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The Great Dictator (1940)
Look up Hanna
"The soul of man has been given wings"
This movie is hyped up causing some sort of frenzy; someone calls it a classic or likes the thought that someone is mocked, and the next person repeats it until everyone gives this less than mediocre film a positive spin when reviewing it.
This is Chaplin way past his prime still trying to be a Keystone Cop and using mundane slapstick humor years after the film industry became more sophisticated. From the first scene you ask, "This is a top-star movie?" and it goes downhill from there. The sets are cardboard, and the camera is pretty much still.
If you like films that mock the era a much better production was rendered by Jack Benny and Carole Lombard in To Be or Not to Be (1942).
The basic story is of a dictator and a barber "that is not all there" getting their Identities crossed. Chaplin gets to play both parts. The only redeeming value of the movie is the acting of Henry Daniell who played Garbitsch. Then again, he is a veteran actor and can be seen in over 60 films including The Woman in Green (1945) as Prof. Moriarty.
All the people are exaggerated stereotypes (maybe on purpose) and this distracts from the story like having a musical with songs not related to the movie.
If you can make it to the end of the film, you get a long tedious speech in the style of Ayn Rand however not quite as good. "The sun shines and the wind blows."
Ready or Not (2019)
"It's All in the Game" - recorded by Tommy Edwards.
Grace (Samara Weaving) marries into a fun family with a great tradition. Looks like wedding nights are game nights as they should be. Let us see, "How About a Nice Game of Chess?," or maybe hide and seek with a tad of a twist?
Yes, this is one of those polarizing movies that you either cannot stand or you immerse yourself in and kibitz.
I do not mind telling you that it has a lot of gratuitous blood and guts. It is sort of a slasher version of "Clue"; however not quite as complex.
Se get to be familiar with quite a few unique weapons. This May be helpful in the future in case you are in the game.
Will we survive the night? Do we want to survive the night?
Duck!
Should they make a sequel or two?
Oppenheimer (2023)
"Your reproductive system is more exposed them mine, presumably." Lilli Horning
I was pretty disappointed from the beginning. They spend more time on sparkling pictures of sub atomics then facts or story. Then it only gets worse from there. We get flashbacks in flashbacks in flashbacks. To help in the confusion sometime it is in black and white, and other times it is in full color without any relations as to why. Then there is that awful tinkling music that permeates but does not enhance the experience. The birthday suit scenes were fun to watch, but they were gratuitous. Can you say soap opera?
On the positive side it was fun to see all the different major actors and think, " Now where have I seen him/her before?" It looked like everyone wanted to get into the act. This was not a venue for out of work, over the hill actors. In the middle of the soap opera there were some real personalities and facts that gave the production some value.
The whole thing turns into a shallow conspiracy story. Or is it?
A side note is that it was interesting to see that Leslie Groves: Matt Damon wore the same shoulder patch that I did while I was in the Army Map Service.
No Country for Old Men (2007)
A cheap Fargo knockoff.
A pointless program with pointless scenes starting from nowhere and going nowhere. This could pass time, but it has no socially redeeming value. All there is, is violence for violence's sake and then maybe not for that. Dogs get shot and we have to drive in 80's vehicles.
The actors must have been hard up for a film to make. The same people are major actors and all I can think of is that someone must have had something on them; because you could not pay them enough to compromise their career.
It is the primitive pre-cell 80's. The unsuspecting good greedy victim was decided to be made a two true Vietnam (60's) person; this is supposed to make him cunning and may be dangerous. I spent two tours, and I am anything but cunning or dangerous. And I never saw a Remington 700BDL (designed for snipers.) Not saying they did not exist, but we did things the old fashion way with M14's (No bolts) accurate enough for Government work.
On the plus side is that the Texas country was beautiful, and Tommy Lee Jones can still make an interesting face.
