JamesTCT Reviews

Rock-a-Bye Baby (1958)

One of Lewis' better solo efforts

[8/10 · 1 May 2006]

I used to love Jerry Lewis films as a kid, and although I prefer the Lewis/Martin combos to his solo efforts, this would have to be one of my favorites.

I never used to like this, I found the slapstick unfunny, but it has grown on me over the years. Although the first 15-30 minutes aren't great, once Lewis is looking after the triplets there is a lot of fun to be had here, and Lewis plays his character with great pathos, in fact some parts of his performance are enough to bring tears, the way he portrays Claytons unrequited love for Carla.

The film also includes some lovely songs, particularly the Italian lullaby he sings with Papa Naples.

Recommended!

The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959)

Worth watching

[4/10 · 22 March 2005]

As a fan of Holmes, I quite enjoyed this film and I'm sure Hammer fans will enjoy it too... but this really messes around with the story a lot , often for no good reason. can anyone explain to me the significance of the knife holmes found on the stone and said that it had been used "in some disgusting ritual..". It was never explained why that was done? To get rid of the evidence that the hound had killed the convict? And the hound looked AWFUL! really unscary ! The only film version that ever had a truly frightening hound was the 1939 Rathbone film - that prolonged and realistic attack was amazing. This is just -- mehhh.

It does have some good points - a brilliantly overdone Hammer musical score and an exciting prologue. And I loved the painful tension during the tarantula sequence... brilliant!

The Party (1968)

Frightfully dull party

[3/10 · 8 March 2005]

I cant believe there is so much positive feedback for this film... did I watch the same film as you guys? I am a HUGE fan of Peter Sellers and I think the guy is genius, but this is far from his finest hour - OK Sellers is brilliant in this film, and all the problems of this film are not his fault, I blame Blake Edwards. This was meant to be some sort of silent film farce homage, but it seemed to be 10x slower paced than your average farce. The whole thing with the drunken waiter got old VERY fast and was so overused and unfunny, it had me cringing rather than laughing. Even Sellers genius couldn't save the many dull moments in this film, which consists of dull people talking about nothing in particular, Sellers listening to them, making unfunny comments and generally having his talent wasted. There were only a few sequences that were genuinely funny, the lost shoe sequence, the birdy num num sequence and the waiting for the toilet sequence. In between that comedy gold are interminable scenes of pure boredom as I try desperately to find something to laugh at. I cant understand why so many people find this a hilarious and classic Sellers film! And I love Sellers, I found the Pink Panther movies funny and even find stuff like Frank Spencer and Mr Bean funny (Rowan Atkinson undoubtedly stole a few ideas from this film but executed them far better) so i cant understand why I simply don't get this film at all.

Tom Brown's Schooldays (2005 TV Movie)

a bit too modernised?

[1 January 2005]

I saw this version today and although reasonably entertaining, not as great as I was expecting. Stephen Fry was great but I think a lot of liberties have been taken with the story. I have the book, must admit haven't read it all the way through, but from what I understand from the bits I've read and the other film versions I have seen, this has been "modernised" a bit, such as making Flashman more sexually immoral (using prostitutes) and leaving a girl pregnant who later has an abortion. The fight between Brown and Flashman is in the yard and much more violent, and It also hints at one of the boys being homosexual. Were these scenes in the original book? I doubt it. I also didn't like the "reality TV" style camera-work where it tries to make things look as if taken by a camcorder (wobbly camera-work, zooms in and out) and this was most distracting and out of place in a period drama. Apart from that, it was good. The bullying scenes (particularly the roasting) were handled well. 7/10

The Phantom of the Opera (1962)

Not great but not bad

[15 June 2003]

I think this was one of the first Phantom films I ever saw, it strayed quite far from the book (quite is an understatement actually) but it does have its moments, for instance, a very creepy opening with a tour of the empty opera house while the Phantom plays his organ... an interesting backstory as to how the Phantom got disfigured ... good use of tension at the start (the Phantom isnt revealed for quite some time, we only see glimpses, and occasionally his eye, watching...), some beautiful music in places (the sequence at the end is really moving, when the Phantom finally hears his work performed by Christine) but also has a few boring scenes and plot holes as well (the manager of the printing factory sure knows a lot about the accident with the acid, to say he wasnt there and the policeman didnt see it!) and doesnt feature the usual stars of the Hammer Horror films (I would love to see this with Peter Cushing or Christopher Lee!) but not bad nontheless.

A Perfect World (1993)

a misconception

[14 February 2002]

I would just like to clear up somthing... as a Jehovahs Witness this movie really annoyed me, because they have done absolutely no research into the beliefs. There is NO reason why a JW mother wouldnt allow her child to eat candy or ride rollercoasters! I dont know where the hell they got that from? Apart from that, a pretty decent movie but I wish the writers would do some homework instead of spreading a negative image.

The Phantom of the Opera (1925)

Amazing experience, but get the BFI edition

[9/10 · 14 February 2002]

Ever since I was a child I wanted to see this film. I collected Phantom of the Opera stuff, and this film was soooo hard to track down, (this was before the internet of course) I couldnt get a copy anywhere. Eventually, it was put on TV, and it was worth the wait! The restoration of the 1929 re-release by the Brittish Film Institute is the best way to experience this film, mainly because the music by Carl Davies is brilliant. Other releases jsut bodge some classical or opera music onto it, and hope it fits. This one is a proper score, and its brilliant. Watch it with the lights out and the volume up, and you will be transported into a mysterious world... very unique film experience, and features Lon Chaney at his best.