Peter Hyams (director) BEST Movies
Peter Hyams is perhaps one of the most (if not THE most) underrated film directors still around today.
I was a kid of the 70's / 80's and so didn't go to see my first proper film until 1974 with "The Man with the Golden Gun" oh sure I had seen numerous Disney films before at a younger age but THIS was the first proper (grown up) film I remember seeing (closely followed by "JAWS") back then we had seats that retracted back...the early scene from this film with the half eaten away head had me jumping up off my seat so high, that amazingly on my way down I hit the seat heading upwards & ended up on the floor, a guy a few seats down was laughing but I still love Speilberg's film classic film to this day)
I've always thought Peter Hyams would have made a GREAT Bond director.
I've seen almost ALL of his films from around the mid 70's onwards either at the cinema or caught up with them on VHS Tape / DVD / Blu-Ray or airings on Tv.
His body of work is for the most part TOP CLASS & although he's not my ALL TIME favourite director, he's right up there fairly close to them.
I've always had a love for the films he's made, he simply made the TYPE of films I wanted to see.
So, here are my Favourite 'Peter Hyams' directed movies (that I have seen, sometimes so many times I have forgotten how many? as is the case with '2010' & 'Capricorn One')
OK, let's go, with a countdown from 14 to my Number 1 favourite Peter Hyams film.
14) "A Sound of Thunder" (2005)
Bankrupt Production probably has a lot to do with the low position.
Also, not a fan of the cast here, Ben Kingsley is either brilliant or dreadful, here not so great here but neither is the majority of the cast.
I'm a BIG Sci-Fi fan so I figured this could be a good BIG SCREEN outing featuring an expanded version of Ray Bradbury's short story.
Sadly the effects are a bit shoddy, the acting is wooden & the story was better served as seen in Ray Bradbury's short running time Tv series episode of the same name, which was well done, short & to the point.
Disappointing but probably not down to Mr Hyams.
I have not seen it for a good while, so perhaps I'll check it out again?
SCORES a 5 (from what I can remember)
13) "Hanover Street" (1979)
At the time this wouldn't have been my sort of film, I discovered it later on (during the late 80's) and it works, beautiful to look at, has Harrison Ford & the beautiful Lesley-Anne Down in it, some good action too.
I love a great war movie, this isn't it, but it perhaps gets beaten down a little too much due to the romantic aspects? but being a bit of a romantic at heart myself, well this is a mix they went with & for me it's unremarkable, but still enjoyable on a quiet Sunday afternoon.
SCORES a 6 (those that give it a 3 are just being mean)
12) "The Presido" (1988)
Although 'The Man with the Golden Gun' was the first proper film I ever saw at the cinema, turning me into a huge 007 fan & as good & as fun as Roger Moore (my era of Bond) was, it was Sean Connery who became my favourite all-time Bond (and still is) and the addition of he in this film helps it out (A LOT)
Although I'd seen Mark Harmon as a kid/teen in various Tv series (one's I remember fondly & which I enjoyed him in, such as "240 Robert" & "St Elsewhere") I guess it became fairly clear that Mark was better in such Tv fare, he's good here but Connery's presence just over powers him.
Connery's finger trick is probably the highlight of the movie?
Difficult to choose which is Best between this & Hanover Street but again it looks good & Mr Hyams directs it well, with some nicely shot scenes but it's just not quiet in the so good you'll return to watching it over & over again.
SCORES again a 6 (just above IMDb's average rating of 5.9 & a fair one)
11) "The Relic" (1997)
I really enjoyed this one but there is one major fault with it & that is the dark lighting (sometimes it's just difficult to see anything) someone else pointed this out, so glad it wasn't just me, was this Peter Hyams choice? or mistake? or was it out of his control? which I think unlikely being the director, strangely enough he'd made a film earlier which was dimly lit but it works a treat (with the shadows cast & silhouette's only at times made out in "The Star Chamber" to good effect) sadly here it brings the film down a notch or two.
Penelope Anne Miller (at around this time) was a popular, lovely looking & fun actress who as well as this appeared in 'Carlito's Way' & 'THE SHADOW' both of which I loved (how did the latter bomb?) just checked IMDb's acting roles for her & cannot honestly recognise anything until "The Artist" (from 2011) and I didn't even know she was in this!
You have to go back to (well I do) this film from 1997 to find anything familiar she was in that I can remember, seems a shame, she was a good actress, looked nice, in interviews I've seen she seemed polite & fun & yet after this her major roles seemed to dry up.
Before this she had been in "Chaplin", "Year of the Comet", "Kindergarten Cop" and The Freshman" all of which were good films, I guess I had a soft spot for her.