Pandorum (2009)
Mundane standard space opera
Lt. Payton (Dennis Quaid) and Cpl. Bower (Ben Foster) wake-up from hyper-sleep to find that they have selective amnesia from the experience. It is a rude awakening to a seemingly dead space ship later to find that they may be hors d'oeuvres.
The film passes time and everyone tries very hard. However, there are only so many ways to do space kung-fu and many other mischievous things. Antje Traue adds a little energy to the story.
I am not saying that you will not like the movie. Many people want the formula and nothing too innovative. If you are looking for something exceptional or innovative, you have come to the wrong place. Watch the original "Planet of the Apes" for a better ending surprise and escape.
I have only seen the Blu-Ray disc, so I cannot compare it to the other presentations, a theatrical trailer, and much more. Be sure to take the time for the Audio Commentary with director Christian Alvart and producer Jeremy Bolt. This is one of the few movies that the DVD extras do not contribute to its enhancement.
The Call of the Wild (2020)
Do not expect the book or the older movies.
Gold was found in Alaska, the rush to obtain it required a strong constitution and many dogs to do the work that horses usually did in the states. The environment bread harsh attitudes. Also, in the testing of one's mettle, one finds one's true potential.
Buck (a dog that is half St Bernard and half Shepherd) goes through many lives, trials, and tribulations finally realizing his potential. On the way he learns many concepts from surprise to deceit, and cunning; he also learns loyalty, devotion, and love. As he is growing, he feels the call of the wild.
The title was preserved. The script somewhat follows the story and the people somewhat follow the tale. However, this is a unique movie in itself. There is more of today's political correctness and the violence was watered-down a tad.
In this presentation, we have a CGI dog which allows for many expressions that do not need elaboration. It is really good to see a Buck that realizes his potential and also sees the call of the wild throughout the movie. There are a lot of good actors that played John Thornton in other movies. But Harrison Ford takes the cake as a more rounded character and has to play opposite the CGI hound. We talk a lot about Harrison and forget the other actors; I was surprised to see Cara Gee as Francoise. If you watch the DVD do not forget to watch the extras.
Nice voice-over as Buck and John are led to their destiny. And we too feel the call of the wild.
Be sure to read The Call of the Wild by Jack London.
You will find the ending of the book close but more of a tear-jerker.
Cold Skin (2017)
What kind of creatures are we?
Standard politically correct movie. Good guy vs bad guy. Creatures substituted as the other guys. Lots of heavy slow music plays as the main character. You can correct this by turning off the sound and watching subtitles.
"Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you" - Friedrich Nietzsche
The basic story takes place in 1914 the heir of the Austrian throne was, murdered and we all know what that implies.
"Friend" played by David Oakes wants to get away from it all and takes the post of weather observer on an isolated island only it is not isolated enough. He shares with the politically incorrect Gruner played by Ray Stevenson. Together they must find their way of dealing with the natives.
You probably know the story by heart. So, you watch for the details and nuances. Unfortunately, it is plodding, and you have to deal as I said previously with constant background noise... oops, music.
Chronicle (2012)
Great Blu-ray - the credits were exceptional
Many people watch superpower hero movies. Quite a few have read the comic books behind most of them. And of course, speculate as to what it would be like if you had the powers.
Put on a towel and jump off the roof. It is much more thrilling than this movie. I suppose it is a popular gimmick nowadays, but "Blair Witch" movies do not thrill me. If you enjoy this type of presentation, then definitely watch the movie "Apollo 18" it is just as hokey.
Three teens (Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell, and Michael B. Jordan) fall in a hole. It is too bad they did not stay there. Of course, if they had we would not have much of a movie I guess, such that it is. Then came the proverbial powers. It is not so bad watching them struggle with their newfound abilities, but having to watch it on a phony homemade movie genre is more than one can take. You can guess the outcome before it starts; so, you better enjoy these people throwing objects around and throwing more objects around and throwing more objects around until they run at objects that are around.
Hannibal (2001)
HANNIBAL where are the elephants?
