Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 2

How do gentle readers. We are back reviewing some popular TV series because... not really getting any feedback on what I am to be reviewing so here we are again. Well the fall came and dunking three multi-billion dollar flying aircraft carriers into the Potomac might have shaken the American people, its military and virtually every government on the planet's faith but the work must continue and resources are thin. Hydra funded by shell corporations, multi-conglomerates, satellite and probably even Cox Communications (They seem shady) posing towards world domination (So sorry Cobra, but you missed your window), who can stand up to these threats against the planet? Well I would say the Avengers but TV cannot afford those salaries. This is Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 2.

OoOoo...gang plank.

Special Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg of The Spanish Prisoner, Magnolia, State and Main, Iron Man, Thor, The Avengers, Ultimate Spider-Man, Lego Marvel's Avengers and Thrilling Adventure Hour Live) has been promoted to Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division....of course in the sixties it was known as Supreme Headquarters, International Espionage Law-Enforcement Division) which would seem like an worthwhile promotion except, Hydra (Ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule the world...wait that's Cobra. Meh.) took their losses in Captain America: The Winter Soldier but struck a hell of a blow to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s credibility and now the surviving members of S.H.I.E.L.D.must operate under the cover of the shadows with less freedom than they had, jurisdiction and manpower.

 

Remember, this is the Fuhrer's highest order...next to the eugenics, werewolves and aliens..

With ops being ran through Agent May (Ming-An Wen of Street Fighter: The Movie, Spawn: The Animated Series, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, Mulan, The Batman, SGU Stargate Universe, Eureka and April Rain) stepping up as second-in-command as well as CO for Agent Skye (Chloe Bennett of Nashville, The Birthday Boys, Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast and Jake and the Never Land Pirates) they have their hands full fixing the mess Hydra created by released super powered beings, stolen tech ranging from extra-terrestrial and super genius level to ensuing mass hysteria. Armed with a handful of tech, contacts and more than a few good men and women, S.H.I.E.L.D. Tries to stay on top of things as best as possible. Dogged on their tails is Brigadier General Talbot (Adrian Pasdar of Near Dark, Top Gun, Lego Marvel Super Heroes, Burn Notice, Iron Man & Hulk: Heroes United, Ultimate Spider-Man and Marvel's Avengers Assemble) hell bent to put the whole crew behind bars for being associated however indirectly with Hydra and brought up on war crimes. Upon these adventures a mysterious artifact of alien origin leads the team to a hidden city with a race of human/alien hybrids called Inhumans, that have been in seclusion for generations, fearing to live a normal life among the non-powered humans.

Can S.H.I.E.L.D. Bring them to the light and assure them protection? Is humanity ready to accept the existence of alien life? Will Hydra find them first and use them as bio weapons?

First off, this is a huge change up in story, the whole being unable to operate in the light of day, bringing covert ops back to the original source. S.H.I.E.L.D. Has collapsed and been rebuilt in the comics multiple times it is not even funny. Our stunts, practical effects and CGI are an excellent blend to the theme. Several folks are honked off that lesser known villains and heroes of Marvel are being tinkered with to fit the story and again I say, "Tough niblets." The fact these characters are getting screen time finally is a miracle enough as it is.

Hell several of these stories are from the original source material that Stan Lee and the late Jack Kirby did in the sixties. Joss Whedon's writing crew has really been on the ball with developing relationships, back stories and complex opening subplot stories. So if you want some Marvel action that doesn't necessary have folks running around in spandex but you love the whole spy vs spy motif, give it a view. FYI if you are sick of hearing, "Hail Hydra", then you may want to skip the continuing series. Cockroaches don't have this much life span I swear.

So does that leather bind?

Franco Nero : Street Law

Hey folks! I know that Enter the Ninja was pure Franco Nero goodness and I decided to take a peek some of his earlier works and found a Italian action thriller. Brought to us by Italian action/sci-fi exploitation Enzo G. Castellari (A Few Dollars for Django, Eagles Over London, The Shark Hunter, The Last Shark, 1990: The Bronx Warriors, Warriors of the Wasteland, Escape from the Bronx, Hamerhead, Sinbad of the Seven Seas and The Return of Sandokan) so expect some crazy ideas. This is Street Law.

Telly Savalas??!!!