If one can live with the dark scenes in this film (I can, just about, well it's not all dark) then you have a decent action horror film to enjoy here.
SCORES ? well, I'm not scoring to the nearest decimal point as on IMDb so it's either a 6? or 6.5? I'll let this one hover :)
10) TOP TEN Peter Hyams Films "Sudden Death" (1995)
Now I'm not a Jean-Claude Van Damme (hell of a name BTW) fan as such...but there are TWO FILMS he appeared in which are far & away HIS BEST (IMO) and this is the first of those.
It's clear it's a type of copycat of 'Die Hard' which probably still has yet to beat in it's genre even today.
Peter Hyams does a super job of giving us a terrific & suspensful action film in the style of that film, in fact had it have had Bruce Willis in it you wouldn't have known it wasn't a DIE HARD sequel.
This was the first Van Damme film I'd ever seen & I enjoyed it very much, solid action fare.
SCORES perhaps a little generous 7 but it worked for me.
9) "Narrow Margin" (1990)
I must admit, I have only seen this once & very much enjoyed it, it rarely gets seen on TV again these days, so it's been a long time since last viewing it.
I also had no idea at the time of watching it that Mr Hyams had directed it & again to good effect.
I remember Gene Hackman's character was trying to protect a witness from the mob on a train heading through the wilderness of Canada.
It looked great & was tension filled & I would like to see it again to confirm if it's still as enjoyable?
SCORES a solid 7
8) "The Star Chamber" (1983)
A film that many will not recall or have even seen, yet I found the premise most interesting.
Judges who know criminals are being let of the hook, due to all sorts of circumstances & so they form a panel to deal out their own judgements.
The problem is...it's NOT DONE in the name of the LAW so is in itself CRIMINAL.
Gets interesting when Michael Douglas's character (also a Judge) begins to find such a set-up appealing after overseeing one particular court case he feels has gone wrong.
Eventually he joins up, those darkly lit, atmospheric scenes with silhouettes of the judges is CHILLING.
Of course some folks they set out to end actually end up being innocent? (if I remember right) and the argument is then (by these judges) that one mistake killing for the sake of getting rid of say 10 off the streets can only be good? IS IT? tell that to the innocent one & their family.
It's a very interesting film with a little action near the end & is very well directed by our director here & is one of his better films, if not entirely enjoyable but that's due to the premise, interesting thought provoking film this.
SCORES a 7
7) "Outland" (1981)
Another earlier & better Sci-Fi outing for Mr Hyams & one in which he first worked with Sean Connery (which is perhaps how he helped get him into The Presido?)
It's a GOOD science fiction film with CONNERY the Sheriff of this Mining operation station which seems to be run like the OLD WEST.
Good cast, some neat action sequences, Connery is always fun to watch & although at times it's a little dour it's in keeping with the setting.
This is NOT an exciting, thought provoking science fiction film but it's certainly different to the norm.
Sometimes (even to this day) I will watch this & think that was interesting & different and that on other occasions I'll have watched it & think IF ONLY they had done this? or this had happened?
Could have been better but it could have been a whole lot worse, I like it & it perhaps gave Mr Hyams a better idea of HOW to MAKE a far better science fiction sequel film he would make later...That film to come.
SCORES another solid 7.
6) "Running Scared" (1986)
If not mistaken? Peter Hyams only made two buddy movies ("Busting" which I have not seen) and this which I am guessing would be the better of the two.
The chemistry here between the two leads is very good & LOADS of FUN, Crystal & Hines seem to be having a whale of time filming this & it shows.
It's not perfect but it's a whole lotta fun, these two cops are almost killed, forced to take a vacation, end up loving their time over on Key West & decide to quit, when they get back they inform the powers that be that this is what they want to do, but upon learning of the guy who nearly killed them they then decide revenge would be sweet & let's not run scared in trying to get him, but the reality kicks in & they then begin
to do peddle back from this...in the hope of getting to that retirement date.
It's a HOOT, it's well directed & the two lead roles are a joy.
Actually, it seems like a LONG TIME since we had another proper GOOD 'Buddy' movie? this will do whilst waiting.
SCORES an enjoyable 7 (higher than IMDb's average of 6.5)
5) TOP 5 Peter Hyams films folks (although this one in 5th might surprise most? but I find it most enjoyable & quirky) and it's "STAY TUNED" (1992)
It stars John Ritter who I loved on Tv growing up with "Three's Company" and then later in the 1980's "Hooperman", a vastly underrated cop / comedy series which would make a decent movie version today, he stars alongside another of my fav's Pam Dawber (from "Mork & Mindy")
These two are just wonderful in this very quirky movie that I won't spoil for folks but let's just say...