Two elements are missing right off - Victor Mature and the elephants. Annibale (1960) aka Hannibal (1960) (USA)
As they say in the Alps, "It is all downhill from here." Now available.
Not being too enamored with the book, the movie could not disappoint me. A few characters were combined, and some plot nuances were glossed over; the ending varied from the book. However, the entire feeling was still there. I felt that they were using a lot of filters and once in a while showing extra scenery for the atmosphere. On the plus side, Julianne Moore fits the part of the tasty Clarice Starling. And you could not make the movie without Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter.
See Anthony Hopkins again in "84 Charring Cross Road", where he looks across the table and says, "Very nice, very tasty." The film "84 Charring Cross Road", was exceptionally good and so was the adaptation from the novel to film.
This film, Hannibal (2001), is not just about a man-eating people like many critics have written but it is more in-depth and complex about the relationship of a psychopathic physiologist and an F. B. I. Agent. The film is about Hannibal Lecter who is found to be living in Venice after he escaped the U. S and Mason Verger, his fourth victim, is trying to get justice done by himself by catching Hannibal and making him suffer himself. I will not continue because I am afraid that I might give too much away as the trailer did for this movie.
All I have to say is that if you have not seen this movie then you should definitely go see it and I would like to praise Ridley Scott for making an even better film than Gladiator. If you have a strong stomach, you just HAVE to see this movie. If you do not, do not watch it.
Rio Bravo (1959)
A real western with a little fun tossed in
This is John Wayne. You can spot the formula and most of his supporting actors for other John Wayne movies. O. K. You can also see that it is a Howard Hawks movie. It has that Howard Hawks feel.
Dean Martin plays himself as Dude. And Ricky Nelson as Colorado Ryan fits in this movie. Do I hear a song coming on?
The story is of good guys are holding the Daddy in the jail. All his compadres want him out. It is up to the town characters to prevent this from happening. How this is done or not done in the movie.
There may be something going on between Sheriff John T. Chance (John Wayne) and Feathers (Angie Dickinson.)
The only thing this movie needed to be perfect is black and white hats.
No Offence (2015)
In need of a translator
The TV series 2015 - 2018 is designed to be a standard British witty police comedy-drama. It actually tries to follow the formula.
Unfortunately, it has a slew of drawbacks. First, they rattle too fast with a slur of British speech impediments that includes lesser-known idioms. Then if you can not make out what they are saying you can go through the program with subtitles. You will have to pause the action to read the titles and interpret them. Next, we have to think like them to extrapolate anything that is supposed to be humor. The actors that have been in hundreds of other programs are not recognizable and seem amateurish. Then there is no environments real ort imaginary as this ridiculous police station.
I could go on but as you have guessed I did not finish the series as I have no intention of wasting time that can be spent on good programs. Even "Dr. Who" is better designed.
World War Weird (2017)
Odd but not weird
This is an interesting series. A few items are too out there to be real. However, stopping every 15 minutes and looking up the stuff on the net you will find most of it is even conservative in nature.
Many of the subjects or weird stuff seems to have been left out of major motion pictures. I was familiar with the movies "The Man Who was Never There" and many of the other subjects.
My surprises were with such things as lime decease. When I was in the military while taking a test for promotion, I got one answer wrong. They asked wat is a vector and I said it was ether a math symbol pointing in a particular direction or it was a computer term pointing to the next sentence. Wrong the answer was it was a biological (usually an insect) that carries a decease. Hence lime disease is carried by ticks. Like West Nile virus is carried by mosquitoes.
Much of the information from the program is already well known. But now and then, here and there, is a stumper as bats and dogs carrying bombs.
Alien Species (1998)
Endless running from the Sleestak.
Release date is Germany January 23, 1998(video premiere)
Nightmare Worlds 50 DVD collection has the date at 1996.
This is one of the crumbiest movies you will come across. It is too cheap to be campy. Very low budget and it shows from the beginning. They Borrowed the Sleestak suits from "Land of the Lost" a 1974-1976 TV series. You can see the zippers.
