Movies

The Shape of Things to Come (1979) Titled onscreen as H. G. Wells' The Shape etc., this bears no resemblance to anything Wells ever wrote, but is Canada's entry into the Crummy Star Wars Ripoff genre. There isn't much in this that couldn't have been done twenty or thirty years earlier, except for the shots of the Toronto geodesic dome. Jack Palance in a purple cape is the evil Robot Master who wants to conquer the moon, with Carol Lynley as the rebel leader sitting around a campfire in the old quarry. John Ireland also got roped into it. The evil robots are walking trashcans that wave their flexible ductwork arms up and down when they waddle. There is a good robot too for comedy relief and when it shows the good guys that it can teleport, violating the very laws of physics and reason, they react with mild interest as if it had shown them a dance step, proving this was written by people who don't know anything about anything, but that can be deciphered from the first scene. A load of half assed crap and I don't think even taking drugs could make it enjoyable. 3/10

Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise as The Magnificent Two (1966) It's a case of mistaken identity that makes Eric leader of a victorious revolution and new Presidente of Parazuella. Moderately amusing at times. The women of the revolutionary army are all bikini models and eventually find an excuse to charge into battle in their matching red underwear. M&W only made three movies together so now I am done. 5.5/10

Movies

That Riviera Touch (1966) British comedy duo Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise head for the Riviera for fun in the sun. The story is a mere contrivance to put them into conventionally comedic situations; creeping around an Old Dark House, being mistaken for someone else and chased by International Jewel Thieves, plummeting down a winding mountain road in a car with no brakes, etc. Anybody could have done this. A waste of their talents. Prolonged extreme closeups of underdeveloped bikini babes do not improve the situation. 4/10

Movies

The Intelligence Men (1965) Spy spoof starring British comedy duo Morecambe and Wise, directed by Robert Asher who also directed the best Norman Wisdom films. Balding, bespectacled Eric Morecambe and diminutive, sandy-haired Ernie Wise are a pair of nitwits who become embroiled in international espionage and quite naturally end up onstage in a performance of swan lake, dressed as Egyptians. I have recently been enjoying their 1970s TV and radio comedy/variety programs, which are a slightly better outlet for their talents than this. Still there were some very amusing moments amid the chasing around. 6/10

Help! (1965) The Beatles pretend to perform some songs, act silly, get chased around. Not the worst Richard Lester movie they were in. I always like Eleanor Bron and Leo McKern. Thanks to Dave Humphries for the reminder. 6/10