Nighthawks (1981)

 

Rutger Hauer

 

Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutger_Hauer

Mr. Stitch (1995)

 

In a bid to create the ultimate fighting man, Dr. Rue Wakeman harvests organs and tissue from the dead to create Lazarus, an amalgam of dozens of men and women.

Interesting and imaginative take on the Frankenstein topic is stylish (the first half reminiscent of THX 1138) and explores the philosophical implications of creating an artificial human (Whil Wheaton in a surprisingly original make-up), but in its finale somewhat descends into a more action-oriented (and more clumsily staged) spectacle; nevertheless well worth a watch.

 

Les frères Sisters (2018)

In 1850s Oregon, the infamous duo of assassins, Eli and Charlie Sisters, chase a gold prospector and his unexpected ally.

Excellently directed Western drama skillfully balances violent incidents with humorous passages and convinces with grandiose cinematography, period detail and, especially, the performances of the leading men.

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)

A dark force threatens Alpha, a vast metropolis and home to species from a thousand planets. Special operatives Valerian and Laureline must race to identify the marauding menace and safeguard not just Alpha, but the future of the universe.

Surprisingly coherent and entertaining sci-fi yarn with an abundance of visual ideas and effects; needn't fear comparison with similar Star Wars productions.

Blade Runner (1982)

A blade runner must pursue and try to terminate four replicants who stole a ship in space and have returned to Earth to find their creator.

Groundbreaking sci-fi thriller in noir style with a coherent bleak vision of the future, perfectly designed, still achieves to amaze even today. 

On renewed viewing: still finding wonderful new details, a very rich movie.

Halliwell**: "Gloomy futuristic thriller, looking like a firework display seen through thick fog, and for all the tiring tricks and expense adding up to little more than an updated Philip Marlowe case."

Maltin*1/2: "A triumph of production design, defeated by a muddled script and main characters with no appeal whatsoever. However, the film has a fervent following. Loosely based on Philip K. Dick's novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?"

Blade Runner (1982)

Nighthawks (1981)

A conservative street cop reluctantly agrees to terminate an international terrorist who has demanded media attention.

Effective, but simple-minded thriller offering a psychopath terrorist without a cause and a gutsy cop; Keith Emerson wrote the interesting (and dated) score.

Halliwell (no star): "Kojak-style thriller with a rather glum attitude to its subject."

Maltin***: "Exciting story...On target from the first scene to the fade-out, with plenty of hair-raising moments along the way."