Welcome to the 7th Annual Ultimate Decades Blogathon hosted by myself and Drew’s Movie Reviews.
Following last year’s suit in the new blogathon style, the Ultimate Decades Blogathon continues on with our numeric progress as we celebrate our favorite movies released in a year ending in “2”. That means you can pick any movie from 1922, 1932, 1942, 1952, 1962, 1972, 1982, 1992, 2002, 2012 and if are super on your game and have already watched some new releases worth talking about, feel free to talk about something from 2022. As usual, we allow for doubles in selections to keep it easier for everyone and see what movies stood out for you in any of those years.
To help with your movie choices from any of these years, here’s a list of the releases from each of the years mentioned above:
Any movie released in a year ending in “2” is a valid choice. They are not limited to those in the list above as I’m not quite sure if those cover foreign film choices but that is always an option as well.
You can choose to do more than one review. Just let us know in advance.
The reviews will be posted to our blogs so make sure to submit it to us (if you plan on posting on your blog as well, let us know so that we give you the release date so that you can pair it with our release schedule).
Submission Deadline: February 13th (if you need more time, let us know in advance and we can absolutely work it out)
Blogathon starts on February 21st
Email submissions to kim.tranquildreams@gmail.com and/or Drew at drewt510@gmail.com. Please notify us in the comments below or by email if you plan on participating.
You can tag us and help us promote using #UltimateDecadesBlogathon
Welcome all to join! You can be from any platform since your review will be posted on our blogs. We look forward to your choices and submissions. Feel free to use the banner above to show off your participation. If you know anyone that would be interested in joining, please help us spread the word. The more the merrier!
Kicking off the second week of Ultimate Decades Blogathon is Sally Silverscreen of 18 Cinema Lane with her pick of 1971’s horror comedy The Abominable Dr. Phibes. 18 Cinema Lane is a fun movie blog where it offers a variety of movie reviews and movie news but also has a focus on Hallmark movies. Just like the pick for the blogathon is unique, there will always be something new to discover on 18 Cinema Lane as well. When you finish this review, remember to head over to her blog and check it out HERE.
Take 3: The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
The Abominable Dr. Phibes was recommended by one of my readers named Michael. When I found out the movie was considered a horror-comedy, I thought it’d be a perfect entry for MovieRob’s Genre Grandeur, as horror-comedies are the theme for February. Then I discovered the film was released in 1971. Because Kim and Drew, from Tranquil Dreams and Drew’s Movie Reviews, are hosting the 6th Annual Ultimate Decades Blogathon, where the subject is movies premiering in years ending in 1, I decided to review The Abominable Dr. Phibes for both blogathons! As of early 2021, this is the fifth film of Vincent Price’s I’ve seen and written about. Most of these movies have either belonged in the horror genre or have been mysterious in nature. With The Abominable Dr. Phibes, this will be a little different, as part of the story is a comedy. Out of the movies of Vincent’s I have seen, none of them have featured a large amount of humor. So, by choosing this film for the aforementioned blogathons, I am given an opportunity to see Vincent work with slightly different material!
Things I liked about the film:
The mystery: In horror movies, there is usually a mysterious element that can come in a variety of forms. One of these forms is a mystery. Throughout The Abominable Dr. Phibes, the detectives at Scotland Yard are attempting to figure out why several doctors in their neighborhood are dying of mysterious causes. The way the mystery is presented allows the audience to solve it alongside the characters. This presents the idea of the audience sharing an experience with the detectives in the film. Even though we see what is making these doctors die, it doesn’t take away from the intrigue of the mystery. In fact, it keeps the audience invested in what is about to happen next. Seeing how all the pieces of the story connected was interesting to see. It definitely kept my attention as I watched the film!
The craftmanship: There were several items in this movie that caught my eye due to their quality and artistry. A frog mask is just one example. The head covering mask is covered in three different shades of green, allowing it to shine from many different angles. Gold piping can also be found on the mask, assisting in distinguishing its shape. Jewels add finishing touches as the mask features gold gems around the frog’s eyes and an emerald clasp in the back. Dr. Phibes’ mask also boasts incredible craftsmanship! The eye covering mask is shaped like a bird and is coated in shiny shades of green, bronze, and gold. Both masks were two of the beautiful I’ve ever seen!
