list of the tracks. I might start early next month, or I might wait until after I return from holiday. Probably the latter.

My Ai Shinozaki month will end tomorrow, and it wasn't as popular as I expected. I doubt I'll do anything like that in future. Or maybe I will. Don't expect me to be predictable.

In September and October last year I did a "Video of the Day" feature. I never intended to stop posting video reviews, I just haven't had time. I'll start again soon. I still watch YouTube videos almost every day, mostly children's videos, and I ought to write about the better videos. So far I've only reviewed children's videos, but I might write about other videos.

I'll continue with my Marvel Years posts. I'm going to make an effort to increase the frequency to twice a week, if possible. They take a lot of time to write. So far I'm up to April 1967. I want to continue to 1972 at least, maybe as far as 1984. I still don't know for certain. At the moment I'm writing about 10 comics each month. This will increase in mid 1968, which is the year when Marvel drastically increased its output. By the late 1970's I'll be reviewing less comics, because there will be more titles that I don't consider to be canon.

Is there anything else that you, my readers, want me to do? Films will always be my main focus, but I'm willing to add other things as I go along. Leave me a comment below.

The Party (5 Stars)

This is a short film made in 2017. I say "short film" in the technical sense. A full length film is considered to last at least 70 minutes excluding the final credits. This film lasts just under 66 minutes. In the early days of cinema the line between short films and full length films was set lower, but today it's 70 minutes. Some organisations have their own definition, for instance to compete as a short film for the Best Short Film Oscar the maximum length is 40 minutes including the final credits.

The film is almost a Kammerspiel. All the action takes place in one house, though not in one room. Maybe the film is meant to take place in real time. That isn't 100% clear when cuts are made from scenes in one room to another, but even if the film doesn't take place in real time it's certainly not much longer than 66 minutes.

I watched the film today because it stars Bruno Ganz. He isn't the main character, but in a Kammerspiel all the actors appear in almost every scene together.

Janet has just been appointed the health minister for the opposition party. She and her husband Bill have invited six friends to a celebration party, though only five arrive.

Bill is Janet's husband, a former university professor who's given up his career to support his wife. Reading between the lines, he greatly regrets giving up the job he loved.

April is Janet's best friend, a political activist who has a leaning towards anarchy.

Gottfried is April's husband. He describes himself as a Life Coach, which involves self-healing. He doesn't trust western medicine.

Martha is a university professor who was once Bill's student and lover.

Jenny is a young woman who was once Martha's student, but is now Martha's wife. She's undergone artificial insemination and is now pregnant with triplets.

Marianne is Janet's personal secretary. She sends a message that she'll arrive late because she's busy. Even though we don't see her she's an important character and is a constant topic of conversation.

Tom is Marianne's husband, a successful investment banker. He arrives at the house noticeably nervous and repeatedly disappears into the bathroom to snort cocaine.

The film's strength is in the character relationships. There are conflicts of different types between them. As the shadow health minister Janet supports the NHS, but her husband has been seeing a private doctor behind her back. Gottfried claims that people only become sick when a doctor tells them they're sick. Martha doesn't support any political party, but she politely congratulates Janet on her promotion. There are other conflicts which develop as the film progresses.

This is an intelligent film without being difficult to understand. I recommend that you sit and watch it with a friend, then discuss it afterwards.

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Marvel Years 07.04 - April 1967

Fantastic Four #61

Title: Where stalks the Sandman?

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby

Villain: Sandman

Regulars: Wyatt Wingfoot

Guests: Silver Surfer, Black Bolt, Medusa, Crystal, Gorgon, Karnak, Triton, Lockjaw, Peter Parker, Mary Jane Watson

After the epic battle against Doctor Doom the Fantastic Four return home to the Baxter Building. You would think that after such a victory they need not worry about anyone. Think again. The Sandman, who we last saw in Fantastic Four #57, is waiting for them. The new costume isn't the only change. He's obviously growing accustomed to his powers, because he's more powerful than ever before.

The Thing isn't impressed. He swings his fist and yells his battle cry: It's clobbering time.

Reed Richards opens the door to the Negative Zone to attempt to suck the Sandman in. This plan backfires. The Sandman flees, and Reed Richards himself falls in. He drifts through space towards the Explosive Zone. It's never been mentioned before, but we can guess what will happen when he reaches it.

