Thursday, September 29, 2016

Thursday Movie Picks-Cults/Secret Societies


I can't believe it is the end of September but I am so happy that the hot weather has gone. October always brings out the bogedy bogedy ( pronounced boo-gedy...it may be my own invention...or not) and it is a fun month because we also celebrate Thanksgiving here.  This week was a tough one for me because most of these types of films I have not seen because they are too scary. There is one film, which I think was a TV movie, that, to this day, freaks me out even remembering it. All I recall is a family who come up to a town. It all seems nice but something sinister is about and one finds out that a Satanic cult rules this town. What bothered me is the family didn't make it out plus I recall goats. If anyone knows about this film, let me know. I always say to head on over to Wandering Through The Shelves to see what the other movie bloggers have chosen. So my 3 films are....

1. LIVE AND LET DIE-1973


James Bond?? Cult images? You bet! This is the first outing with Roger Moore as James Bond and this is a great Bond film. It takes place, mainly in the States and Haiti where Bond is investigating the deaths of agents who were investigating drug trafficking. There is quite a bit centered on the voodoo culture that, I feel, is a cult which many still practice and believe in. Bond finds out that the main evil genius hides behind the voodoo rituals (lead by crazy nut Geoffrey Holder with the funky laugh) so he can run his drug empire. This film contains a real alligator farm that they used for the film, a young and beautiful Jane Seymour who can read the future and one killer ass boat chase that is one of the best chase scenes I have ever seen. Oh and the title song, performed by Paul McCartney & Wings is a killer!

2. BOWFINGER-1999


This is one of my favourite comedies  with Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy and a great cast of character actors that just make me laugh each time I see it. It is set in Hollywood and Martin plays a pseudo Ed Wood  who owns a very sad Hollywood studio that basically is his house. He wants that, one day, the Federal Express truck will stop at his door. He has his entourage who want to make movies but are ready to leave until Martin says he has the biggest star working on his new film. This star is played by Eddie Murphy, an over the top obnoxious , arrogant nut job who belongs to this religious cult to keep him safe. This cult definitely bears a strong resemblance to Scientology and is a great parody of this despicable cult saying they are a religion. Martin hires a woman who is sleeping her way to the top, a nerdy, mentally challenged man who looks like the big star (also played by Eddie Murphy), Mexicans who become the camera crew and his pet dog. I love this under-rated satiric comedy. It pays homage and makes fun of Hollywood all at once.

3. THE DA VINCI CODE-2006


I'm expecting this to be popular today. A museum curator is killed in a ritualistic manner in the Louvre and Tom Hanks, a professor, is the main suspect. He, along with a female police cryptologist are hot on the trail of who did this and realize it is much bigger than any of them realize. a secret sect wants to keep secret  that Jesus really was a man who was married to Mary Magdelene and had kids. No surprise to me as I thought she was his wife/mistress when I was a kid and argued that point with the priests in High School during religion class. I was laughed at and told that I was wrong but I asked for proof and they couldn't produce one. Anyhoo....it's a good movie filled with twists and turns and it created quite a stir when the book and then, the film, came out.

Can you think of any movies that fit this bill??

46 comments:

  1. Great pick with Live and Let Die, probably Moore's best outing as 007. Also I totally agree with you on the soundtrack for that film, it's one of the best.

    I've seen The Da Vinci Code but a long, long time ago. Might be worth a revisit.

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    1. Thanks..I had trouble with this one for some reason and then this film came into my head. I thought The Da Vinci code would be a biggie this week but I was wrong

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  3. Hi, Birgit!

    Believe it or nuts, I haven't seen any of these films. Connery's depiction of Bond spoiled me and I have never been willing to watch 007 pictures with other actors in the role. Bowfinger looks like the kind of movie I would enjoy most. I can tell that Eddy Murphy turns in a brilliant performance as the nerd. The alluring Heather Graham is always a big draw for me and Christine Baranski takes command of every character she inhabits.

    The only cult movie I can think of is Helter Skelter, the 1976 TV film based on the Charles Manson Family and the gruesome murders of Sharon Tate and others at the house in Benedict Canyon.

    Thank you, dear friend BB!

