Images (1972)

 

Schizophrenic housewife, engulfed by terrorizing apparitions, kills off each, unknowing if these demons are merely figments of her hallucinatory imagination or part of reality. 

Artsy psychological horror-drama with great Vilmos Zsigmond cinematography and a memorable performance by Susannah York overstretches its predictable doppelgänger motive and disappoints at the end.

Halliwell (no star): "Pretentious psycho-drama which might have made a good half-hour."

Maltin***1/2: "Difficult but fascinating film...images of reality and fantasy clash in a kind of continuous hallucination. Off-putting at first, but worth the effort to hang on." 

Brewster McCloud (1970)

An introverted loner living in the bowels of the Astrodome plots to develop - with the aid of a mysterious guardian angel - a pair of wings that will help him fly.

Lively, wild and chaotic comedy is only occasionally funny; seems to want to say something about flying and freedom, but doesn't really.

Halliwell (no star): "Anarchic, allegorical fantasy, a delight no doubt for connoisseurs of way-out humour. Everyone else, forget it."

Maltin***: "Patently indescribable movie...Extremely bizarre; for certain tastes, extremely funny. Altman fans have a head start."

King Kong (1976)

 

 

A petroleum exploration expedition comes to an isolated island and encounters a colossal giant gorilla.

 

Superfluous remake of the beloved classic isn't too bad, but dumbs down the original's charming qualities - basically it's a highly expensive B picture.

 

Halliwell (no star): "Semi-spoof remake with added sexual overtones; though launched on a massive wave of publicity, it lacks both the charm and the technical resources of its predecessor."

 

Maltin*1/2: "Addle-brained remake...has great potential but dispels all the mythic, larger-than-life qualities of the original with idiotic characters and campy approach. highly touted special effects...run hot-and-cold..."