IF you like CARTOONS then you'll probably LOVE THIS, I do & I did, again it's not perfect but it it hits it's target more often than not.
A 'CULT' movie if ever there was one which few I bet have ever even heard of? never mind seen, such a shame as it's a HOOT.
SCORES another 7 but preferred (just) to all the other solid 7's above & a SOLID 7 out of 10 film is well worthy of being in your collection.
4) "END OF DAYS" (1999)
We arrive at the FOURTH best 'Peter Hyams directed films which opens somewhat of a gap on the one's above.
First up this Arnold Schwarznegger film is his ONLY out & out HORROR FILM he's ever made & it's a super one.
I'm an Arnie fan anyway as well as a Horror film fan & seeing him in such seemed highly unlikely, yet the year 2000 was closing in & the rumours going around before this year showed up were that this was the 'END of the WORLD' time & that all those computers would automatically shut down causing havoc, along with numerous other Omen's that never actually came to pass.
These may have led to this film being made? & Arnie showing up in it.
This also has many dark scenes but it's far better lit & looking than 'The Relic' which to this day I still enjoy but these dark scenes have neon & candles which just make it so much more atmospheric & much easier & nicer to watch.
We've had ARNIE vs PREDATOR, so might it be too simplistic to say that this might be just ARNIE vs The DEVIL? who cares, it's a horror treat.
Well directed, Arnie looks like he's enjoying himself in a new different genre & Gabriel Byrne who physically would have NO CHANCE normally but being as he's the Devil & looks like he's playing with Arnie
most of the time in this film (and Byrne totally brings something to this film) might Arnie actually lose one ;)
A super HALLOWEEN October time film.
I'm a bit surprised at it's IMDb rating showing an average score of 5.8 but I think this deserves more...
SCORES 7.5 (I considered an 8 but 8's really are reserved for truly good films)
3) "Timecop" (1994)
This might surprise some?
I LOVE every minute of it, Van Damme's best film for me (in fact only this & that at No10 are the one's I ever bother re-watching of his but this is the better of the two) here he's up against a delightfully smarmy
baddie in the shape of bearded Ron Silver (possibly his best role?) and the love interest is one most guys from the 80's would have loved to have been theirs in the wonderful form of a Mia Sara.
Yup it's a TIME TRAVEL movie...and because of such, anything can happen, there's much to enjoy here if you don't think too hard.
They actually made a TV SERIES spin off later & it's almost as good, only a handful of episodes were ever made but the majority of them are just as enjoyable.
If not mistaken this was a HIT at the American Box Office & I figured there was every chance a sequel might follow, it never did sadly but it deserved one & I'd have gone to see it.
SCORES another 7.5 & just about pips Arnie's 1st HORROR outing, for even though I LOVE Arnie far more than Van Damme this just pips it as a film / movie.
Down to the FINAL TWO & these really are for me Peter Hyams VERY BEST FILMS by a Million Miles, which I return to almost every single year & probably will do so until my dying day.
2) "2010 : The Year we Make Contact" (1984)
So back in the early 80's my father noticed that one of his favourite films was showing on BBC TV at Christmas Time for the 1st time? curiously Dad was not really a big movie fan but the TWO he'd seen at the cinema back in the 1960's and loved was this one "2001 A Space Oddessy" & "Where Eagles Dare".
Both showing on the BBC close to each other, curious, he said I should watch them both, I did & "2001" remains my favourite all time film with "Where Eagles Dare" my favourite WAR film.
And then not too long after seeing this original from Stanley Kubrick (perhaps the Best movie of all time?) on TV that Christmas we heard a sequel was in the works, he was excited, unusual for him to be
so over a film & sure enough the rumours were true, the movie was made & although clearly not in the same 10 out of 10 class of the original it made quiet an impression on the both of us, he loved it, I loved it & it was remarkable just HOW GOOD this sequel was.
Of course this wasn't quiet on the EPIC SCALE that the original '2001' was about...this was more a WHAT HAPPENED? Mission.
They sure picked out a FANTASTIC CAST for this one...Loved them ALL, especially Roy Scheider who took on the tricky role of becoming a somewhat different (to the original) version of Dr Heywood Floyd, he worked for me (but I loved him having seen him in 'JAWS') the rest of this cast was also TOP NOTCH, John Lithgow was fun as Walter Curnow, nearly always scared out of his mind over all sorts & then Bob Balaban as Dr Chandra who helped create the HAL 9000 series & who some onboard had worries about.