Hard working and clinical scientist Carlo (Franco Nero of Django, Force 10 from Navarone, The Shark Hunter, The Salamander, Enter the Ninja, The Last Days of Pompeii, Django Strikes Again, Die Hard 2: Die Harder, Crimson Dawn, Megiddo: The Omega Code 2 and Django Unchained) is accosted and kidnapped during a vicious bank heist and the hoods end up kicking the crap out Carlo dragging him through a crazed car chase leaving him scarred on a psychological level. Working with the inspector (Renzo Palmer of Danger: Diabolik, White Fang To the Rescue, The Big Racket and The Family), Carlo feels the police are moving too slow on this and appearing ineffectual, Carlo decides to take the law in his own hands Charles Bronson style.

So this isn't doing anything for you huh?

Carlo is begged by his stunning girlfriend Barbara (Barbara Bach of The Spy Who Loved Me, Force 10 of Navarone, The Great Alligator, Screamers, The Humanoid, Jaguar Lives!, The Unseen and Caveman) to not get involved chasing after the men that humilated and beat him but his revenge is the only thing that matters...FOCUS DUDE!!! YOU GOT A BOND GIRL!!! Anyway, Carlo slaps around and blackmailed a street thug name of Tommy (Giancarlo Prete of Confessions of a Police Captain, Street Law, The Last Shark, Space:1999, Midnight Blue, Warriors of the Wasteland, The Last Blood and Ladyhawke) getting his feet wet in the underworld, trying to find these men and exact his vengeance. Will Carlo take these monsters down? Will his relationship with Tommy get them both killed? Will Barbara give up on Carlo and chase after Ringo Starr?

Well we have some amazing camera work, stunts are pretty sound and fight scenes aren't too shabby. Poor me I had to gaze at Barbara Bach. The music score by Guido and Maurizio De Angelis (Trinity Is STILL My Name!, Man of the East, Charleston, Zorro, Scandal in the Family, Violent City) brings a gritty film a more menancing theme. Franco Nero did almost all his own stunts with a few exceptions by famed stuntman Rocco Lerro (Man Who Cried for Revenge, Watch Out, We're Mad, Street Law, High Rollers, The Inglorious Bastards, The Shark Hunter and Hercules) as a stunt double.

The cinematography of Carlo Carlini (I Vitelloni, General Della Rovere, Death Rides a Horse and The Big Gundown) is spellbinding, giving an edge to the violence depicted on the streets and the back alleys out of sight of the city. Shot in 35mm through Techniscope (Italian Technicolor using half the film stock, same running time, less negatives to develop and technical superior lenses).

While this was no Death Wish which came out the exact same year, it still brings a lot of action and suspense to the table. With an audacious use of violence and eluding to sexual perversions this is pure seventies that was gutsy and giving fresh and harsh vision. So if you enjoy a rough and tumble action thriller, give it the once over.

So you gonna read my palm or not?

Enter the Ninja

Hiyas boys and girls. Welcome back to the week and pulling out a rarity for me. A Golan-Globus movie. Yes most folk attribute most Golan-Globus films as lesser action, horror and sci-fi movies and yet they brought us all Hospital Massacre, Death Wish II, 10 to Midnight, Revenge of the Ninja, Invasion U.S.A., King Solomon's Mines and Masters of the Universe. True they did also give us Death Wish 3 and 4: The Crackdown, Cyborg and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace but that is just splitting hairs. Clearly you need the faithful helping hand that is ninja.

This is Enter the Ninja.

I'm not sure if I can find that master of shadows.

Training hard in ninja school and yes that is apparently a thing, for war vet (some scrumming in Africa Congo and not Nam for a change) Cole (Franco Nero of Django, Force 10 from Navarone, The Shark Hunter, The Last Days of Pompeii, Django Strikes Again, Die Hard 2: Die Harder, The Dragon Ring and Django Unchained) achives the rank of ninja as his nifty scroll is his diploma...apparently that is also a thing that happened. After a slight wrinkle of words exchanged between Cole and Hasegawa (Sho Kosugi of Revenge of the Ninja, The Master, Ninja III: The Domination, Pray for Death, Rage of Honor, Blind Fury, Black Eagle and Ninja Assassin) at whether or not Cole is a legit ninja or not and he stomps off like a spoiled brat leaving Cole to reflect.

