The How About Project Part 20 (of 26)

Couldn't help getting sucked into that Warrior trailer again. A must-see apparently. And while it's not a boxing movie per se, it does remind one that films involving said sport kind of constitute their own genre. The proof is in the tradition dating back nearly a century. Here's a few from before 1980 that you may not know about and may want to check out:

3: The Great White Hope (1970)
2: The Harder They Fall (1956)
1: The Set-Up (1949)

Trailer: The Grey

Haven't posted a trailer in a while. Maybe 'cause it's that slow season between summer and awards season. Who knows. The point of this being, Liam Neeson seems to be on a roll. Could this be the everyman version of Wolverine? Heck, is this the way Wolverine should have been portrayed? Colour me intrigued:

The How About Project Part 19 (of 26)

Lots of girls-with-guns films these days (ie. Colombiana, Hanna, etc). Some of them sexy and all of them filled with revenge. Turns out they're part of a tradition, generally believed to have started during the blossoming of the Hong Kong action film industry in the 60s. Yes, my eyebrow arched something awful as well.

Here is a good mixed lot released before 1980:

3) The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
2) Cleopatra Jones (1973)
1) Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs (1974)

Any you can recommend?

The How About Project Part 18 (of 26)

I love films where characters ride in trains. There's something kind of romantic about them. It may have something to do with me being infected with the travel bug a decade ago, but I think it has everything to do with the motion-vistas you get through large windows, the calming effect of the rails, and the introversion and inclination to tell stories. People always look calm and cool on trains (except for maybe Bruce Willis in Unbreakable). And there always seems to be something secretive going on. Trains make everyone interesting and everything mysterious.

Here are a few great pre-80s train films you may want to revisit or see for the first time:

3: Murder On the Orient Exress (1974)
2: Strangers On a Train (1951)
1: Night Train to Munich (1940)

From the Producer of Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

"My children, personally, whenever they want to watch a horror movie, I’m delighted, but I have two girls, so they don’t like the genre as much as I do. But, for example, we play very graphic horror video games together, so I am not the president of the parenting board. As far as I’m concerned, horror movies are great; monsters are an integral part of childhood..."

- Guillermo del Toro, on being asked whether or not children should be allowed to watch horror films

The How About Project Parts 16 & 17 (of 26)

Animation.

We all love Pixar. Everything they do is gold (except maybe the two Cars films). They've also raised the bar, pushing other studios to at least raise their own standards with regards to animated output. While Disney isn't as big and successful as they were a couple decades ago, they still score above average. And boy, have there ever been some fantastic animated foreign films in the last few years alone -- L'illusioniste and Waltz With Bashir to name a couple. I could go on and on.

But for now, here's my top 3 pre-80s animated Disney films:

3: Dumbo (1941)
2: Pinocchio (1940)
1: The Rescuers (1977)

And for the heck of it, here are 3 great pre-80s non-Disney animated films you may want to check out:

3: Watership Down (1978)
2: Yellow Submarine (1968)
1: Fantastic Planet (1973)

Assembling...

They've finally revealed the design of the Hulk that they will be using in the upcoming Avengers film. It's Kirbyesque in nature which will make it the best version yet of the character put on film. Very cool.

Here's an artist's rendition of the assembled heroes from which the Hulk design was taken:

I. Cannot. Wait.

The How About Project Part 15 (of 26)

I don't remember the first time seeing Julie Christie on screen, or when it was I developed my crush on her. But I do still get something akin to butterflies when she appears on screen these days; it's not very often and I think she still has that unique presence of hers that demands your attention. What an actress.

Here are 3 of my fave pre-80s films starring the great British talent:

3: Darling (1965)
2: Demon Seed (1977)
1: McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971)

Cap Poster From Tyler Stout

Love this. A little artistry goes a long way. Hope the film rocks...

The How About Project Part 14 (of 26)

Here are a few of my fave Shakespeare adaptations made before the 80s:

3: Hamlet (1948, directed by and starring Laurence Olivier)
2: Romeo & Juliet (1968, directed by Zefferelli and starring the incomparably gorgeous Olivia Hussey)
1: Macbeth (1971, directed by Roman Polanski)

Any other adaptations you can recommend? Perhaps of Bill's less familiar works?