According to the Crazy Credits, this story is extravagantly executed with ebullient erudition. I'll take Stan Lee's word for it.

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Amazing Spider-Man #47

Title: In the Hands of the Hunter!

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Romita

Villain: Kraven, Green Goblin (flashback)

Regulars: Aunt May, Mary Jane Watson, Flash Thompson, Gwen Stacy, Harry Osborn, J. Jonah Jameson, Betty Brant, Ned Leeds, Frederick Foswell

Kraven is released from prison and has two things on his mind. First, he wants revenge on Spider-Man, but I'm sure you guessed that anyway. Second, he wants the $20,000 that the Green Goblin promised him for attacking Spider-Man. Harry Osborn was the middle man between Kraven and the Green Goblin. Before you go start searching my posts to find out when this happened, read Stan Lee's footnote.

So it happened in the past, probably before Amazing Spider-Man #15, but we never saw it happen. Stan says that he didn't want to give away the whole story. Sneaky, sneaky Stan! We all know that's not true. He's only just made it up in order to make an excuse for Kraven to attack Harry Osborn, Norman Osborn's son.

For now, all you need to know is that Kraven last appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #34 and the Green Goblin last appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #40.

I like Spider-Man's attitude. He doesn't tolerate bad grammar. He's a super-hero after my own heart. I'm sure he's just as fussy about spelling.

Peter Parker is still torn between Mary Jane Watson and Gwen Stacy. Wow! Just look at the way she dances at Flash Thompson's farewell party. Flash will be lying in bed every night thinking about Gwen. So will Peter. And Harry. And every other man who saw her that night.

The Crazy Credits say that Sam Rosen abetted and lettered a story by Stan Lee and John Romita. What did Sam do that was illegal? Doesn't Stan realise that by writing this in the credits he's pointing the finger at himself as the biggest criminal?

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Strange Tales #155

Title: Death Trap!

Writer: Jim Steranko
Artist: Jim Steranko

Villain: Hydra, Supreme Hydra (Agent Bronson)

Regulars: Dum Dum Dugan, Gabe Jones, Jasper Sitwell, Laura Brown

In this issue Jim Steranko has completely taken over the story. Almost completely, that is. He's written and drawn the story, but Sam Rosen still does the lettering. By now Stan Lee should know that the letterers are indispensable.

Look at what Jim Steranko's doing. I said last issue that I thought he was paying homage to James Bond, and now he's said it out in the open. In the Crazy Credits we read that Stan Lee is Marvel's James Bond. Definitely! Jim Steranko refers to himself as Marvel's Man Flint. That's not so bad either. Derek Flynt may only have been a second rate imitation of James Bond, but he had more women. And then Sam Rosen is Marvel's Secret Squirrel. I had to google that character. It's a Hanna Barbera cartoon detective. That's still something to be proud of. I wonder if he got any attention from the lady squirrels.

But not everything is positive about Jim Steranko. This month he's quoted the SHIELD slogan in full after last month's memory lapse. He needs to forget it again.

Jim can invent corny gadgets just as well as Stan Lee, maybe even better. On the splash page there's a Vortex Beam. Later we meet the inventor of the Q-Ray Machine. I wonder what that stands for. The Queer Ray Machine? There's an Aphonic Bomb. And an Epiderm Mask machine. There's also the return of the AUTOFAC, the Analytical Unit for Tabulation of Origin Factors And Computation.

Here's President Lyndon B. Johnson again. He appears twice in this issue.

And there's a story in this issue? Oh yes, I almost forgot. Nick Fury has to fight with Hydra agents who've been smuggled into the SHIELD heli-carrier. Agent Bronson, who's really the Supreme Hydra, hypnotises Dum Dum Dugan, Gabe Jones and Jasper Sitwell to attack Nick Fury. After all that's over Laura Brown is to be transported to another SHIELD safe house, and Agent Bronson is selected to transport her.

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Title: The Fearful Finish!

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Marie Severin

Villain: Umar

Regulars: Ancient One, Clea

I don't know why this story is called "The Fearful Finish". Umar hasn't been defeated, and she'll be back next issue.

Doctor Strange rescues Clea from the dimension where Umar has banished her, with the help of the Ancient One. To prevent her from being banished by Umar again, the Ancient One banishes Clea to another dimension where nobody, not even Doctor Strange, can find her. Am I missing something?

