At 'Dem Flicks w\ Malcolm - Q : The Winged Serpent

Malcolm · Post by **Malcolm** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:51 am

If you know who Larry Cohen is, you've already got a good idea what this movie's like. You may stop reading now.

If you don't know who Larry Cohen is, think of a slightly higher class version of Roger Corman. Read on.

If you don't know who Roger Corman is, go rent "Grand Theft Auto," "The Big Dollhouse," and "Death Race 2000." Then read the review.

For those of you that fall into the second category, a review follows.

The story revolves around an ancient Aztec plumed, feathered dragon flying around New York killing people in the most low-budget fashions humanly imaginable. Two cops (David Carradine & Richard Roundtree) stumble onto its existence, as does a lowlife crook (Michael Moriarty).

If that sounds like a B movie plot, that's cos it is. The acting from Carradine is alright, I suppose. Roundtree is almost wasted as "generic angry black cop." Moriarty gives a performance that is better than a flick of this calibre deserves. His character gets some depth from the beginning, which makes him much more interesting than any of the other one-note motherfuckers on set.

Larry wrote the flick himself. All things being equal, he did a decent job. But it's still a low budget film whose greatest expense was probably all the helicopter shots of New York. The special effects are on par w\ that of "Jason and the Argonauts." More stop motion than you can shake a stick at, take a picture of, stop, start shaking again, take another picture, etc.

Verdict : 1.5 stars. It tries, it really does. If this were being rated in the B movie scale, it'd be 3 stars.

Post by **Leisher** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 1:19 pm

I actually own this movie.

I've heard it said that this movie is an example of a well paced film. I'm not sure I agree.

Post by **TPRJones** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:06 pm

David Carradine & Richard Roundtree ... Michael Moriarty

Now there's a B-movie casting trifecta! All we need is Rutger Hauer for the super.

Post by **Vince** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 7:11 pm

Don't bust on Jason and the Argonauts. That movie was way ahead of its time on visual effects.

Malcolm · Post by **Malcolm** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 8:19 pm

I actually own this movie.

I've heard it said that this movie is an example of a well paced film. I'm not sure I agree.

I disagree completely. It was better pacing than a B flick is used to, but it still wasn't that great.

Edited By Malcolm on 1153182216

Malcolm · Post by **Malcolm** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 8:20 pm

David Carradine & Richard Roundtree ... Michael Moriarty
Now there's a B-movie casting trifecta! All we need is Rutger Hauer for the super.

I vote for Richard Moll over Rutger. Rutger wasn't B enough after "Bladerunner."

Malcolm · Post by **Malcolm** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 8:23 pm

Don't bust on Jason and the Argonauts. That movie was way ahead of its time on visual effects.

"Jason and the Argonauts" -- 1963.
"Q : The Winged Serpent" -- 1982.

Post by **Vince** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:27 pm

I'm just saying... busting on Jason and the Argonauts is like busting on the original Star Wars.

Malcolm · Post by **Malcolm** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 6:49 pm

I'm just saying... busting on Jason and the Argonauts is like busting on the original Star Wars.

What? I distinctly remember you bitching about the acting in that film.

Post by **Vince** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:59 pm

I'm just saying... busting on Jason and the Argonauts is like busting on the original Star Wars.
What? I distinctly remember you bitching about the acting in that film.

Absolutely. But I've never bitched about the special effects.

The special effects were boss for the day. The acting sucked in any decade. I've scene silent movies with better acting than Mark Hamill.

I will always stand by that position.