Helen Mirren more than holds her own with these powerhouses & the Russian crew is very good & then we get a few OLD FAVOURITES...
Douglas Rain as the voice of HAL 9000 when hearing him for the first time here on the BIG SCREEN sent chills down the spine, but even more of a surprise because I don't think we
knew at the time that he was going to show up again (No internet back in the early 80's) was Keir Dullea as DAVE BOWMAN returning...this was a WOW moment for myself & Dad & seeing him at different stages before his death.
Acting, directing, effects, music. editing are spot on & it was a pure joy in seeing the DISCOVERY on the BIG Screen for the first time as a teen.
It's a surprisingly good sequel, we hoped it might be, it was never going to beat or even come close to the original Kubrick version but 'MY GOD' ;) this was full of STARS & gave us a worthy sequel I still love to this day.
But if this is No2 then what could be the NUMBER ONE Peter Hyams film?
SCORE 8.5 (the 6.7 score must be from casual cinema / movie fans as surely Sci-Fi fans would score this at the very least a 7 going on an 8?)
1) "Capricorn One" (1978)
It was a close run thing, this is a film I love for so many reasons & one has to say that PETER HYAMS direction here is damned near flawless.
I simply cannot see how he could have created / filmed these scenes much better & ALL the SCENES here appeal to me, some are clearly better than others but even the quieter moments (as with Brenda Vaccaro's 'Kay Brubaker' reading that book to her children in bed just works)
Of the scenes that really excite here & are superbly directed are...
"The Car wires cut" scene
"The HIDEAWAY Room" in which the superb character actor Hal Holbrook shows up through the door to this White Room and proceeds to TELL THEM A TRUTH...."A Screw Up" it's a super scene this but is quickly followed by another one when they are all lead out to a FAKE 'MOCK UP' complete with lander & another remarkable speech from Dr James Kelloway (Holbrook) who is asking / damn near begging before making THAT THREAT..."You Have to DO IT"..."There's PEOPLE ON THE PLANE"..."You HAVE TO DO IT" can you imgaine!
Being my No1 I like all the scenes in this film even those smaller, quieter moments such as when the also brilliant Elliot Gould is talking with his mate (who works at NASA control) who has discovered some strange problems he's unhappy with whilst playing pool.
Every moment Holbrook, Gould & the three Astronauts (James Brolin...possibly his best role?, Sam Waterston who is a splendid actor & even O.J. Simpson) are on screen holds your attention & then there's a number of STAND-OUT fun (CAMEO like) roles from the likes of David Doyle as Robert Cauldfield's (Gould) boss who delights in dressing down Cauldfield every time he makes a mistake & then there is Telly Savalas near the end there with his crop dusting helicopter & the lines given to him when bargaining with the hire of his plane & the pilot with Cauldfield is hilarious.
"The TALK" from the FAKE capsule & Brubaker recalling his trip with the family in the NASA talk room is well done.
"The Getaway" scenes are tremendous, with Brolin's (Brubaker) clearly the best of them but I liked Waterston speaking to himself whilst heading up that cliff face.
Then we get this THRILLING Helicopter Escape...in real life NO CHANCE, but who cares (maybe a 1% chance of escaping two expert Black Op's fully fitted helicopters)
And finally...
With rousing music playing we get THAT ENDING at the funeral's.
EPIC & for me one of the very best 1970's films, I LOVE IT.
CONSPIRACY Film & although sadly people laugh at such things, they actually, clearly DO GO ON for 'REAL' as to what extent? is open to debate.
What's curious regarding this film is that it pops up in such debates regarding the MOON LANDINGS & what may yet come.
Personally, I think we did get to the MOON (even if said it was possible that Government's & NASA etc might have been able to fake such things at this time...and that Kubrick story continues to this day) but it's what
we FOUND on there (The Moon) that I think has some explaining to do?
Perhaps with the ARTEMIS programme finally returning we humans to it's surface we might find out? ;) Yeah, GOOD LUCK with that & so continues perhaps another Conspiracy Theory concerning the Moon.
Let's be honest now...
ARTEMIS is clearly more advanced than the APOLLO era & yet...
We still need ROCKETS to get us up to orbit.
We still need a capsule with rocket to get them to the Moon which sounds like it will take pretty much the same amount of time to get there.
Computing & Automatic landing might be better & safer but all in all the improvements from 50+ years ago seems like very little, given other improvements we've made over these last 50 years, it's a little strange but I guess that's for another debate.
HOPE your ENJOYED my 1st such listing & I hope to read some good thoughts on this terrific director's efforts & your choices / favourites.
