g_dekok Reviews

Hallelujah (1929)

Wonderful movie!

[10/10 · 18 August 2023]

I truly love this movie! It's well done, moving from the rural Deep South to the city, full of "fast women", and loaded dice that are used to rob unsuspecting cotton farmers. Nina Mae McKinney definitely shows her talent, ranging from dancing and singing in a nightclub to faking a "conversion" to insure that she is well taken care of. Her voice is incredible, but she does get somewhat annoying, always clinging to Zeke during the crap game.

The movie does show a lot of racist stereotypes, such as young children dancing, the singing at the funeral, the mass baptism at the river, etc.

The end is quite different than one might expect. The gambler, Hot Shot, and Chick, the woman that Zeke thinks he's in love with, get their comeuppance.

The movie was made in 1929, and is a fine piece of work. Film students would do well to see it, and examine the differences in it and movies of today.

Well done!

The First Lady (2022)

Great series!

[10/10 · 19 May 2022]

All the complainers sure don't know what they're talking about. Ms. Davis is doing a terrific portrayal of former First Lady Michelle Obama. She is portraying a strong, intelligent, and independent woman who is dedicated to her profession, role of First Lady, family and mother, and doesn't take a back seat to ANYONE. I'm sure that if Ms. Obama didn't like Ms. Davis's portrayal, she would let her and/or the producers know.

10/10!!!

The Color Purple (1985)

Incredible movie!!

[10/10 · 12 April 2022]

How can anyone not like The Color Purple? It's incredibly well done, tightly acted, and shows how an African American woman, abused by her father and "husband" in the early 20th century, raises herself up. Someone referred to the book as "anti Christian", when it clearly isn't.

I don't know why this book riles rightwing nuts so much. It shows how families should be: protective, and supportive.

The Terminal (2004)

Very good movie!!

[10/10 · 16 August 2021]

The movie is very well written, and is fun to watch. Tucci is extremely good as the-bucking-for -promotion head of airport security and function; he's fixated on ONE thing- get Viktor OUT of JFK and become someone else's headache.

To all the naysayers: grow UP, and get a life.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

"Think you used enough dynamite, there, Butch?"

[10/10 · 21 April 2021]

Gotta be my favorite line in the whole movie!

Either that, or "I work for Mr E. H. Harriman of the Union Pacific Railroad!"

Harriet (I) (2019)

Gripping and FACTUAL

[10/10 · 19 April 2021]

Ignore all the naysayers and haters of a VERY good movie. Having done some research into Ms. Tubman's miraculous life, I find it to be factbased and VERY well done. Period.

Cavalcade (1933)

Interesting film

[9/10 · 9 April 2021]

But I'm a little confused. Can someone explain why the riders go across the screen at certain times?

Downton Abbey (2019)

We loved this!

[1/10 · 6 March 2020]

First off, I want to say to the naysayers that an attempt on George V was certainly NOT "hogwash"; Ireland was trying to break away from English rule. 2. If you were openly lgbt in England at this time, you'd probably end up in prison. It did indeed happen.

I love the series AND this movie!!

When the Lights Go on Again (1944)

Um, no

[1/10 · 30 November 2019]

I usually like James Lydon movies, but not this one. I couldn't get past the first 15 minutes or so, try as I may. It just wasn't up to his level of acting, and the story was somewhat contrived.

Others may like it, but not me. Sorry.

Oliver! (1968)

Please don't

[1/10 · 19 November 2019]

Please skip the awful musical version of Dickens' "Oliver Twist". It was NOT written with singing and dancing in the streets, but to expose the Poor Laws in the UK at the time.

Complete dreck.

Oliver Twist (I) (1922)

Another version!

[10/10 · 19 November 2019]

I'd not known that this version existed, and was even more interested when I saw that Lon Chaney played Fagin! Seeing as he did his own makeup brought a different aspect to the story. I thought Jackie Coogan a little young for the part, seeing that he was only 8, and I think In this event, Oliver is about 10 or so.

But! I digress! It's a compact, concise telling, and I'll have to look for a DVD, if one exists.