Cole leaves Japan (No real actual location) to the Phillipines to visit his friend Frank who looks like a hybrid of Andy Gibb and James Caan. Picture that for a moment. Upon arriving, he doesn't shout out, ring a bell or wait for someone to pass by this massive gate. Nope, best to use those vaulted ninja skills and scale over the wall but all the while he didn't even dirty his tight white pant suit. Did I mention this is 1981? Disco wear still available. Susan George meets Cole with a twelve gauge and hell I don't blame her given she had a difficult time with the Straw Dogs and Mandingo. Our gentleman hero tricks her, tosses her shotgun and puts her in a groping hold??

Frank greets his manhandling buddy and introduces his wife to Cole.

Dark Ninja attack!!

Frank has changed quite a bit since the war. His three loves is his wife, booze and apparently cockfights. Yeah can't get enough of roosters beating the crap out of each other. He is being squeezed by a land developer in Manila, hounded by packs of thugs constantly making his life miserable. Cole proceeds to beat the crap out of most of these men and we even get to see a man impaled with a bench. Ninja trick no doubt. Our inspiring land developer Mr. Venarius (Christopher George of El Dorado, The Rat Patrol, Chisum, The Train Robbers, Grizzly, City of the Living Dead, Graduation Day and Pieces) sends his best yes man to Japan to acquire a ninja of his own to do battle with Cole and shock of shocks or plenty of foreshadow it is Hasegawa that takes the contract. After defending Frank's plantation, watching him drink himself in a stupor, he does what any good friend does...plow Frank's wife. Well, that marriage was rocky at best.

Will Venarius get the land? Will Frank find out Cole porked his wife? Will battle with Hasegawa bring their feud to an end?

This is the right amount of action and over the top Ninja nonsense of the 80s and 90s. The craze that caused most of our parents to buy up a lot of plastic throwing stars and katana swords. Franco Nero was an unusual casting as the lead given the fact he had no martial arts background at all.

Writer/stuntman Mike Stone a martial arts expert was initially supposed to be Cole but his acting was painful that he was replaced by Franco Nero and yet, Franco didn't have a Texan accent or American at all thus needed to be dubbed. Just how crappy was Mike Stone's acting? The fight scenes are pretty good, the writing is fair and Will Hare of The Electric Horseman, Fire on the Mountain and of course Grandpa in Silent Night, Deadly Night. I just thought of his lines creeping out little Billy and started laughing.

Ninja and amateur mammogram specialist.

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.

Hey folks. I am guessing you are no worse for wear with being subjected to Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance...mostly because you did not have to sit through that stinkburger. With that in mind I will bring you a film that gets overlooked as being pretty decent. No I am not subjecting you to some obscure 80s slasher movie that you may have passed in a now defunct concept like a video store but rather a blockbuster film that occurred in 2004 with a budget of no less than 70 million in the hopes it would rocket to the stars with the opening weekend. An ambitious flick that showcased enough talent, actors and decent writing some folks are still either embrace it for what it is or just outright sneer at it. This is Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.

Yes I am that pretty, world. Get over it.

Directoral debut Kerry Conran (Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, The World of Tomorrow and Gumdrop) we open with an alternative timeline of 1939 in which the zeppelin dubbed Hindenburg II arrives at the Empire State building carrying Dr. Jorge Vargas (Julian Curry of Rumpole of the Bailey, Rasputin, Mysteries of Egypt, Uncle Adolf and The Queen's Sister) delivering two vials to for a Dr. Walter Jennings (Trevor Baxter of Cold Comfort Farm. The Politician's Wife. The Hunchback, Parting Shots, Doctors and My Family), when moments later Dr. Vargas disappears.

Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow of Jefferson in Paris, Se7en, Great Expectations, Shakespeare in Love, Iron Man, Glee, Iron Man 2 and The Avengers) is a hustle and bustle newspaper reporter on the story of Varga and five other world renowned scientists are missing. After meeting Dr, Jennings at a showing of the Wizard of Oz he tells her that Dr. Totenkopf is coming for him. Taking that in, the air raid sirens go off immense giant robots start attacking the city. The police feeling overwhelmed summon Sky Captain (Jude Law of Gattaca, Final Cut, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Cold Mountain, The Aviator, All the King's Men, Sherlock Holmes, Repo Men and Side Effects) and his Flying Legion, a private air force based in New York and... no one seems to question that. Must be that Commisoner Gordon/Batman relationship I guess. With one of the robots dismantled, Sky Captain Joe Sullivan takes the monstrosity to their tech guy Dex (Giovanni Ribsi of Saving Private Ryan, Gone in Sixty Seconds, Avatar and Ted) to figure who made it and what makes it tick. 

Tony Stark mad with power, strikes again!

