the adventures of buckaroo banzai across the 8th dimension (1984)

aka The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai. Buckaroo Banzai. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension.
"Hey man, nice jacket!"
Buckaroo (Peter Weller), a surgeon, rock-star, and scientist, develops a method of traveling through solid material at a molecular level, in an attempt to prove that other lifeforms live on earth, in other dimensions. In doing so he accidentally releases some aliens, (including John Lithgow & Christopher Lloyd), imprisoned in the 8th dimension. He and his team (including Geff Goldblum and Ellen Barkin), are given an ultimatum by the rulers of the 10th planet - recapture them within 24 hours or they will nuke them, potentially starting a world war.
Tongue in cheek, and complex adventure, that rattles along at a breathless pace. One for the 80's sci-fi fanboys.

devil girl from mars (1954)

"Come on Jamie, whilst we are still alive we might as well have a cup of tea."
A meteor lands in a remote part of Scotland, and Professor Hennessey (Joseph Tomelty) travels to investigate it. What he finds is the dominatrix sister of Darth Vader, Nyah (Patricia Laffan) and her pal, a menacing robot, who have come to collect some men as breeding stock. Complicating things is the arrival of escaped prisoner 'Albert Simpson' (Peter Reynolds), who is there to see ex-lover Doris (Adrienne Corri), and, a model on holiday, Ellen (Hazel Court).
Enjoyable piece of hokum, though lacking in action. Features the music of Edwyn Astley.

the land unknown (1957)

"What are we going to do know?"
A naval expedition experiences technical difficulties and becomes trapped in a previously unknown polar oasis inhabited by prehistoric animals. Inevitably a female reporter Maggie (Shirley Patterson) is along for the ride and falls for the rugged Commander Hal Roberts (Jock Mahoney) as they struggle to survive and find a way to get the hell out of there.
Mildly diverting and cheesy horror.

things to come (1936)

aka H.G. Wells' Things to Come.
"Everything's over, civilisation is dead!" An epic journey over decades, which opens with John Cabal (Raymond Massey) celebrating Christmas 1940, and fretting about a possible war. War inevitably comes, and continues so long, that eventually few know nothing but war, not knowing who started it or why. Society has broken down into primitive localized communities. Eventually civilised society starts to revive and reconstruction begins, but there are those who mistrust progress, as was it not this that started the war in the first place?
Bombastic view of the near future, and the effects of war and distrust. Spectacular at the time, age has diminished its power, though it still has much to recommend it.

first spaceship on venus (1960)

aka Der schweigende Stern. Planet of the Dead. The Silent Star. Spaceship Venus Does Not Reply.
"It was really a spaceship which exploded in the air before landing."
A piece of what was thought to be a meteor is examined, and scientists determine that it is in fact manufactured, and that it must have come from Venus. So they send an international team of astronauts to the planet to investigate.
'Talkie' sci-fi, which goes nowhere slowly.

hansel and gretel (2002)

"Off like a light, into the night."
Hansel and Gretel (Jacob Smith & Taylor Momsen), are abandoned in the woods by their wicked step-mother (Delta Burke). Fortunately the Sandman (Howie Mandel) happens by and Hansel convinces him to help them against the Troll (Bobcat Goldthwait) and other hazards.
Applying the Princess Bride scripting technique to the fairy tale, with added modern day speech and references makes for passable TV movie type fare.

cannibal ferox 2 (1985)

aka Massacre in Dinosaur Valley. Nudo e selvaggio.
"As you so rightly said, I am a son of a bitch.""
A motley crew of passengers, including an archeologist (Michael Sopkiw) and a couple of models find themselves stranded when visiting the forbidden Vally of the Dinosaurs, in the Amazon. Finding themselves lost in the territory of a cannibal tribe, they have to try to keep one step ahead of the warriors, but also find out that there are other fearsome things in the Jungle.
Nothing new, but it has some laughable set pieces that keep you watching.

grave of the vampire (1972)

aka Seed of Terror.
"My mother found it difficult to tell me that I wasn't like other children..."
A woman is raped by an ancient and vicious vampire, Croft (Michael Pataki). She subsequently bears a child, James (William Smith), who can only survive by drinking blood. He grows up to be a reserved adult intent on wreaking his revenge on his vampire-father for creating him in his image.
Cheap horror flick, with an interesting premise, that suffers from pacing, and is thus ildly diverting, but with a terrible ending.

the man from deep river (1972)

aka Sacrifice. Il paese del sesso selvaggio. Deep River Savages.
"If anyone asks after me, you never saw me." Whilst working in an undefined Asian country, an English photographer (Ivan Rassimov) kills a man in a bar fight and retreats into the jungle to photograph the wildlife. There he is captured by a tribe who use him as a slave, but he catches the eye of the chief's daughter, a fact that keeps him alive, and eventually he marries her, forgetting all ideas of escaping.
The film that supposedly kicked off the Italian cannibal genre, is in reality a mildly diverting drama, with a bit of animal cruelty thrown in.

the deadly mantis (1957)

aka The Giant Mantis. The Incredible Praying Mantis.
"Maybe there is an ordinary explanation to this, but I wouldn't take any bets."
When an arctic radar station is trashed, this is the first sign that something nasty has extricated itself from the ice, and is heading to the America's to party. The military are baffled and call in scientist Dr. Ned Jackson (William Hopper) to give them some thoughts, but can the might of the US military prevent the creature from reaching New Jersey?
A creature feature with all the usual cliches, giant unexplained creature, love interest (Alix Talton), hunky scientist, and military, (for the big guns), and as such works well with what it's got, without being a classic.

minnesota clay (1964)

"He tried to make me kill my own daughter."
Minnesota Clay (Cameron Mitchell) is a man with revenge on his mind. Wrongfully imprisoned he escapes and high-tails it after the man (George Riviere) who withheld vital evidence at his trial, but he is up against time, as he is going blind. Furthermore, his nemesis is now the sheriff, and with Mexican bandit Ortiz (Fernando Sancho) is terrorising the town. Stirring up more trouble is Estella (Ethel Rojo), a devious spitfire who likes nothing better than chaos.
Watchable, pre-Django Corbucci helmed adventure.

uk swings again (1964)

"and this is Kent Walton introducing the Swinging Blue Jeans."
Presenters introduce some popular British beat combo's of the 60's, (barring a couple of notable exceptions), including the Hollies, Lulu, the Animals, the Tremaloes and the Applejacks, in this Joe Meek heavy second feature.
Only for those with a love of British beat groups of the Sixties.

track of the moon beast (1976)

"A killing. A messy one."
Paul (Chase Cordell) is hit by a fragment of a meteor which seems to effect him adversely. He takes to his bed with a fever, with his new girlfriend (Leigh Drake) worried about his erratic behaviour. Meanwhile the police start to investigate a spate of murders where a man-sized lizard type creature is involved.
Cheap and cheesy creature feature, adding nothing new to the genre.

the prophecy (1995)

aka Seraphim. God's Army. God's Secret Army. "I stood with my brothers and watched Lucifer fall."
Bored of the stalemate in the war between Heaven and Hell, the angel Gabriel (Christopher Walken) goes rogue and comes to Earth to try and collect a soul which will bring the conflict to an end. He needs to find the soul that Simon (Eric Stoltz) has hidden. But a detective (Elias Koteas), who happens to be a former priest who has lost his faith, and a young girl (Virginia Madsen) stand in his way.
Interesting premise, fleshed out by some powerful actors, make for an mildly diverting thriller.