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Lady and the Tramp (1955)
A favorite for all but five years of my life
I was four when Lady first met her Tramp. That was a lie t of years ago. Yet, to this day, I can't think of this film without both smiles and tears, and it doesn't matter that I've seen it it dozens.of times, both in theaters and my home. Because of the master storytellers at Disney's magic palace, I craved a cocker spaniel. After AfterbAfter all, what else does a little girl need?
Lady and the tramp, like all of Walt Disney's films, has laughter, drama, pathos, tears, and, perhaps most importantly, a happy ending. If you have a child, it should be approached carefully because it can be a traumatic experience. I still remember what a trial it was for me to see this film the first time, and how many tissues I went through. But I cannot recommend this movie enough, because it can help a child more fully appreciate how wonderful dogs are, and how gentle care of one can help a person learn regard for all life.
If you are a parent, invest in Disney films. If you are not a member of that class, invest in them for your own benefit. They are still, many, many years after my first introduction to each of them, a genuine treasure of my life. Thank you, Uncle Walt, for filling my childhood with gentle education.
Super 8 (2011)
Another hit for J.J. Abrams
There are lots of great reviews for this film, so I'm not going to say much. I suspect that everyone has compared it to E.T., and that's very true -- even in the scariest places, Abrams has managed to infuse both the sweetness and humor.
However, I have a hint for those of you who haven't seen it (and perhaps some who have). Find a copy of the _original_ version of Close Encounters and watch it carefully. It's worth it for the small homage that Abrams has included to that wonderful film. Just sayin'.
I think that Abrams has become a worthy successor to Steven Spielberg, something which we've increasingly needed as Spielberg has turned more toward production and mentoring younger directors. However, I hope that these two continue collaborating for a long time to come.
DragonHeart (1996)
A dragon worth dying for
The way I tell how much I really like a movie is that, when I see the title, I smile. Today, I did that when I saw this film's title on the channel guide. I hadn't seen it for a while, so I decided to watch it.
I had forgotten the laughter, adventure and sadness of the thing. I'd forgotten that the sexiest man in the world (Sean Connery) had voiced Draco, and that Dennis Quaid (Bowen) and Dina Meyer (Kara) had fought so hard for freedom and justice. Most of all, I had forgotten how all three of them were devoted to the idea that one person can make a change in the world.
I cried when Draco died, and even when his star took its place with in ancestors in the heavens.
"A Knight is sworn to valor. His heart knows only virtue. His blade defends the helpless. His might upholds the weak. His words speak only truth. His wrath undoes the wicked."
Those are pretty good words. Maybe they should be repeated by every politician, every soldier, every person every morning until they become ingrained in their beings. Then, maybe, we'll like each other a little bit more.
Field of Dreams (1989)
Learning to love many times over
I'm not sure if there are really spoilers herein, but I'd rather be safe.
No one in my family ever liked baseball. I mean no one. Oh, sure, like everything non-South Sider, My mom rooted for the Cubbies. But I don't recall every seeing a baseball game on TV. When I got married, one of the things my husband and I had in common was an intellectual love for the Cubs and a disdain for the game. Until this day, the only games I've seen were at my mother-in-law's house because her love for the Cubs transcended reason (and I was forced into going to see the Milwaukee Brewers game one for a company function, but I didn't pay attention to the game).
Then, in 1989, Field of Dreams was born. It took me a couple of years before it showed up on one of the premium cable satellites. But, one day when I had nothing to do, I finally watched it, and for only the second time in my whole life, I saw true -- really true -- magic (and no, I won't tell you what the first was, ever.)
This is a film is not really about the love of a sport, it's just about love. It's about coming to terms with things that that have caused hurt throughout a lifetime; and it's about how love and wonder can make a person's belly feel full, her heart burst, and her brain at peace, no matter where in (or out) the universe that person may be.
There are giggles and some real laughs spread throughout Field of Dreams (I particularly like Shoeless Joe telling Roy that Ty Cobb wanted to play but that the rest of the players wouldn't let him because of how much they despised the man in life), but the movie is not meant to be a comedy.
And the last couple of minutes still make me cry, because I'll never find what Roy did. But now I can dream that it may, someday, occur.
Watch this with your children and your parents. Your sisters, brothers and friends. Even watch it alone.
"Hey! Is this Heaven?" "No. It's Iowa."
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
The way to Narnia becomes simple
My husband and I have loved C.S. Lewis' Narnia stories since we were children. Shortly after we became engaged, he took me to Wheaton College so that I could see the Wardrobe. I had to suppress my joy, but when when I got to open it, the path to Narnia was blocked.
After more years than I care to admit, I finally managed to find my way to that a place more comforting than Oz or Wonderland by watching this film. I screamed at Edmund when he placed his trust in the evil Snow Queen because she made him Turkish Delight (something I've never liked, but I tolerate those who do). I was proud of Peter, Susan and Lucy as they braved things that I would have never been able to do by myself.
And, then, there's Aslan. He was the giant symbol of great heart, power and love that lions are often equated with. His joy in life and the deep magic which protects everyone alive lies in every movement and that beautiful voice (Liam Neeeson). I'd seen many of the other mythic creatures before with Harry Potter, but here, even these wanting no contact with humans all became heroes fighting for what they believed in, including four children from another place and time.
Lewis'series reflects the horror that England went through during World War II and the trouble it endured afterward. It's also true that they contain more than the usual amount of Christian symbolism something that some people of other religions might not care for. No matter that, because the beauty and love the movie creates can be felt by any person of every background. It is one of those things that can unify people from all over the world.