Who are these actors? Surly not good ones that just need a little extra money. Name one that you have seen before. Maybe they are relatives of the producer or director.
A tad of blood, but mostly running, running, screaming and screaming.
The world is being attacked by aliens for nefarious purposes. The poor aliens never dreamed that we would shoot them down with an old-style anti-tank weapon that just happened to be available.
All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
An in-depth look at war and people's attitudes.
The country is at war and Paul Bäumer (Lew Ayres) is in school. His instructor is proud that Paul is volunteering to protect his country. He and his classmates are off on an adventure. This adventure will challenge the way they look at life and, in the process, change our life outlook.
On the surface, this looks like a pacifist or anti-war movie. One may think this has something to do with an enemy's view of war. Also, there is a tendency to pick the film apart because it is not the book.
This story is more of a, don't get "overzealous" movie. At least do not let someone mesmerize you. It even happened in the contemporary film "Private Benjamin" (1980). She was promised the army with private condos. Again, we see the zealous ones in "Starship Troopers" (1997) where the movie shows the romantic side of the war.
As far as the rating of the movie, it is ridiculous to compare a movie that has to pass censors and only has 130 minutes with the book. Naturally, the book is going to be more thorough and descriptive. What we can compare it to is the original movie "Westfront 1918" (1930) directed by George Wilhelm Pabst (1885-1967), "All Quiet on the Western Front" (1979), and "All Quiet on The Western front (2022.) Check them all out including the audio reading of the book.
The points are made much clearer in "Westfront 1918" even though is shorter it is a 5-star movie. Especially when we return to the schoolroom to see the teacher inspiring the next generation of students to become soldiers. "All Quiet on the Western Front" (1930) however is easier to understand than "West Front". You can spend more time on the message and less on the translation from German. In either film, the actual downtime (between actions) drove me crazy as I remembered the time that we were not fighting or planning something in Vietnam was when I got antsy. The 1979 movie is a boring TV-type movie with "John Boy" Richard Thomas, playing the part of Paul Bäumer. The only good part is when he got shot.
The film was shot in black and white but is still pretty graphic. It deserves to be seen on a big screen. At one point they also sing "Watch on the Rein."
"Im Western Nichts Neues" By Remarque: "He fell in October 1918, on a day that was so quiet and still on the whole front, that the army report confined itself to the single sentence: 'All quiet on the Western Front.'"
You will want to read "Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front (Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations)"
Bedlam (1946)
The story suggested by The William Hogarth painting Bedlam plate 8 "The Rake's Progress
Once again Val Lewton takes what would have been a second-rate horror story and turns it into a sit on the edge of your seat psychological thriller. The basic question of the story is the same as the one in his movie "Ghost Ship;" that is, is man fundamentally good and helpful to others, or is he so self-centered that he will act even to his ultimate demise? An added element is that of not quite being granted all mental faculties.
The year is 1791 Lord Mortimer (Billy House) is just one of the upper classes (Wiggs) that gets his kicks from watching the loonies of Bedlam loon. His protégé (Anna Lee) is discussed at the treatment of the "guests" by the head apothecary, Master George Sims (Boris Karloff who can act). She attempts to correct this to the detriment of Lord Mortimer. So, Lord Mortimer and Sims invite her as a guest to Bedlam.
Will she ever get out or just go crazy. While there she applies a theory supplied by a Quaker (Richard Fraser), one of the Society of Friends if this works the tables may turn on Sims. What can Sims say in his defense?
Beyond the Black Rainbow (2010)
Ronald Regan cameo best actor in this movie
The movie starts meticulously slow, so you do not miss the subtle inferences. Then in the middle, it slows down so you do not miss the intricacy, in the end, it comes to a dead stop so you can erase the time spent properly.
