bmagnetic7 Reviews

The Wiz (1978)

Enchanting

[10/10 · 26 January 2007]

I, like the previous writer, had no idea that this movie was NOT liked by all. I mean, you had Michael Jackson (before "Off the Wall" and "Thriller") as the Scarecrow, and Diana Ross as Dorothy (even though, I secretly wanted Stephanie Mills to play Dorothy, since she played her in the Broadway play as well and was magnificent), Nipsey Russel as the Tin-Man, and Lena Horne as the Good Witch of the South, and the immortal Richard Pryor as The Wiz. How could anyone not like this movie?

Such memorable sequences such as Dorothy's initial meetings of her traveling partners (Scarecrow singing "You Can't Win", Tin-Man sining "Slide Some Oil To Me", and one of my favorites, the Lion sining "I'm A Mean Ole Lion". Or when they met Miss One, who proclaimed the greatness of the Wizard of Oz singing "He's The Wiz". Phenomenal! Lena Horne's LEGENDARY performance of "Believe In Yourself", not to mention the glorious song of liberation and freedom when the Wicked Witch (played by Mable King) died, "Brand New Day".

I must compliment the previous writer, as she summed it up so beautifully; this is an African-American version of the "Wizard of Oz" which African-American children could immediately identify with. A fresh version of a classic American tale. I myself was 8 at the time this movie was released and enjoyed it in the theater with my mother and my best friends. Do yourself a favor, buy the DVD; you won't be disappointed.

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Absolutely the Best of the Series!!!

[10/10 · 26 October 2005]

This movie single-handedly saved the Star Warsfranchise!! I've heard it repeated several times over,I'm happy/proud to be a Star Wars fan again!!! I must reiterate those sentiments.

In the original Episode 4, Ben Kenobi informs Luke that Vader was seduced by "the dark side of the force", and in this movie, you see intimately how/why Anakin Skywalker allowed himself to become seduced by Emperor Palpetine. Visual effects have always been excellent,but the story has not been this good since the original trilogy. You even see the conflict within Anakin,as the last vestige of his "good" falls away in the form of a tear after killing the youngling Jedi. Kenobi's description of the destruction of the Jedi order in Episode 4, is lived out in gory detail, including the finale of Anakin being severely injured in battle and donning the outfit we've all come to know so well. This is the best of the entire 6 episodes!! Outstanding George Lucas!!! Outstanding!!!

The Strongest Man in the World (1975)

Very Goofy, Very Funny

[6/10 · 28 August 2005]

I was inspired to get this movie after seeing (and enjoying) Sky High with Kurt Russell and I happened to recall this movie. I originally saw "The Strongest Man in the World" as a child (I was 5 years old) and enjoyed it VERY much. As an adult, I find it's VERY silly, and campy and wonderful.

Very enjoyable is the opening animation, which depicts a little boy doing AMAZING & IMPOSSIBLE things: catching a king-kong style gorilla that fell from a building, carrying a cruise ship, & holding (with one hand mind you) a stage carrying 3 grown men pressing over their heads what looks to be about 1000 lbs. WOW! College science student, Dexter Riley (Russell) creates a vitamin formula that, by pure accident, becomes a temporary superhuman strength formula. News of the formula comes to the attention of two rival cereal companies who stage a weightlifting contest to see which cereal would render the eater the strongest. One cereal, supposedly having the strength formula in it. It DOESN'T. Now Dexter, must race against the clock to get the real formula in order to win the weightlifting match.

Again, funny, goofy, slow in certain areas, but it doesn't take away from the humor of the film.

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978)

Excellent Movie

[10/10 · 28 August 2005]

I remember seeing "Master Killer" as a kid on the local station which became "Kung-Fu Theatre" from 3-5pm Saturdays.

Everything Gordon Liu has done since this movie had to be compared to this movie due to the stellar performance (acting and martial arts) that he gave. Quite frankly, this is the watermark by which kung-fu movies should be judged.

A student of philosophy, whose school is accused of harboring "rebels" against the rulers of the day, our hero escapes and under tremendous circumstances, & gets himself accepted in Shaolin Temple as a monk.

The training sessions, as he goes from chamber to chamber (hence the name "36 Chambers" in some English versions of the movie) are intense and difficult. You can feel the pain as he struggles to master each chamber. Yet you also see the determination to MASTER every discipline Shaolin Temple offers. His purpose for such mastery? To take revenge against those who killed his school mates and family who helped him initially escape.

When he finally confronts the bad guys, YOU KNOW he's more than a match for them. You've personally gone through this struggle with him as he evolved from philosophy student to the top martial arts student Shaolin ever produced.

A fantastic movie you won't regret OWNING!! A+