Stan Lee has forgotten when Clea helped Doctor Strange. He should have asked me. It was in Strange Tales #126. She received her first punishment from Dormammu in the following issue.

In case I didn't tell you already, the story continues next issue.

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Tales of Suspense #88

Title: Beyond all rescue!

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Gene Colan

Villain: Mole Man

Regulars: Pepper Potts

Iron Man battles the Mole Man deep below the Earth's surface. Iron Man is stronger than the Mole Man's subjects, but he has to surrender eventually because there are millions of them. The Mole Man attempts to use Tony Stark's earth digger, but there's an explosion caused when it overheats. Iron Man flies back to the surface with Pepper Potts.

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Title: Wanted: If Bucky Lives!

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Gil Kane

Villain: Swordsman, Power Man, Red Skull

Regulars: Jarvis

Captain America receives a messsage calling for help from his Word War Two sidekick Bucky Barnes. He travels to Seagull Isle, off the coast of Nova Scotia, but it's a trap. The Swordsman and the Power Man, both last seen in Avengers #30, are waiting for him. Captain America defeats them, after which the Red Skull steps out of the shadows.

The Red Skull appeared to have died in Tales Of Suspense #81.

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Tales to Astonish #90

Title: To be beaten by Byrrah!

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Bill Everett

Villain: Byrrah

Regulars: Dorma, Vashti

This story features the return of a golden age villain, Prince Namor's cousin Byrrah, who was featured in issues of Sub-Mariner Comics from 1954 to 1955. He considers himself more suitable to rule Atlantis because he's a pure-blooded Atlantean, not half-human like Namor. He's not as strong as Namor, but he's more cunning. For years he's gained popularity in Atlantis by acting as a man of peace. Now he holds a series of speeches denouncing Namor as a war-monger. He demands the right to a duel with Namor. He wins by trickery. Now the people of Atlantis are planning to crown him Lord of Atlantis.

The Crazy Credits tell us that Irving Forbush stages water ballets. He has unlimited talent!

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Title: The Abomination!

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Gil Kane

Villain: Stranger, Abomination

Regulars: General Ross, Major Talbot, Betty Ross

After being brainwashed by the Stranger, the Hulk goes on a rampage of destruction in the southern United States. While approaching the military base where General Ross is stationed he turns into Bruce Banner. This gives him back his free will. He fears that the brainwashing will be returned when he becomes the Hulk again, so he goes to his gamma ray machine to give himself an overdose of gamma rays and kill himself.

Unknown to him, one of the soldiers at the base is a spy. He watches Bruce Banner preparing the gamma ray machine. Before the machine can be started Bruce is arrested and dragged away by Major Talbot. The spy stands in front of the machine and is turned into a green-skinned monster. Betty Ross calls him an abomination, and this name sticks. I dread to think what she will call her children. The Abomination is stronger than the Hulk, and he has unimpaired intelligence.

Bruce Banner turns back into the Hulk. He challenges the Abomination, but he's defeated.

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Thor #139

Title: To die like a God!

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby

Villain: Ulik, Guerridor, Orikal

Regulars: Odin, Sif

Thor despairs because he's about to turn back into Donald Blake without his hammer. Sif reminds him that as an Asgardian she can travel to Asgard at any time, and she doesn't need a hammer to do this. In Asgard Thor will remain an immortal, with or without his hammer.

This is an unusual drawing for Jack Kirby; unusual but excellent.

A short way from Bifrost the Rainbow Bridge, Thor and Sif enter the tunnels of the Trolls. As a traditional Norse God, Thor is convinced that men are stronger and women should remain in the kitchen. He tells Sif to leave because she is merely woman, but she insists on fighting.

Odin himself has incredible power. Note his almost Biblical words:

"I am the Will, and the Way, and the Wonder".

Thor retrieves his hammer, but the Trolls are still undefeatable because of the weapons Oriakal has created for them. Thor frees Oriakal from the flames of the Trolls on condition that he leaves. The Trolls surrender.

In the Crazy Credits Stan Lee goes overboard with alliteration, saying the story is a peerless, pictorial pageant, painstakingly produced with perfectly pardonable pride. The only P's that Sam Rosen gets is that he lettered with Pen-Points. He deserves more.

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Title: The  Secret of the Mystic Mountain!