Land and Live in the Jungle (1944)

Not bad!

[10/10 · 9 August 2019]

This is actually a good little movie. It was made as a WW II training movie, and was well done.

The Ladykillers (2004)

Don't bother.

[1/10 · 30 June 2019]

This failure should never have been made.

Do yourself a favor and skip this one. See the original, instead.

Little Men (1940)

Very poor version

[1/10 · 10 April 2019]

Please skip this movie, and see the previous version. This strays so far from the story, and is badly done.

The Quiet Man (1952)

Last song used

[10/10 · 30 March 2019]

Does anyone know the name of the song at the end, mixed in with "Garry Owen"? I'd love to know the name of it!

Hilarious movie, one of my very favorites!

All Mine to Give (1957)

Very good movie

[10/10 · 25 March 2019]

I first saw this years ago, and found it very well done. It's based on a true story, which makes it even better. Mitchell was always underrated as an actor, I thought, but he did very well. The oldest boy played by Rex Thompson chewed the scenes up, especially when he has to distribute the younger children to sympathetic townspeople, instead of those who want to send to an orphanage, or hire them out as workers, which did happen in those days.

Lifeboat (1944)

Addendum

[31 December 2018]

To the Hitchcock fan, it's always fun to play "spot Hitchcock" in the movie. Look closely at the newspaper William Bendix is reading!

Lifeboat (1944)

Great movie!

[30 December 2018]

I'd not seen this, but have heard a lot about it over the years. Finally got a chance to watch it today, and it was very gripping. I hadn't known that the book was written by Steinbeck, and it's very well done. I had a friend of mine whose mother was a shirttail relation to Slezak, and the face was similar.

A Farewell to Arms (1932)

Opera singer

[8/10 · 8 October 2018]

William Irving had an incredible voice! For the short time he was onscreen, he sang very well.

Oliver Twist (2005)

Very good version!

[26 August 2018]

This is probably the best version of Oliver Twist, which was written to expose the Poor Laws of 18th century England. It was NOT written to be a stupid musical like "Oliver!". Dickens must be rolling in his grave everytime some "theater company" decides to put it on.

Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)

Just not my cup of tea.

[4/10 · 14 August 2018]

The one question I have to ask I would be: What the hell did mickey rooney think he was doing? His horrible "acting" was clearly over the top and racist as he made a mockery of Japanese men. I liked Miss Hepburn very much, but rooney overacts in the movie. Give me Roman Holiday or The Nun's Story anytime over this movie.

Dunkirk (2017)

Very good!

[9/10 · 12 August 2018]

I'm glad that Charles Lightoller, 2nd mate of the Titanic, was portrayed as Mr. Dawson. Lightoller did indeed carry 127 British servicemen to safety at Dunkirk, with his son and a local Sea Scout. I found this a very fine movie.

The Hurricane (1937)

Incredible movie!!

[10/10 · 22 July 2018]

John Ford is one of my favorite directors (to my wife's dismay!) and I will watch his films, repeatedly and see something new every time. "The Hurricane" is one of his best, I think. The casting is excellent, especially with John Carradine as the sadistic warden, and Raymond Massey as the island's governor, who is trying to hold onto his position of power, knowing full well of the situation that sends Terangi (?) to an unjust prison term. It's extremely well written, directed, and acted. The gentleman who played Terangi, Jon Hall, was a direct descendant of Charles Nordhoff Hall, who also co-wrote Mutiny in the Bounty. Don't let the naysayers talk you into not seeing this excellent movie.

Little Men (1934)

Good version

[10/10 · 21 July 2018]

I'd not seen this version before , but found it to be very faithful to the storyline. It's much more realistic than the 1940's version, which took extreme liberties with the story.

Little Women (1949)

Quite possibly the worst rendition of Little Women

[1/10 · 20 July 2018]

Why was June Allyson so miscast as Jo? Jo's 15 or 16, and she was 32. Surely there were other girls who would have been a much better pick. Lawford as Teddy was ok, but also too old.