The set design: The Abominable Dr. Phibes features several interesting set designs that are worth noting. Despite Dr. Phibe’s house only being shown at night and only part of its exterior could be seen, it was a magnificent structure! Its Victorian style brightened the night with its white frames and cherry wood doors. The house features a grand white marble staircase paired beautifully with chandeliers and crystal sconces. I wish more scenes had taken place by this staircase, as it is an impressive part of Dr. Phibes’ residence! Other locations in the story also displayed memorable set designs. Dr. Vesalius’ apartment is a great example. Near the front door is a curved, frosted window. The door itself was covered in a light and dark wood that ending up complimenting the faded yellow walls. This location looked reflective of the late ‘60s to early ‘70s due to its color scheme and furniture selections.
What I didn’t like about the film:
The underutilization of Vincent Price: As I said in my introduction, this is the fifth film of Vincent Price’s I’ve seen. Therefore, I, as an audience member, know what he is capable of, talent wise. Despite being the top billed actor in The Abominable Dr. Phibes, Vincent wasn’t given much material to work with. He didn’t have any speaking lines in this movie. While there is an explanation given within the story, the only time we hear Vincent’s iconic voice is through recordings. It also doesn’t help that the different ways Dr. Phibes went after his victims overshadows Vincent’s performance. The more I think about it, the more I wonder if the creative team behind this film cast Vincent Price simply to get more people to see the movie?
Weak on comedy: The Abominable Dr. Phibesis classified as a horror-comedy. When I made this discovery, I was expecting the movie to be more like Young Frankenstein. Even though there were a few times I found myself giggling, the film didn’t contain much humor. The Abominable Dr. Phibes relies more on the horror genre. It also contains a mystery within the overall plot, which would make it a horror-mystery. I felt misled after these reveals.
Depiction of demises partially used for shock value: Strictly from a story-telling perspective, it was interesting to see how Dr. Phibes carried out his plan. But when the plan is put into practice, the depiction of his victims’ demises comes across as more gross than scary. Within a segment of the story involving rats, there was a brief shot of a rat chewing on what looks like a bloody bone. I won’t spoil The Abominable Dr. Phibes, in case any of my readers haven’t seen it. But parts of the film like the one I described feels like the movie’s creative team just wanted to shock their audience.
My overall impression:
When I think of the term “horror-comedy”, Young Frankenstein immediately comes to mind. Even though I haven’t seen this film, I am aware of its premise. Because of my expectations, I was somewhat let down by The Abominable Dr. Phibes. Sure, its mystery was intriguing and kept me invested in the overall story. But as I look back on this movie, I find myself expecting more. Despite its classification as a horror-comedy, it ended up being a horror-mystery, with very little comedy to be found. I was also disappointed to see Vincent Price underutilized in The Abominable Dr. Phibes. While he was given different material to work with, he didn’t have any speaking lines. The way Dr. Phibes’ victims met their demise overshadowed Vincent’s performance. These factors make his portrayal of the titular character feel like a part of an ensemble instead of someone leading a film. This is an interesting movie, but I can think of stories of this nature that are stronger than this one. I still prefer a picture like The Crow over The Abominable Dr. Phibes.
Overall score: 7-7.1 out of 10
Have you seen a horror-comedy? Which film of Vincent Price’s would you recommend? Share your thoughts in the comment section!
Have fun at the movies!
Sally Silverscreen
A huge thanks to Sally Silverscreen at 18 Cinema Lane for joining us with this great review! Be sure to it out. For a full list of entries of this blogathon, you can check it out HERE.
The next entry in the Ultimate Decades Blogathon comes from MovieRob, a blogger with an amazing repertoire of reviewed movies to check out and also the host of his monthly segment Genre Grandeur plus a regular on this blogathon with always fantastic picks. This year, he dug deep and went way back to 1931 to look at the original film, The Maltese Falcon. Check out his review of The Maltese Falcon and remember to check out his blog.