Our antagonist Barry Nyle (Michael Rogers) just looks standard evil until one day his wife (Marilyn Norry) says "Barry you are not wearing your appliances." And we recognize him as Nosferatu in a Noriega fine customer leathers outfit. They probably need some name recognition money to pay for the filming.
Not to sully Carl Mayer but this film plot has something's in common with "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" mixes with Logan's Run attempt at finding sanctuary. Even a tad of "The village".
There is lots of diverse music, smoke, colors, and heavy breathing (reminiscent of Darth Vader.)
Brigadoon (1954)
"I'll go home with beautiful Jean"
In the mid-18th century, Highlands of Scotland, Rev. Mr. Forsythe decided that the village of Brigadoon was being unduly influenced by witches and the outside world to he asked for a miracle that was granted and the village only appears one day once every hundred years.
It just so happens that on this very day two hunters from New York were lost in the Highlands Tommy Albright (Gene Kelly) and Jeff Douglas (Van Johnson). There Tommy meets and falls in love with a girl (Cyd Charisse), but does she exist?
Things get a bit complicated, and Tommy has a lot to think about while Jeff, under the influence of alcohol, may have shot more than a bird.
One man's miracle can be another man's curse.
An often overlooked musical, the music and songs of Lerner and Loewe, which is a product of its time. This movie does not pretend to be anything, but a movie version of the stage production directed by Vincente Minnelli, with Jan Johnson and Gene Kelly at their best. I have seen several liver productions, and this is one of those rare occasions in which the movie is superior. A must for any collection.
Calling Philo Vance (1940)
Cheap wartime knockoff film
Archer Coe makes airplane designs all by himself and keeps them at home in an easily accessible form. All his friends and neighbors want them even if they do not know what an airplane is. One morning Archer is found dead in a locked room. Yep, it was suicide or was it.
Everyone could have done it if they could get inside the room many, we find out are foreign agents or just unscrupulous. There is even a buyer from England.
Be sure to watch the original film first.
This film is not an update of "The Kennel Club Case" (1933). It is a cheap wartime substitute. It is worth obtaining as contrast and compares the movie in your collection. However, it strains itself to cram "plain plan" every time it should say money.
James Stephenson makes a snotty Philo Vance with no passing or charm. He makes you wish he was the victim.
Chicago (2002)
Ersatz
"Captain Kirk, the approaching probe will destroy Earth if we do not respond with whale sound!" "O. K., send them some." "The sounds will be real, but it will just be gibberish." "Well people watched 'Chicago;' what makes you think the probe is any more discerning?"
The plotline by (Maurine Dallas Watkins) is a killer; it is all about the whimsical world of killing. Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) killed her husband and sister. Roxie Hart (Renée Zellweger) shoots her boyfriend Fred Cassely (Dominic West) dead. And a whole bevy of sleazy babes that killed their significant others. They kill a few songs. And the plot was never alive.
The play may have had some redeeming social value. However, by the time it was hacked up for this movie the only thing of value is the fast forward button. And again, just because the movie has the appearance of a play does not give it any virtue.
If you do like murder and music, then you may prefer "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (1982)
Cinderella (2015)
Cute at best
Due to ill-fortune Ella is orphaned and looked after by her cruel evil stepmother and wicked stepsisters. She is a princess in every sense except position. Someday her prince will come. And maybe a fairy godmother (Helena Bonham Carter.)
This live-action retelling of Disney's animated classic does give the animated version a run for its money.
Of course, some things could not be left out, so they needed to use quite a bit of CGI to keep the story consistent with the animated version.
The only thing that contributes to this production is the popularity of the actors in the direction of Kenneth Branagh. However, it does not have enough Branagh and too much Disney in it.
In the DVD extras, everybody pats each other's back on the fact that this filled in the Backstory of the characters. They were also overwhelmed with their own sets filmed in the 007 movie studio.
Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round (1966)
A tad more sophisticated than Waterhole #3
We are used to seeing James Coburn bigger than life. He may be here but blends into the story and soon you think of him as Eli Kotch or whoever he is at the moment.
