All the latest Movieland investigations from detectives Dick Japowski and Joey Arizona.
The Many Views of Detective Dick Japowski
The World According to Sesame Street (2006)
Today HBO will be airing the birthday celebrations for Sesame Street, a show that's been edutaining children for an amazing 50 years!
Sesame Street is broadcast in 120 countries but usually just dubbed.
This 2006 documentary follows the trials and tribulations of adapting Sesame Street for developing countries, focusing primarily on the South African and Bangladeshi shows and adding characters and content that the children can relate to. The film shows US groups in uproar, fighting over the fact the African street has a character living with H.I.V., completely missing the point that *Jim Henson's original was all about inclusion. The Bangladeshi story of getting Sesame Street on the air is even more fraught with trouble.
This is a fascinating and heart-warming story of bringing laughter and learning to children of the world.
First watch: 4 Doughnuts
The Many Views of Detective Dick Japowski
The Snake Girl and the Silver-haired Witch (1968)
A young girl is rescued from her life in the orphanage, only to be placed in a house with a snake girl and a silver-haired blood thirsty witch! Filled with Salvador Dali-esque dream sequences this film succeeds in the nightmare nature of not knowing nots knowing non.
Based on a manga and one of many films that features the snake girl of Yokai legend.
First watch: 3.5 Doughnuts
The Arizona Case Files
Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943)
Goonies never say die, and neither to Universal Monsters, both Wolfy and Big Frank return from the dead all so we can settle the argument 'who'd win in a fight...'.
After watching The Ghost of Frankenstein I was eager to see the next movie in the franchise, and given this is also a direct sequel to The Wolf Man it gave me an extra pop. As a Wolf Man sequel it works, but as Frankenstein sequel it's confusing. The last time we saw the monster he had Igor's brain, and 'died' in a crumbling mansion, this time we find him encased in ice under the ruins of Castle Frankenstein, and although he's now played by Bela Legosi (the former owner of Igor's brain) he's still a mindless brute.
First watch: 3.5 Doughnuts
The Arizona Case Files
Blacula (1972)
An African prince is transformed and then trapped by Big Drac himself, and awoken centuries later in Los Angeles in the early seventies.
Not the greatest of films, although it has it's moments, but a magnificent soundtrack I had on repeat for days
First watch: 2.5 Doughnuts
The Many Views of Detective Dick Japowski
Won't You be My Neighbor?
Feel Good-ember continues with the story of more than a man, Mr Fred Rogers who taught generations of American children how to process their emotions and to love one another even when Laser guns, transforming robots and muscle men were coming into fashion. If you don't get a little watery eyed you probably are a little less emotionally fragile than me!
First watch: 4.5 Doughnuts
The Many Views of Detective Dick Japowski
The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)
An unlikely friendship is forged between an aspiring wrestler and a Shia LaBeouf in this beautiful slice of Mark Twain Americana. Great performances, great dialogue, humour and emotional depth. If this isn't on my top 5 at the end of the year I'll eat my cat's hat.
First watch: 4.5 Doughnuts
The Arizona Case Files
Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991)
A psychologist with recurring nightmares get sucked into Freddy's world when she starts working with a patient having the same dreams.
I love the Freddy franchise, some of the movies I've seen more times than I could count, but this is only the second time I've watched this one...I hated it so much. But perspectives can change a lot in twenty years.
The computer game/powerglove nightmare is one of the worst scenes from the entire franchise, and while this flick gets a lot of flack it should also get points for trying something very different with the franchise...and that Johnny Depp cameo is great.
Rewatch: 3 Doughnuts
Have is witnessed any of the movies we've investigated? What's the verdict? Let us know in the comments below.