One to BEAM UP.
I was a kid of the 70's / 80's and so didn't go to see my first proper film until 1974 with "The Man with the Golden Gun" oh sure I had seen numerous Disney films before at a younger age but THIS was the first proper (grown up) film I remember seeing (closely followed by "JAWS") back then we had seats that retracted back...the early scene from this film with the half eaten away head had me jumping up off my seat so high, that amazingly on my way down I hit the seat heading upwards & ended up on the floor, a guy a few seats down was laughing but I still love Speilberg's film classic film to this day)
I've always thought Peter Hyams would have made a GREAT Bond director.
I've seen almost ALL of his films from around the mid 70's onwards either at the cinema or caught up with them on VHS Tape / DVD / Blu-Ray or airings on Tv.
His body of work is for the most part TOP CLASS & although he's not my ALL TIME favourite director, he's right up there fairly close to them.
I've always had a love for the films he's made, he simply made the TYPE of films I wanted to see.
So, here are my Favourite 'Peter Hyams' directed movies (that I have seen, sometimes so many times I have forgotten how many? as is the case with '2010' & 'Capricorn One')
OK, let's go, with a countdown from 14 to my Number 1 favourite Peter Hyams film.
14) "A Sound of Thunder" (2005)
Bankrupt Production probably has a lot to do with the low position.
Also, not a fan of the cast here, Ben Kingsley is either brilliant or dreadful, here not so great here but neither is the majority of the cast.
I'm a BIG Sci-Fi fan so I figured this could be a good BIG SCREEN outing featuring an expanded version of Ray Bradbury's short story.
Sadly the effects are a bit shoddy, the acting is wooden & the story was better served as seen in Ray Bradbury's short running time Tv series episode of the same name, which was well done, short & to the point.
Disappointing but probably not down to Mr Hyams.
I have not seen it for a good while, so perhaps I'll check it out again?
SCORES a 5 (from what I can remember)
13) "Hanover Street" (1979)
At the time this wouldn't have been my sort of film, I discovered it later on (during the late 80's) and it works, beautiful to look at, has Harrison Ford & the beautiful Lesley-Anne Down in it, some good action too.
I love a great war movie, this isn't it, but it perhaps gets beaten down a little too much due to the romantic aspects? but being a bit of a romantic at heart myself, well this is a mix they went with & for me it's unremarkable, but still enjoyable on a quiet Sunday afternoon.
SCORES a 6 (those that give it a 3 are just being mean)
12) "The Presido" (1988)
Although 'The Man with the Golden Gun' was the first proper film I ever saw at the cinema, turning me into a huge 007 fan & as good & as fun as Roger Moore (my era of Bond) was, it was Sean Connery who became my favourite all-time Bond (and still is) and the addition of he in this film helps it out (A LOT)
Although I'd seen Mark Harmon as a kid/teen in various Tv series (one's I remember fondly & which I enjoyed him in, such as "240 Robert" & "St Elsewhere") I guess it became fairly clear that Mark was better in such Tv fare, he's good here but Connery's presence just over powers him.
Connery's finger trick is probably the highlight of the movie?
Difficult to choose which is Best between this & Hanover Street but again it looks good & Mr Hyams directs it well, with some nicely shot scenes but it's just not quiet in the so good you'll return to watching it over & over again.
SCORES again a 6 (just above IMDb's average rating of 5.9 & a fair one)
11) "The Relic" (1997)
I really enjoyed this one but there is one major fault with it & that is the dark lighting (sometimes it's just difficult to see anything) someone else pointed this out, so glad it wasn't just me, was this Peter Hyams choice? or mistake? or was it out of his control? which I think unlikely being the director, strangely enough he'd made a film earlier which was dimly lit but it works a treat (with the shadows cast & silhouette's only at times made out in "The Star Chamber" to good effect) sadly here it brings the film down a notch or two.
Penelope Anne Miller (at around this time) was a popular, lovely looking & fun actress who as well as this appeared in 'Carlito's Way' & 'THE SHADOW' both of which I loved (how did the latter bomb?) just checked IMDb's acting roles for her & cannot honestly recognise anything until "The Artist" (from 2011) and I didn't even know she was in this!
You have to go back to (well I do) this film from 1997 to find anything familiar she was in that I can remember, seems a shame, she was a good actress, looked nice, in interviews I've seen she seemed polite & fun & yet after this her major roles seemed to dry up.
Before this she had been in "Chaplin", "Year of the Comet", "Kindergarten Cop" and The Freshman" all of which were good films, I guess I had a soft spot for her.