“Good day, sir. I deeply regret that you are left without a fall guy. ” – Casper Gutman
Number of Times Seen – 1 (14 Feb 2021)
Brief Synopsis – A private detective is hired to find a valuable statue of a bird that is worth millions, but he gets in over his head when he finds out how many others are seeking the same prize.
My Take on it –When Drew and Kim announced this blogathon, I liked the challenge that they presented us to try and find films from the early years of film to watch and review.
This is a film that I came across in my research and was intrigued to watch since it is based on the same Dashiell Hammett story featuring Sam Spade that would eventually become a household name just a decade later.
I have always been an advocate that remakes are usually unnecessary, but this is among the few occasions where that is not true.
The 1941 version of this film which famously features Humphrey Bogart and Mary Astor is so much better and more engaging than this film is despite following the same story.
This is further proof at how much the director and actors add to a particular film since John Huston’s version is so much grittier to look at, yet still works even better than the story does in this film.
The film stars Ricardo Cortez in the Bogart role and Bebe Daniels in the Astor role, yet neither helps find a way to make us care even more about their characters as the story unfolds.
Roy Del Ruth directs this film, but he is no Huston.
Yes, this film was made prior to the code and has some very intriguing references that were banned a decade later, but they don’t add enough to help make tings more intriguing to watch unfold.
The story itself is still told quite well, despite the fact that the cast and directing drag things down a bit along the way.
The noir atmosphere seems missing here and that might have helped make things more thrilling than the way it is all presented here.
MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – When originally sold to television in the 1950s, the title was changed to “Dangerous Female” in order to avoid confusion with its illustrious remake, The Maltese Falcon (1941). Fifty years later, Turner Classic Movies restored its original title card. However, as recently as April 27, 2017, the service used by cable companies to provide data for their viewing guides used the “Dangerous Female” title for TCM’s showing of the movie on that date. (From IMDB)
The first guest review of Ultimate 2010s Blogathon is for 2016 South Korean zombie film, Train to Busan by John Rieber, who runs a blog under his own name. He covers a lot of really fun topics from movies, TV and all things pop culture along with spectacular food and travel. Its truly a wonderful one stop for a lot of variety of topics and he always has a nice and refreshing angle in how he shares it! Remember to stop by to check out his blog and give him a follow HERE.
The Terrifying “Train To Busan” Is Now Departing!
Looking back at a decade of great cinema, I’m always interested in seeing films that take an established genre and bring something fresh to the table. That is certainly the case with “Train To Busan”.
South Korean Director Sang-ho Yeon delivers a modern zombie classic, blending terrific action sequences with rich character development.
I had heard about this 2016 South Korean thriller, but hadn’t gotten around to seeing it until recently – and it blew my mind!
“Train to Busan” takes place as a zombie apocalypse suddenly breaks out in the country – and a group of train passengers must band together until they reach safety – hopefully – in the city of Busan…little do they know that there is no guarantee they will be let in, and the zombies on the train are multiplying!
The characters are all terrific: a Father, played by Gong Yoo, takes his small daughter back to his estranged wife – he chooses the train. Su-an Kim plays the young girl, and her acting is terrific: she makes the most outrageous aspects of the zombie attack seem real. Also on the train is Dong-seok Ma, who plays a beefy tough guy who must protect his pregnant wife, played by Yu-mi Jung.
Each character is fully realized without sacrificing any action, which begins shortly after the train departs. As they are leaving this station, the young girl notices someone on the platform seemingly sick – then is shocked to have a bloody hand slam against the train’s window. And they are off!
One of the most unique aspects of the film is how quickly someone can be killed and turned into a Zombie – and of course, one sick person manages to get on board the train, infecting the other passengers – so the pack just grows and grows and grows!
In a world where the “coronavirus” exploded onto the world’s stage with sudden ferocity, watching the infected zombies multiply is even more sobering: and each train car takes drastic measures to try and keep the zombies out.
