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Reviews
Christopher Columbus: The Discovery (1992)
extremely entertaining
I had a wonderful time watching this film. I know it's considered by some to be inferior in comparison to the more lofty Conquest of Paradise, but I just can't help liking it. I'd rather watch Christopher Columbus: The Discovery over The Conquest of Paradise any time. It's a swashbuckling high-adventure movie with plenty of panache. Perhaps that wasn't what many expected from a Columbus movie, but it works for me. One previous reviewer said it seemed like something Erol Flynn would have starred in. I agree. I first approached this flick as an entertaining tall-tale in the tradition of classic adventure/pirate films and greatly enjoyed The Discovery.
Phantom of Chinatown (1940)
highly enjoyable
Asian detectives were usually played by Caucasian actors at the time this movie was made, but Phantom of Chinatown is an exception and features Keye Luke in the role of Mr. Wong. Luke makes a likable and younger version of Wong and it's great fun to see how Wong and Captain Street first met. Grant Withers as Captain Street is one of my favorites elements of the Mr Wong movies. Withers is exceptionally good in this one. Some have said that Withers should have been replaced with a younger actor for this "prequel", but I don't agree. Luke and Withers make a fun pair. I enjoy all of the Mr Wong series, but Phantom of Chinatown is one of my absolute favorites.
The Sign of Four (2001)
very entertaining
Matt Frewer has played Sherlock Holmes in four TV movies: The Hound of the Baskevilles, The Sign of Four, The Royal Scandal, and The Whitechapel Vampire. I purchased a DVD set of all four of Frewer's Holmes films to share with friends and family. We planned to watch only one movie per evening, but we ended up watching all four in one weekend. It was just too much fun! Matt Frewer's performance as Sherlock Holmes is extremely humorous and Kenneth Welsh is the perfect straight-man for Frewer's highly eccentric Holmes. These are fun adventures for the entire family. Frewer and Welsh should make more movies as Holmes and Watson. They are a blast!
Street Hunter (1990)
nice work by Steve James!
I don't know very much about the late Steve James, but I always enjoyed his work in action movies. James was the coolest of the cool. He seemed to take his job as an entertainer very seriously, but was usually cast as black sidekicks to white protagonists. Street Hunter is an exception. James is the main character in Street Hunter, but you wouldn't know it from the deceptive video packaging. It almost seems to be an attempt to hide the fact that the movie is about a black hero. The movie itself is a very low budget flick, but James' character comes across as a very cool and likable hero. He's a great guy with a great heart. The cast also includes Reb Brown (he's a lot of fun in this), John Leguizamo, Thom Christopher, the lovely Valerie Pettiford, and singer Richie Havens. The cast help to make this lackluster movie rather likable. It's not a great action flick, but Steve James' Street Hunter is one of my all time favorite video heroes. He's got heart, soul, and he's ultra-cool. God Bless Steve James.