If one can live with the dark scenes in this film (I can, just about, well it's not all dark) then you have a decent action horror film to enjoy here.
SCORES ? well, I'm not scoring to the nearest decimal point as on IMDb so it's either a 6? or 6.5? I'll let this one hover :)
10) TOP TEN Peter Hyams Films "Sudden Death" (1995)
Now I'm not a Jean-Claude Van Damme (hell of a name BTW) fan as such...but there are TWO FILMS he appeared in which are far & away HIS BEST (IMO) and this is the first of those.
It's clear it's a type of copycat of 'Die Hard' which probably still has yet to beat in it's genre even today.
Peter Hyams does a super job of giving us a terrific & suspensful action film in the style of that film, in fact had it have had Bruce Willis in it you wouldn't have known it wasn't a DIE HARD sequel.
This was the first Van Damme film I'd ever seen & I enjoyed it very much, solid action fare.
SCORES perhaps a little generous 7 but it worked for me.
9) "Narrow Margin" (1990)
I must admit, I have only seen this once & very much enjoyed it, it rarely gets seen on TV again these days, so it's been a long time since last viewing it.
I also had no idea at the time of watching it that Mr Hyams had directed it & again to good effect.
I remember Gene Hackman's character was trying to protect a witness from the mob on a train heading through the wilderness of Canada.
It looked great & was tension filled & I would like to see it again to confirm if it's still as enjoyable?
SCORES a solid 7
8) "The Star Chamber" (1983)
A film that many will not recall or have even seen, yet I found the premise most interesting.
Judges who know criminals are being let of the hook, due to all sorts of circumstances & so they form a panel to deal out their own judgements.
The problem is...it's NOT DONE in the name of the LAW so is in itself CRIMINAL.
Gets interesting when Michael Douglas's character (also a Judge) begins to find such a set-up appealing after overseeing one particular court case he feels has gone wrong.
Eventually he joins up, those darkly lit, atmospheric scenes with silhouettes of the judges is CHILLING.
Of course some folks they set out to end actually end up being innocent? (if I remember right) and the argument is then (by these judges) that one mistake killing for the sake of getting rid of say 10 off the streets can only be good? IS IT? tell that to the innocent one & their family.
It's a very interesting film with a little action near the end & is very well directed by our director here & is one of his better films, if not entirely enjoyable but that's due to the premise, interesting thought provoking film this.
SCORES a 7
7) "Outland" (1981)
Another earlier & better Sci-Fi outing for Mr Hyams & one in which he first worked with Sean Connery (which is perhaps how he helped get him into The Presido?)
It's a GOOD science fiction film with CONNERY the Sheriff of this Mining operation station which seems to be run like the OLD WEST.
Good cast, some neat action sequences, Connery is always fun to watch & although at times it's a little dour it's in keeping with the setting.
This is NOT an exciting, thought provoking science fiction film but it's certainly different to the norm.
Sometimes (even to this day) I will watch this & think that was interesting & different and that on other occasions I'll have watched it & think IF ONLY they had done this? or this had happened?
Could have been better but it could have been a whole lot worse, I like it & it perhaps gave Mr Hyams a better idea of HOW to MAKE a far better science fiction sequel film he would make later...That film to come.
SCORES another solid 7.
6) "Running Scared" (1986)
If not mistaken? Peter Hyams only made two buddy movies ("Busting" which I have not seen) and this which I am guessing would be the better of the two.
The chemistry here between the two leads is very good & LOADS of FUN, Crystal & Hines seem to be having a whale of time filming this & it shows.
It's not perfect but it's a whole lotta fun, these two cops are almost killed, forced to take a vacation, end up loving their time over on Key West & decide to quit, when they get back they inform the powers that be that this is what they want to do, but upon learning of the guy who nearly killed them they then decide revenge would be sweet & let's not run scared in trying to get him, but the reality kicks in & they then begin
to do peddle back from this...in the hope of getting to that retirement date.
It's a HOOT, it's well directed & the two lead roles are a joy.
Actually, it seems like a LONG TIME since we had another proper GOOD 'Buddy' movie? this will do whilst waiting.
SCORES an enjoyable 7 (higher than IMDb's average of 6.5)
5) TOP 5 Peter Hyams films folks (although this one in 5th might surprise most? but I find it most enjoyable & quirky) and it's "STAY TUNED" (1992)
It stars John Ritter who I loved on Tv growing up with "Three's Company" and then later in the 1980's "Hooperman", a vastly underrated cop / comedy series which would make a decent movie version today, he stars alongside another of my fav's Pam Dawber (from "Mork & Mindy")
These two are just wonderful in this very quirky movie that I won't spoil for folks but let's just say...