As the train hurtles toward Busan, the plot continues to evolve as the survivors dwindle and the zombie pack grows. Each of the main characters are given an important plot point – and it’s a film that never lets up on the suspense. One of the best set pieces is when the Conductor stops at a station because he’s been told that the military is there…an incredible action sequence.
“Train To Busan” has set a high bar for all zombie films to come, and one of the most exhilarating films of the 2010’s.
Thanks to John for his great review for this South Korean zombie film. Its definitely a wonderful choice as Train to Busan is also one of my top movies of this past decade.
A friendly reminder to everyone! Ultimate 2010s Blogathon deadline is right around the corner in ONE WEEK on February 9th!
If you missed the announcement and would like to join in, there’s still time. You can find all the info HERE.
If you are just seeing this now and need a little more time, don’t be shy to drop us an email and we can arrange it. If anyone you know would like to join in, share it with others. The more the merrier~!
Hey everyone! We are only days away from the Ultimate 2000s Blogathon deadline for submission of your review to us. Here is a friendly reminder that it is due on February 11th (the coming Monday)! All submissions go to either/or me or my fantastic co-host Drew at our emails kim.tranquildreams@gmail.com and drewt510@gmail.com respectively.
If you are just seeing this blogathon and would like to join, here are the details at the announcement post. Drop us an email and tell us that you’d like to join and if you need more time and we would love to have you so we can work it all out. The more the merrier!
If you have already notified us, we are looking forward to your submission in our inboxes. If you need an extension, it is absolutely not a problem. Tell us and we will work something out.
Sign up is still open so if you know anyone else interested, help us spread the word. Share the announcement or this reminder post on social media. It’ll be great to see everyone’s review on their choice for their Ultimate 2000s movie selections!
I’m extremely excited to announce that Drew at Drew’s Movie Reviews and I are working together to host our next blogathon. It is kind of a follow-up from last year’s Ultimate 80s except we’ve moving to the next decade and its the Ultimate 90s Blogathon!
The 90s had so many great movies. There were fantastic Disney movies, like Beauty and the Beast or The Lion King. Some fantastic chick flicks and teen comedies also made their appearances, like Clueless. It was the decade that some amazing directors had brilliant additions to their works like James Cameron and the box office hit Titanic (not to mention a young Leonardo diCaprio); Tarantino and Pulp Fiction; Spielberg and his amazing dinosaurs in Jurassic Park took over. How can we forget the chilling Seven by David Fincher? The list just doesn’t stop because we know there’s also comedies and family movies like Mrs. Doubtfire. Just listing off these titles makes me excited to talk about them. Here’s our question to you: What 90s film did you love? Which film started your love of the 90s flicks? What movie would you suggest as a starter for jumping back in time to the 90s?
Ultimate 90s Blogathon has the same guidelines as last year. For those just dropping by, let me explain. Ultimate 90s Blogathon celebrates the iconic films of the 90s to you. It can be a movie you love, or a movie you grew up with, or one of your favorites that you watch over and over again. The only rule is that it has to be in the 90s. We like to keep things simple! The blogathon will start on February 20th, kicked off by myself and Drew. We will have three weeks for everyone to sign up and send us your reviews by February 13th. However, we do know that everyone is also very busy so the deadline can be extended as long as you tell us in advance so we can plan accordingly. Please remember to submit the reviews to us so that we post it on our respective blogs. If you intend to post it on your site also, we can match up our dates and schedule and work it out.
We really hope that you can participate! You can tell us whether you’d be joining in in the comments below or drop us an email at kim.tranquildreams@gmail.com or to Drew at drewt510@gmail.com. We’d love for your choice to be a surprise if you participate so you can email us your movie selection. Also, we do say reviews but if you’d like to do something else, feel free to do that as well.
We’re excited to see all of your submissions and be surprised by your chocies! Feel free to use the banner up there to show off on your sites! If you know anyone that might be interested, pass along the message! The more the merrier! 🙂
Tranquil Dreams 