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby

Gods: Thor, Fandrel, Hogun, Volstagg

Thor and the Warriors Three find the Mystic Mountain, but it doesn't look like a mountain because it's underground and upside down.

Where does Stan Lee keep getting these words from? He calls this story a rhapsodic Rabelaisian romp. I'm sure it is.

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The Avengers #39

Title: The Torment and the Triumph!

Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Don Heck

Avengers: Hawkeye, Goliath, Wasp, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch

Villain: Mad Thinker, Hammerhead, Piledriver, Thunderfoot

Regulars: Black Widow, Hercules

Guests: Nick Fury, Dum Dum Dugan, Jasper Sitwell

Captain America is absent because he's been tricked into thinking Bucky Barnes is still alive. Read this month's Tales Of Suspense if you want to know more about it.

The newspapers report that the Black Widow has stolen defence plans from a military base in Arizona. Nobody except for Nick Fury and other high ranking SHIELD agents knows that the plans were obsolete and worthless, a setup to establish the Black Widow as a double agent.

The Mad Thinker, who we last saw in Fantastic Four Annual #4, has hired three criminals and given them super-powered suits to defeat the Avengers. Considering that they're bland, generic super-villains, they're successful in their mission.

Hammerhead defeats Hawkeye.

Piledriver defeats Goliath and the Wasp.

Thunderboot defeats Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch.

This completes the Mad Thinker's plans by defeating all of the Avengers. There's just one thing he didn't reckon with. Hercules is currently staying in the Avengers Mansion as a guest. He keeps the three villains busy until the Avengers wake up and join in the fight.

I wonder if there's a retirement home for super-villains. Hammerhead, Piledriver and Thunderfoot never return again after this issue.

The Crazy Credits tell us that Irving Forbush is a dog-catcher. I really don't know how he manages to do it all. How many hours does he have in his day?

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X-Men #31

Title: We must destroy the Cobalt Man!

Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Werner Roth

X-Men: Cyclops, Angel, Beast, Iceman, Marvel Girl

Villain: Cobalt Man (Ralph Roberts)

Regulars: Professor X, Vera, Zelda, Candy Southern

Guests: Iron Man (cameo)

Professor X gives the X-Men the weekend off after a hard week of training.

Back at the college, Jean Grey finally meets Ralph, the older brother of her fellow student Ted Roberts. He set numerous sports records while in college, as well as excelling academically. He's designed a cobalt suit which he claims is more powerful than Iron Man's suit.

Ted and Ralph agree to compete with one another at pole-vaulting. Ralph's pole breaks and he bangs his head. This causes him to go crazy, putting on his suit then destroying his laboratory. He's obsessed with Iron Man, calling him a traitor. He wants to destroy Tony Stark's new factory, but the X-Men fight and defeat him.

Ted hints that he knows Jean Grey is Marvel Girl.

P.S. Werner Roth's artwork is excellent, as always.

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Daredevil #27

Title: Mike Murdoch must die!

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Gene Colan

Villain: Stilt-Man, Masked Marauder

Regulars: Foggy Nelson, Karen Page

Guests: Spider-Man

Stilt-Man and the Masked Marauder agree to team up, temporarily at least. The Masked Marauder kidnaps Matt Murdock, Foggy Nelson and Karen Page, because he's sure one of them knows Daredevil's secret identity. He carries them away in his helicopter. To spare his friends any harm, Matt reveals that Daredevil is his brother Mike. Stilt-Man runs to the nearest phone booth to check the phone book for his address, but he can't find him. Matt pretends to fall out of the helicopter, so that he can change into his Daredevil costume.

Daredevil defeats the Masked Marauder, who (seemingly) falls to his death. In the meantime Spider-Man battles Stilt-Man.

There's more alliteration in the Crazy Credits, though I don't find the message suitable for this story. Stan Lee says it's a breath-taking battle of babbling behemoths. Oh well. And Artie Simek does level-headed lettering. Yes, he does. One of the most important qualities of a letterer is to be reliable, and we can always count on Artie to keep a cool head and provide world class lettering.

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Other comics published this month:

Millie the Model #148 (Dennis O'Neil, Stan Goldberg)
Modelling with Millie #53 (Gary Friedrich, Bill Williams)
Rawhide Kid #57 (Larry Lieber, Larry Lieber)
Ghost Rider #2 (Gary Friedrich, Dick Ayers)
Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #41 (Roy Thomas, Dick Ayers)