IF you like CARTOONS then you'll probably LOVE THIS, I do & I did, again it's not perfect but it it hits it's target more often than not.
A 'CULT' movie if ever there was one which few I bet have ever even heard of? never mind seen, such a shame as it's a HOOT.
SCORES another 7 but preferred (just) to all the other solid 7's above & a SOLID 7 out of 10 film is well worthy of being in your collection.
4) "END OF DAYS" (1999)
We arrive at the FOURTH best 'Peter Hyams directed films which opens somewhat of a gap on the one's above.
First up this Arnold Schwarznegger film is his ONLY out & out HORROR FILM he's ever made & it's a super one.
I'm an Arnie fan anyway as well as a Horror film fan & seeing him in such seemed highly unlikely, yet the year 2000 was closing in & the rumours going around before this year showed up were that this was the 'END of the WORLD' time & that all those computers would automatically shut down causing havoc, along with numerous other Omen's that never actually came to pass.
These may have led to this film being made? & Arnie showing up in it.
This also has many dark scenes but it's far better lit & looking than 'The Relic' which to this day I still enjoy but these dark scenes have neon & candles which just make it so much more atmospheric & much easier & nicer to watch.
We've had ARNIE vs PREDATOR, so might it be too simplistic to say that this might be just ARNIE vs The DEVIL? who cares, it's a horror treat.
Well directed, Arnie looks like he's enjoying himself in a new different genre & Gabriel Byrne who physically would have NO CHANCE normally but being as he's the Devil & looks like he's playing with Arnie
most of the time in this film (and Byrne totally brings something to this film) might Arnie actually lose one ;)
A super HALLOWEEN October time film.
I'm a bit surprised at it's IMDb rating showing an average score of 5.8 but I think this deserves more...
SCORES 7.5 (I considered an 8 but 8's really are reserved for truly good films)
3) "Timecop" (1994)
This might surprise some?
I LOVE every minute of it, Van Damme's best film for me (in fact only this & that at No10 are the one's I ever bother re-watching of his but this is the better of the two) here he's up against a delightfully smarmy
baddie in the shape of bearded Ron Silver (possibly his best role?) and the love interest is one most guys from the 80's would have loved to have been theirs in the wonderful form of a Mia Sara.
Yup it's a TIME TRAVEL movie...and because of such, anything can happen, there's much to enjoy here if you don't think too hard.
They actually made a TV SERIES spin off later & it's almost as good, only a handful of episodes were ever made but the majority of them are just as enjoyable.
If not mistaken this was a HIT at the American Box Office & I figured there was every chance a sequel might follow, it never did sadly but it deserved one & I'd have gone to see it.
SCORES another 7.5 & just about pips Arnie's 1st HORROR outing, for even though I LOVE Arnie far more than Van Damme this just pips it as a film / movie.
Down to the FINAL TWO & these really are for me Peter Hyams VERY BEST FILMS by a Million Miles, which I return to almost every single year & probably will do so until my dying day.
2) "2010 : The Year we Make Contact" (1984)
So back in the early 80's my father noticed that one of his favourite films was showing on BBC TV at Christmas Time for the 1st time? curiously Dad was not really a big movie fan but the TWO he'd seen at the cinema back in the 1960's and loved was this one "2001 A Space Oddessy" & "Where Eagles Dare".
Both showing on the BBC close to each other, curious, he said I should watch them both, I did & "2001" remains my favourite all time film with "Where Eagles Dare" my favourite WAR film.
And then not too long after seeing this original from Stanley Kubrick (perhaps the Best movie of all time?) on TV that Christmas we heard a sequel was in the works, he was excited, unusual for him to be
so over a film & sure enough the rumours were true, the movie was made & although clearly not in the same 10 out of 10 class of the original it made quiet an impression on the both of us, he loved it, I loved it & it was remarkable just HOW GOOD this sequel was.
Of course this wasn't quiet on the EPIC SCALE that the original '2001' was about...this was more a WHAT HAPPENED? Mission.
They sure picked out a FANTASTIC CAST for this one...Loved them ALL, especially Roy Scheider who took on the tricky role of becoming a somewhat different (to the original) version of Dr Heywood Floyd, he worked for me (but I loved him having seen him in 'JAWS') the rest of this cast was also TOP NOTCH, John Lithgow was fun as Walter Curnow, nearly always scared out of his mind over all sorts & then Bob Balaban as Dr Chandra who helped create the HAL 9000 series & who some onboard had worries about.