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    1. You should at least watch the boat chase scene. When the boat flew out of the water, it went into the Guinness Book of records. Bowfinger is brilliant! I saw Helter Skelter a long time ago and, though I know the horrific crime well, I don't remember the movie too much but would like to revisit

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  4. Oh man I love Bowfinger. It's such a stupid movie but it's so much fun. The Da Vinci Code is great too. I've always wanted to read the book, but I enjoyed the movie so much and everyone I met that read the book first didn't like the film. I don't know if it will taint it for me.

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    1. I find Bowfinger brilliant especially the way they made fun of Scientology. I haven't read the book yet either and not sure I will.

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  5. Very nicely varied picks! Moore is my least favorite Bond but Live and Let Die is one of his better outings in the role and geez Jane Seymour was a stunner in the film.

    Not in a million years would I have thought of Bowfinger, great off kilter choice and a zany film.

    I wasn't crazy about Da Vinci Code. It was too languidly paced and drawn out without enough pay off in the end.

    My first pick was one I expected to see all over today, though I haven't so far, so I tried for obscure with my other two.

    12 Monkeys (1995)-In the future a deadly virus has wiped out most of mankind forcing those who remain to formulate a society underground while animals roam free on the desolate surface. James Cole (Bruce Willis), one of the workers in the underground world, has been selected by the ruling body to travel back in time and try to stop the secret society of the Twelve Monkeys who are believed to have instigated the plague. After a few misplacements in time he arrives in the present day and tries to find answers all the time pursued by people who think he’s insane. Potent, grim and fascinating with a completely unhinged performance by Brad Pitt that landed him an Oscar nomination.

    Ticket to Heaven (1981)-Reeling at the end of a long-time relationship with his girlfriend a young man (Nick Mancuso) seeking a change unwittingly falls in with a cult and is soon brainwashed and isolated. His best friend goes to great lengths to rescue him from their clutches and assist in his deprogramming but the cult does not let go easily. Intense, brutal low budget Canadian drama is loaded with now familiar faces including Kim Cattrall, Meg Foster and Saul Rubinek.

    The Brotherhood of the Bell (1970)-For the last 20 plus years a successful college professor (Glenn Ford) has belonged to a secret Ivy League society, The Brotherhood of the Bell, without being asked to actively participate in its inner workings. At the latest initiation a request is made of him with which he is leery to comply but does so against his better judgment leading to tragedy. Disgusted he attempts to exit the group but only as his life is systemically destroyed does he come to realize how insidious and far reaching the power of The Bell is. Premiered on television in the US but shown theatrically abroad.

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    1. Glad you like my picks especially Bowfinger which i think works well for today. Brilliant, brilliant pick on 12 Monkeys! I love that film and now I face palm my forehead for not choosing that film. I haven't seen the other 2 but they sound really quite good. I find cults very disturbing since people can fall under their spell and they become so powerful.

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  6. I thought I'd seen all the James Bond flicks, but I might have missed this one. The theme intrigues me. I may have to give a look see.
    Have a great one:)

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  7. Seen all three at my sea, good picks indeed. The Da Vinci sequel I found meh. Hopefully the third is better.

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    1. I found both Da Vinci films OK but I am not enthralled by them.

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  8. Bowfinger was funny! I don't think I've watched any of Roger Moore's James Bond movies, I should get to that. I haven't seen The Da Vinci code, but with the third movie coming, I'm giving it a go.

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    1. You should see this Bond outing. I had no idea a 3rd Da Vinci film was coming out....will be good to see even if I was not enthralled by the first 2

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  9. I saw the da Vinci Code, not the others. Wasn't super impressed with it, nor the book. Glad to hear the weather is cooling down, that makes such a difference doesn't it?

    betty

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    1. You are in the minority regarding the book. So many loved the book. Having the weather cooler makes a huge difference!

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  10. The Da Vinci Code was a terrible movie redeemed only by the wonderful last five minutes which stir the soul. Too bad Tom and his costar had so little chemistry.

