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Thursday 12/6/12

9:05 AM Showtime 2
True Legend (2010 CHI): Vincent Zhao stars as a martial arts expert with nightmarish family problems in this very enjoyable wire-fu flick. Zhao is Su Can, a Wushu master doing battle with his deeply estranged step brother Yuan (Andy On). Yuan’s biological father was a baddie of the first order, and it seems the acorn has not only fallen quite close to the tree, it has also sown armor plating into its flesh. Yikes! Directed by Yuen Woo Ping - renowned for his role as stunt coordinator for The Matrix - True Legend is chock-a-block with action sequences and of course throws in the requisite "westerners are out to screw China" sub-plot.

11:30 AM Showtime 3
Out of the Ashes (2010 GB): Until I saw this film, I had absolutely no idea anyone played cricket in Afghanistan. As it’s the most popular sport in neighboring Pakistan, I probably shouldn’t have been surprised - but cricket’s image is that of a leisurely and genteel game in which parasols and cucumber sandwiches figure significantly, two things currently in short supply in Kabul. Out of the Ashes follows the Afghan national team’s efforts to earn a berth in cricket’s World Cup, and you can imagine players faced considerable obstacles. Even if you don’t like cricket (and if you don’t, what’s wrong with you? It’s like baseball on steroids!), you’ll find this an engrossing and enlightening picture.

7:00 PM Sundance
The Dead Zone (1983 USA): David Cronenberg’s Stephen King adaptation makes what will be (I think and hope) its widescreen television premiere this evening. Christopher Walken stars as Johnny Smith, a schoolteacher who gets into a serious car accident and awakens from a coma five years later. As with all miraculous recoveries, there’s much initial rejoicing, but as time passes Johnny begins to realize that he’s changed: after his trip to "the dead zone," he can now experience a person’s entire life simply by coming into physical contact with them. Silly, yes, but Walken is as always utterly convincing, and a good supporting cast - including Tom Skerritt, Martin Sheen, Anthony Zerbe, and the recently deceased Herbert Lom - add much value. Also airs at 10:00 PM.

Friday 12/7/12

12:35 AM Encore Action
Species III (2004 USA): And just in case you’re anxious to complete the trilogy in a single week, here’s the final chapter in the Species saga. No more Henstridge or Kingsley, I’m afraid - now our "stars" are Robin Dunne and Robert Knepper. Who?

7:00 AM Flix
The Young Sinners (1959 USA): Here’s a spicy one! Sadly, though the title promises steak, it doesn’t really provide all that much in the way of sizzle, either. Nonetheless, The Young Sinners is an interesting little picture that will appeal to fans of the JD (juvenile delinquency) genre. Better known as High School Big Shot (also a great title, I think you’ll agree), our film features Tom Pittman as Marv, a poverty-stricken kid whose scummy father (Malcolm Atterbury) steals his son’s last three bucks so he can take the town floozy out on a date. Meanwhile, bad girl Betty (Virginia Aldridge) convinces our loser hero to do her homework in exchange for some up close and personal time with her. Things don’t turn out well when school administrators find out about the arrangement. Barely clocking in at an hour in length, this is one of the bleakest JD pics you’ll ever see - and that’s saying a lot.

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