Still been on a EGR and Cagney run:
Kid Galahad-great little boxing picture, with well written parts for Eddie and Bette Davis. Bogie is the evil gangster figure. Some influence on Raging Bull. 3.5 balls out of 4 fixed fights.
Each Dawn I Die-GREAT prison film where Cagney is a reporter falsely accused of murder to shut him up. He is thrown in prison and when he cannot be proved innocent, begins to crack up and go into the mean Cagney mode we all love. George Raft is the smooth convict who befriend Jimmy. A classic. 3.5 balls out of 4 stints in solitary.
The Roaring Twenties-an epic of sorts, with all the classic touchstones of gangster pictures. Obvious influence on Scorsese. This is Cagney and Bogie together during Prohibition. What's not to love?? 3.5 balls out of 4 gin joints.
Here's everything else:
Once Upon a Time in China (one of the worst DVD transfers from a major studio I’ve ever seen) Three balls out of 4.
Once Upon a Time in China II (Ditto) Two balls out of four rope fights.
Once Upon a Time in China III One and a half balls out of 4 bad subtitles.
The Hangover 3 (Unbelievably dumb and pointless filler) ZERO BALLS
City for Conquest 3.5 balls out of 4.
Yankee Doodle Dandy-FOUR BALLS. A CLASSIC in surprising ways.
King’s Row-3.5 balls out of 4. The only good movie that stars Ronald Regan.
Once a Thief-3.5 balls out of 4. A Great comedy/caper film with surprising depth from John Woo in his classic period. This is Chow Yun-fat in full Cary Grant mode.
Hitchcock-1 ball. A terribly dull picture that is about a caricature and not the man or his life.
Iron Man 3-two balls out of four. Coming from Shane Black, I had hoped for more wit and worth but could care less as long as there will be a Kiss Kiss Bang Bang 2.
Blood and Wine-An odd low budget 90's picture reuniting Bob Rafelson with Jack Nicholson AND adding Michael Caine. The potential is massive but this is a flat, cheap and empty movie. Two balls at best.
Lady Killer-a darkly funny preCode Cagney picture where a gangster is forced out of town, abandoned by his mob and inadvertently becomes a Hollywood star. 3.5 balls out of 4.
The Fighting 69th-A WWI picture about the titular regiment, produced as a WWII propaganda piece. Cagney is excellent in a different role, that of a blustery coward. 3 balls out of 4.
Torrid Zone-A great snappy picture-though a remake of an earlier Clark Gable film-and featuring elements of later Warner classics equals pure delight. This is Cagney and Ann Sheridan (love!) consistently outdoing each other on a banana plantation in the tropics whilst fighting off indignant rebels. Sheer fun. 3.5 balls out of 4.
Man of Steel-a dull movie where the actors give it their all but are consistently dragged down by the surrounding movie. The camerawork is absolute garbage filled with shakycam and incessant forced zooms. This is both no fun and missing humanity. There is no spark, no life, no vitality to this picture at all. It is as frustrating as Superman Returns. 1.5 balls at best.