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    1. I didn't mind the movie. I think it's ok but you are right...they didn't have much chemistry

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  11. I might have seen the Bond - can't remember at this distance. I have no desire to see The Da Vinci Code, though I've read the book and loathed it. So badly written, yet a page turner at the same time so that I couldn't stop reading!

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    1. That is very interesting about the book. I take your word for it because there seems to be so many books that are crap but become bestsellers

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  12. I like your Live and Let Die pick. (In the original story, it was pirate's treasure instead of drugs.)

    Soledad O'Brien did a documentary on Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple. I thought that was interesting.

    Temple of Doom qualifies, but it was just an okay movie. Not nearly as good as the first one.



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    1. Glad you liked my Bond pick for this. I saw an excellent documentary on the Jim Jones massacre and I remember this when it all went down. Temple of doom fits but I can't stand that movie

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  13. My daughter and I read The Da Vinci Code and didn't care for it so we didn't watch the movie. You'll probably think this is insane, but I've never seen a James Bond movie. However, I did see Paul McCartney perform Live and Let Die in person. It was cool! I seem to remember a movie about some judges who form a coalition to punish people who haven't received the punishment they deserved. I have no idea what it was called.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. Ok...you are so lucky to have seen Paul McCartney live...it sounds like it would have been a great show. I am surprised that you haven't seen any Bond films but, obviously, you are not one for Bond...James Bond:)

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  14. There was a movie in the 90s about a secret society on college campuses...The Skull, I think.
    A good one though is Faults about a guy hired to kidnap & deprogram someone from a cult.

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    1. Someone else picked Skulls which I haven't seen nor have I seen Faults. I will mark this down

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  15. I loved the Da Vinci Code and honestly I don't know why I didn't pick it myself. And I can't believe I forgot about that voodoo thing in James Bond!

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    1. I thought the da Vinci code would be popular this week but I was wrong. I was racking my brain when suddenly this Bond film came into my head

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  16. I'm intrigued by your description of the Da Vinci Code. I'd pick that, and I think you were a brilliant kid. There was always something off to me about that relationship between Jesus and Mary - a bit too incestuous. But what do I know? I'm a Jew.

    Happy Friday and weekend.

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    1. Da Vinci code is an OK film...it is nothing earth shattering but it got a lot of flack because of Jesus and Mary. It just never sounded right to me that he would be on this earth for 33 years and never marry or have a family. Mary Magdelene seemed the perfect choice and seemed more than just a woman thankful.

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  17. My father tried to get me to watch Bowfinger. I couldn't do it.

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    1. Oh my...hahahaaa All well, I love it but I guess it's not for everyone

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  18. I read The Davinci Code. Does that count? :)

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    1. Of course! What did you think of it? I have heard some people saying it was poor.y written? What are your thoughts?

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  19. I've never seen Bowfinger, but the premise certainly gives me a chuckle.
    Have a great weekend.

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  20. We had a sunny, but very coolish air type of day, so I think Autumn is either here, or very close. Only one of these movies I know about, is the JBond one. I can't remember what it's about but I did see it. For me, Sean Connery will ALWAYS be the ultimate JB, although I did like Brosnan. (not as good as SC though!) Hope you're feeling better, and get inspired with the cooler weather. I hope I do too! TFS & Hugs

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    1. It is cooler and today was an all day rain so I did ....nuttin:) Connery is the best Bond, I agree

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  21. Is it bad that the only one I've seen is James Bond? haha

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    1. Not bad at all...at least you saw one of them:)

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  22. Ooooo great picks - forgot about The DaVinci code. Never seen that Bond film but I do like that song :)

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    1. I love this Bond film and this is my favourite Bond Song

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  23. Would the one with Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin fit this theme? I can't remember the title (as always). It's the one where some magic by some guy wearing a turban put Lily's spirit into Steve, Steve's into Lily.

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  24. By far, my favourite of the three is Bowfinger. Yes, it's a hilarious film. I like the little twists they throw at the audience as well. I'd go on more, but the Fed-Ex is at my door.

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  25. Birgit, Excellent choices! For once I know all of your choices today. :) The National Treasure movies was the first to come to mind and then I thought of The Mummy movies with Brendan Fraser that fall in this genre. These are both excellent movie series and a whole lot of fun to watch!

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