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Sparky-89
Reviews
Wild Bill (1995)
Top of My Worst Movies of the '90s
This film has a major flaw: nothing happens! Thinking back on the film, I can't say what it's about. It's not that the acting is bad or the production is cheap or the dialogue is bad. These elements give you something to laugh at or criticize. But "Wild Bill" is so muddled and undeveloped, you just sit there asking yourself what the hell it is you're watching. As my wife put it: "I would have rather spent the time sitting outside the theater looking people walk by." I couldn't have said it better.
The Other (1972)
Probably the Most Scared I've Ever Been
Other viewers have mentioned how creepy this film is. I can't really comment whether it's intrinsically scary, since I haven't seen it in almost 25 years. But at the time I saw I was 14 years old and it scared the beejeebus out of me. I've seen films here and there that made it hard for me to sleep. But after seeing "The Other" I literally lay awake in my bed, too afraid to even move, until the sun rose.
Torn Curtain (1966)
"My American sponsor!"
I pretty much agree with all the other comments I've read: this is not one of Hitchcock's better films; the killing of Grommeck it the best scene of the film, etc.
One commenter, however, described the scenes with the woman searching for a sponsor as inexplicable. This got me to thinking about why these scenes were included. Obviously, the woman slowed down their escape and drew attention at the post office. On that level, she was an annoying plot device.
But she also seems to represent the past glories of the Eastern block. She is obviously formerly rich or aristocratic and has a complete disdain for her fellow East Germans. And she provides an opportunity for Hitchcock to show the desparation of some East Germans to escape, which really isn't shown anywhere else in the film.
I guess I'm intrigued by this character because, for almost the whole time she is on the screen I'm wishing she wasn't, but when she lunges desparately at the police officer in order to facilitate the escape of her "American sponsor", I couldn't help but be moved.
Goldy: The Last of the Golden Bears (1984)
Great for a Practical Joke
There is a tradition in my wife's family of telling an unsuspecting friend or relative of this really great children's film that they MUST watch. The movie is called "Goldy: The Last of the Golden Bears". After sitting down to watch the video, the practical joker waits to see the reaction of the unsuspecting friend or relative.
At first the viewer is surprised at the poor quality of acting, but is tolerant because, after all, it's only a children's film. As the video goes on, the viewer becomes uncomfortable with the corny dialogue and lack of plot. Then he or she begins to wonder why this video was recommended as a great children's film.
Finally, the viewer turns to the cruel practical joker and says something like, "What the hell is this? Is there something wrong with you?" At which point, all those in the know burst out laughing.
Personally, I think it's a cruel joke.
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
The Fear Factor
A lot of the comments on this movie center around the so-called disturbing aspects of the Wonka factory. Oompah Loompahs have been called creepy, Wonka is lambasted as sadistic, etc.
When this film came out, I was eight years old. Other than the images projected on the tunnel wall as the boat went through, I didn't find anything particularly scary. Mostly it sparked my imagination and made me laugh.
In my opinion, this was the best "children's" film of my generation. It wasn't until _Babe_ that a children's film of comparable quality was released. (Not surprising, _Babe_ was criticized by some for being too disturbing for children.)