 Dex tracks the signal of this massive automaton to Tibet and our heroes head for that direction only to run into Commander Franky Cook commanding a FLYING AIRCRAFT CARRIER!!! YUP! A friggin' Helicarrier pre-S.H.I.E.L.D. Commanded by Angelia Jolie in all her fiestiness. FYI, both ladies are Sky Captain's exes so "Awkward," is an understatement. With figuring out what Dr. Totenkopf is up to and why there seems to be such an uproar from a scientist is paramount...(not New Line Cinema.)

Folks I really have no problem with this film. It is kind of a throwback to Doc Savage with the amazing inventions and some of the older comic strips like Terry and the Pirates. Good action scenes, decent character development and enough digital artists, modelers and animators busting their butts I don't understand why folks crap all over it.

It has its flaws as does any movie and admittedly there are a few plotholes but overall I was impressed with it and would recommend it for a sit-in with the family as GIANT FRICKIN' ROBOTS get used! Feels a bit similar to the Max Fleischer Studios Superman and a bit of the Buster Crabbe Flash Gordon serials. I had fun watching this.

My fedora senses danger!!

A Sequel Like No Other: Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance

Well hello there my little lamby lambs and welcome back for the week here at Rotten Reelz Reviews. Now we have a few announcements for the week but that will all have to wait because...I have the sequel! What sequel you may find yourself asking? Why, only the sequel you yourself didn't even know you wanted. Yes the sequel to follow 25 years later from all the hard hitting action, paint balls for blood, the tactical wisdom of Shoot, shoot shoot, shoot them, man! I speak of none other than Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance.

Kawasu e no ikō o chūshi! or Abort move to dodge!

25 years later and the streets of L.A.have not improved. Technology and communications run at an all-time high and the Yakuza are in full swing. Joe Marshall (Matt Karedas of American Revenge, Samurai Cop and JAG)has all but disappeared after the death of Jennifer (now played by adult film star Kayden Kross of Escort, The Turn On. The Con Job, Nurses 2. Orgasm and My Sister's Husband)

Frank (Mark Frazer of Another World, Hunter, Samurai Cop and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman) has a life, a good woman and a new partner Detective Higgins (Laurene Landon of Airplane II: The Sequel, Hundra, Maniac Cop, Wicked Stepmother, Maniac Cop 2, Drive and Knife to a Gunfight) whose plastic surgery is kinda frightening to look at. Seriously, I can barely understand her given her jaw has been reconstructed and her flesh pulled taunt. It's really scary. Frank knows a gang war is about to go down with the bodies piling up on either side but his captain, Joe Harmon (Joe Estevez of Soultaker, Werewolf, Cyber Seeker, Fatal Justice, Toad Warrior, Rollergator, Demolition Highway and Guns of El Chupacabra) is a bit of a prick and doesn't care for cops with instinct only by the book. At least 3 tsuba (hilt for a wakasashi or katana) have been left at the murder scenes.

Bai Ling's late afternoon wear.

 Frank tracks down the shipping address only to find Joe, alive and well, hiding out in the desert making duplicates based on the 8 tsuba of virtue for swords living the life of peace when Katanas strike! Agreeing to work with Frank again, Joe meets Milena ( Again adult film star Kayden Kross of Escort, The Turn On. The Con Job, Nurses 2. Orgasm and My Sister's Husband) the spitting image of his dead wife Jennifer and a hokey romance ensues.

3 semi-nude girls and you can't see a thing in this shot! muahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!

Joe drug into the middle of this potential power keg must do battle with the Katana clan against former mullet Fujiyama (Cranston Komuro of Samurai Cop and Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance) and his three deadliest specialists: Dogge' (Bai Ling of The Crow, Anna and the King, Sky Captain and the World of Tommorow, Blood Shed, The Key and 6 Ways to Die), Hera (Adult film actress Lexi Belle of Trouble Youth 3, Sweet Petite, The Ring, Girls Love Girls 3 and Lusty Young Lesbians Vol. 6) and Tessa (Adult film star Zoey Monroe of Slut Puppies 7, Buttsex Nymphos 2, Bitter Sweet. Young & Glamorous 5, Lil' Gaping Lesbians 5, and the classic P.O.V. Pervert 16) . Can Joe and Frank put aside their differences to handle Katana again? Will Joe have another lovely lady wig? Will Frank STOP mugging for the camera?