Helen Mirren more than holds her own with these powerhouses & the Russian crew is very good & then we get a few OLD FAVOURITES...
Douglas Rain as the voice of HAL 9000 when hearing him for the first time here on the BIG SCREEN sent chills down the spine, but even more of a surprise because I don't think we
knew at the time that he was going to show up again (No internet back in the early 80's) was Keir Dullea as DAVE BOWMAN returning...this was a WOW moment for myself & Dad & seeing him at different stages before his death.
Acting, directing, effects, music. editing are spot on & it was a pure joy in seeing the DISCOVERY on the BIG Screen for the first time as a teen.
It's a surprisingly good sequel, we hoped it might be, it was never going to beat or even come close to the original Kubrick version but 'MY GOD' ;) this was full of STARS & gave us a worthy sequel I still love to this day.
But if this is No2 then what could be the NUMBER ONE Peter Hyams film?
SCORE 8.5 (the 6.7 score must be from casual cinema / movie fans as surely Sci-Fi fans would score this at the very least a 7 going on an 8?)
1) "Capricorn One" (1978)
It was a close run thing, this is a film I love for so many reasons & one has to say that PETER HYAMS direction here is damned near flawless.
I simply cannot see how he could have created / filmed these scenes much better & ALL the SCENES here appeal to me, some are clearly better than others but even the quieter moments (as with Brenda Vaccaro's 'Kay Brubaker' reading that book to her children in bed just works)
Of the scenes that really excite here & are superbly directed are...
"The Car wires cut" scene
"The HIDEAWAY Room" in which the superb character actor Hal Holbrook shows up through the door to this White Room and proceeds to TELL THEM A TRUTH...."A Screw Up" it's a super scene this but is quickly followed by another one when they are all lead out to a FAKE 'MOCK UP' complete with lander & another remarkable speech from Dr James Kelloway (Holbrook) who is asking / damn near begging before making THAT THREAT..."You Have to DO IT"..."There's PEOPLE ON THE PLANE"..."You HAVE TO DO IT" can you imgaine!
Being my No1 I like all the scenes in this film even those smaller, quieter moments such as when the also brilliant Elliot Gould is talking with his mate (who works at NASA control) who has discovered some strange problems he's unhappy with whilst playing pool.
Every moment Holbrook, Gould & the three Astronauts (James Brolin...possibly his best role?, Sam Waterston who is a splendid actor & even O.J. Simpson) are on screen holds your attention & then there's a number of STAND-OUT fun (CAMEO like) roles from the likes of David Doyle as Robert Cauldfield's (Gould) boss who delights in dressing down Cauldfield every time he makes a mistake & then there is Telly Savalas near the end there with his crop dusting helicopter & the lines given to him when bargaining with the hire of his plane & the pilot with Cauldfield is hilarious.
"The TALK" from the FAKE capsule & Brubaker recalling his trip with the family in the NASA talk room is well done.
"The Getaway" scenes are tremendous, with Brolin's (Brubaker) clearly the best of them but I liked Waterston speaking to himself whilst heading up that cliff face.
Then we get this THRILLING Helicopter Escape...in real life NO CHANCE, but who cares (maybe a 1% chance of escaping two expert Black Op's fully fitted helicopters)
And finally...
With rousing music playing we get THAT ENDING at the funeral's.
EPIC & for me one of the very best 1970's films, I LOVE IT.
CONSPIRACY Film & although sadly people laugh at such things, they actually, clearly DO GO ON for 'REAL' as to what extent? is open to debate.
What's curious regarding this film is that it pops up in such debates regarding the MOON LANDINGS & what may yet come.
Personally, I think we did get to the MOON (even if said it was possible that Government's & NASA etc might have been able to fake such things at this time...and that Kubrick story continues to this day) but it's what
we FOUND on there (The Moon) that I think has some explaining to do?
Perhaps with the ARTEMIS programme finally returning we humans to it's surface we might find out? ;) Yeah, GOOD LUCK with that & so continues perhaps another Conspiracy Theory concerning the Moon.
Let's be honest now...
ARTEMIS is clearly more advanced than the APOLLO era & yet...
We still need ROCKETS to get us up to orbit.
We still need a capsule with rocket to get them to the Moon which sounds like it will take pretty much the same amount of time to get there.
Computing & Automatic landing might be better & safer but all in all the improvements from 50+ years ago seems like very little, given other improvements we've made over these last 50 years, it's a little strange but I guess that's for another debate.
HOPE your ENJOYED my 1st such listing & I hope to read some good thoughts on this terrific director's efforts & your choices / favourites.
One to BEAM UP.
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