Eli Kotch is planning a large caper that will be masked by a visit by the Soviet Premier. He must make some quick cash to finance this plan. To do this he becomes many people and no one. Wooing maids to gain access to their employer's abodes and pilfering on a large scale. It is fun watching him manufacture his personality and background. He becomes very efficient at this and even the boldness (with that Coburn grimace) will impress you. As in "Waterhole #3" (see my review) he must choose between the girl and the money. Keep your eyes and ears open for the outcome. Shall justice prevail?
The Secret of My Succe$s (1987)
Beware of "Auntie Vera"
Brantley Foster (Michael J. Fox) new to the city is a young lad out of management school and looking for a job. Luck would have it that his Uncle Howard Prescott (Richard Jordan) runs a big corporation. Brantley gets a chance to work his way up from the mailroom.
In the process, Brantley encounters his uncle's wife "Auntie Vera"(Margaret Whitton.) She takes an instant shine to him. One of my favorite scenes is where he barely escapes Auntie Vera's clutches.
Soon Brantley realizes that the only way to get to the top is to start on a higher rung; finding an empty office and knowing the way the building system works, he takes on the persona of Carlton Whitfield male "Suit". He has a business-type interaction with Christy (Helen Slater) a female "Suit". She has a quasi-relationship with someone higher up.
Then the action starts. There is a "working" weekend in which everyone has a second agenda. To this weekend both Brantley and Carlton are invited.
What are Brantley and Vera cooking up?
Is Carlton getting too close to Christy?
Does someone else have plans for Christy?
Will Carlton meet Brantley?
And who is the "bimbo?"
An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
Politics aside, surprisingly well presented.
This presentation makes a strong fact-based backing of what can or is already the consequences of global warming.
I have been to a few of the locations pointed out in the video, including Glacier National Park. And if I had just watched this video, I may have been skeptical of a one-sided argument that was packed or spun for ulterior motives. But seeing the results here and now this becomes spooky. The thing that makes Stephen King's stories so scary is that he keeps them just in the realm of reality, so if there is any credence to global warming, we are now in the middle of a Stephen King scenario.
The film is not just a scary we are doomed message but offers reasonable-sounding practical alternatives.
The first step in any action is awareness.
What do you think?
What will you do?
No Time to Die (2021)
An up-to-date Bond movie
This is another installment of the 25th "official" of the 007 or Bond series. It has all the latest gadgets, Daniel Craig in his fifth Bond appearance, and the same old plot. In fact, you have seen this plot many times, but it has been Bondified for this movie. There are good people and bad people; you cannot tell which is which until they act or react.
We have love, bullets, and chases. Naturally somewhere in there is the statement "Time to die." And many people do. Will bond finally get his Up-and-come'ns?
This was filmed in several places such as Scotland, Norway, Faroe Islands, and Jamaica.
Unfortunately, there will be more bonds but not better Bonds.
From Time to Time (2009)
A Downton Abbey for kids
The war is almost over and 13-year-old Tolly (Alex Ethel) returns to his family's ancestral home that he barely remembers. There where he awaits his father's return from the war, his grandmother reunites him with his family history. He finds he is capable of going through time to help solve and maybe create important family history mysteries.
We get to go along with the attorney and kibitz along the way. The story itself is fairly transparent and the solution is predictable; however, the true value of the movie is the people interaction, the rich and intriguing environment, and possible lessons learned for all of us.
This presentation is based on a children's novel "The Chimneys of Green Knowe", by Lucy M. Boston.
Julian Fellowes - Director is the Executive Producer and writer of most of the series of Downton Abbey; also, the Titanic (TV mini-series) among other series.
I think I had more fun identifying the actors and where they were seen before. Many of them and even their characters turned up again in the Downton Abbey series. Many of the other actors appeared in decades of famous British movies.
In any event, this presentation is a keeper and worth re-watching periodically.