Originally pitched as Marshall's partner Frank would team up with Joe's daughter to avenge dear old Joe when...actor Matt Karedas turns out to be alive after years off the grid. Whoops. Better make him a producer.  Dear sweet lord why??? WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO US ALL???!!! Okay, that bit of overacting is courtesy of The Room's Tommy Wiseau appearing and having a part. The horror... the horror. YOU'RE SLICING ME APART, SAMURAI!!! Yup, got it out of my system now.

That's not my gun digging into your hip, baby.

Happy Easter

Hiya folks!  Happy Easter from Rotten Reelz Reviews.  Glad we have had all this time bringing you reviews on films, TV and Video Games.  We will be branching into everything but romantic comedies of current standing.  I seriously cannot stand that trope of zany guy that gets the stable girl and yet the reverse makes the woman in question look like she belongs in a rubber room.

More episodes of Rotten Ramblin' On will on the way and again feel free to contact us at rottenramblinon@gmail.com or on Facebook.   For suggestions for movies, TV and video games feel free to contact me at rottenreelzreviews@gmail.com and of course Facebook .


Give us some suggestions, comments and complaints.

Take it easy!

Likes my bacon fresh!

Shows Across the Pond: The Sweeney

Hey folks. Back again. Just to mention again Rotten Reelz can be reached at rottenreelzreviews@gmail.com for comments, critiques, queries and even suggestions. That being said I found a show from across the pond on parallel with Starsky &Hutch here. Giving all the levels of clashing classes, police and official corruption, bribery and oh so close links to criminal elements. The Flying Squad, a division of the Metropolitan Police tended to the scum of armed robbery and violent crimes. Watched like a hawk by their Detective Chief Superintedent, DI Jack Regan and DS George Carter are on the case. This is The Sweeney.

Gonna plug ya with my Roscoe, see?

Created in 1975 by writer Ian Kennedy Martin (The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes, The Capone Investment, Mitchell, The Sweeney, The Chinese Detective, The Fourth Floor and King & Castle) mirroring the actual corruption of the real-life Flying Squad in which actual commander of the Flying Squad, our heroes Detective Inspector Jack Regan (John Thaw of Inspector Morse, Mitch, Cry Freedom, Bomber Harris, Home to Roost, Into the Blue and Goodnight, Mister Tom) and Detective Sergeant George Carter (Dennis Waterman of Scars of Dracula, Sextet, Alices's Adventures in Wonderland, Sweeney!, The Life and Loves of a She-Devil, Tube Mice, Minder and Cold Justice) working the streets and being the thief takers. (Detective Chief Superintendent Kenneth Dury in 1977 up for five counts of corruption and set to the hoosegow for 8 years.)

Regan, the chief "thief-taker" is a hard ass cop annoyed with Scotland Yard procedures and red tape constantly complaining about it. Clearly from Manchester he attempts to muddle his accent poorer upbringing is a seat of ridicule for his Londoner partner George Carter. A bit of a womanizer, quick to a fist fight, divorced with a daughter offers a working class dynamic. Carter is a force unto himself. The man drinks like a fish whilst smoking like a chimney. A former boxer, lover of football (Soccer for us Yanks) after the death of his wife he chased many a skirt but not as successful as Regan he is constantly more a good cop to Regan's bad cop.

Give us the dirt or it's lights out for you, me old son.

Both have a casual relationship with their chief DCI Frank Haskins (Garfield Morgan of Albert!, Henry VIII and His Six Wives, Z Cars, The Man Was Hunting Himself, The Odessa File, Crown Court, George and Mildred, Shelly and Jenny's War) who they refer by first name rather than by rank. Of the three he is married with three children all attending boarding schools (probably Hogwarts) is the only one with a stable background having a former service in Royal Corps of Signals (ran radio during the War) and is constantly at lager heads with Regan on procedures and conventional police work.

This show has that same gritty dark feel that the original Get Carter and brings a seedy underbelly of London showing rampant crime and cops coming down on them like a ton of bricks. Laughed myself sick seeing more than a handful of guest stars I immediately recognized. Such as: Patrick Troughton, John Rhy-Davies, Brian Blessed, Joss Ackland, Prunella Gee, Geraldine James and Stuart Wilson. It's sinister, cleverly-written and well cast. One for those that loved the grimy, 

nebulous vibe of the cop drama films and TV of the seventies. Highly recommend this for folks enjoying something tenebrous and redeeming at the same time.

Oh that's the face of a man losing his temper.