When I am full of doubt that the Universe will turn out right, I pull out my copy, watch it, and my doubt starts to go away. You might like to do that, too.
If you would like to read more books written by this Oxford Don, you might like _The Screwtape Letters_ and _A Grief Observed_ too.
Rebecca (1940)
Last night, I dreamed I was at Manderley again ...
We never meet the title character of this classic Alfred Hitchcock film. However, she inhabits the halls of Manderley as if she was alive and watching everything that occurs. Through her medium, the mysterious Mrs. Danvers, Rebecca still ominously dominates the inhabitants.
And ominous is exactly the right word to describe the real star of this film, Judith Anderson (before she was a "Dame"). Mrs. Danvers floats through the house, intent on her task to prevent the new Mrs. DeWinter from taking her rightful place as the Lady. Through innuendo, menace, and her belittlement of the young woman Mr. DeWinter brings home from Monte Casino, there is utterly no doubt that Danvers wants to destroy her employer's or any other person's chance at happiness.
If we never see Rebecca, we are also never told the name of the childlike woman brought home as Maxim DeWinters' new wife. This is a brilliant device (both in the book and film), because it makes it easier for each of us to visualize ourselves wandering those halls, looking at the portraits in the gallery, and always thinking that Mrs. Danvers will float from nowhere, to work Rebecca's evil from beyond the grave, making all of us know that we will never be good able to measure up to the maid or her mysterious Rebecca.
Enterprise (2001)
A re-evaluation of Enterprise
And, I have found out that there weren't any changes that took away from the start of the TOS, etc. cycle, but set some things up -- explained why Klingons looked different on TOS and in the movies and later; other things that I can't remember right now to list.
In short, I've come to love it. I'm still not too happy about the Zindi thing and the temporal time war, but I have found that it does serve as a wonderful prelude to the rest of the Star Trek universe. Now, of course, Scott Bakula is a big part of my love for it, but the other regulars came into the series fully-fleshed out and grew as the series continued. The stories, for the most part, are well-told and leave me with a feeling that I've not wasted my time watching it.
If you can, watch a few episodes. Then, turn around, save your money, and buy the series. My copy lives right next door to my collections of the first 2-episode at a time release ($1,400 worth) as well as the newest version to come out) of TOS.
I will always, first and foremost, love TOS the best -- I was 15 when it came out, and it gave me a great many aspirations. But Enterprise has become my second favorite.
Airplane! (1980)
If you liked Airplane! ...
Airplane! has always been one of my favorite movies -- it's funny, silly, and a wonderful parody on all disaster films. Or so I thought.
However, if you like "Airplane," you really, really, really have to watch another movie called "Zero Hour."
Really.
I can't really say much more without saying I suggest you watch Zero Hour, but I'm writing all of this because there is a 10 line minimum in order to have a comment approved. Suffice it to say that there may be, well, an inspiration for the Zuckers and Abraham to have written their film, but I'm not going to say anymore.
Zero Hour (1944)
Oh, my gosh! It's the source of ...
I'm watching Zero Hour even as I write this.
Soon after it started, it talked about a squadron leader named "Ted Stryker." Soon afterward, things continued ... exactly in the same order, in the same situations, at a certain other movie regarding an airplane flight that almost ends in disaster.
Of course, the symptoms of gastroenteritis are greatly exaggerated -- I've had it, and I've never passed out, I just wanted to.
However, this is a gas to watch if you've ever seen another film that might have the same minimal synopsis.
Have a great time!
Joe Versus the Volcano (1990)
It grows on you
The first time I saw this movie, I got bored, thought it too silly for words, and turned it off halfway through.
It came on a premium channel again. I said to myself, "Oh, what the heck. It really can't be that bad. After all, it's Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan!" So I tried it again. That's when I suddenly realized that this is a funny, great movie. It has amazing silliness, a ridiculous plot, some very bad dialogue, a volcano filled with dyed oatmeal ... and great heart.
It was the moon that caught me. Joe kneeling on that stupid raft made of his steamer trunks, realizing that his life has been precious while the heroine of the story (Meg Ryan in one of the several roles she plays in the film) is in a coma.
If you're looking for a serious film that shows Hanks at the "height" of his acting career, this isn't for you. But if you want to smile and maybe chuckle, take it out of its hiding place and watch it. It may grow on you, too.
Star Trek (2009)
It's baaaack!
I was 15 years old on September 8, 1966 -- that's 43 years ago, so you can figure out how old I am now. For all of the years in between, I have looked at the Star Trek "franchise" to give me hope that the human race will make its way out of the troubles we've created for ourselves and be able to reach for the stars. (I've also been a Shatner/Captain Kirk freak, but that comes in later.)
I had horrible trepidations about this movie. I didn't think that anyone would be able to bring back the characters or, especially (as Harve Bennett said) bring back their ability to "tap dance" in tune with the plot and each other.
But, but gosh, JJ Adams did it. He recreated Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Uhura, Sulu, and all the other characters we loved in the original series, although with slight twists. They have a slightly different taste than before but it still fits. The banter -- especially, of course, from McCoy -- is still a hot. The adventure and action still holds you tight, and the end is right (sorta -- but I'm not going to give that away).
The Great Bird of the Galaxy (for non-Trekkers, Gene Roddenberry), if he was still alive, would have approved and applauded. I think that he and Majel are somewhere enjoying the idea that another generation of Trekkers may yet appear.
Schindler's List (1993)
Never forget
When I was about 12, I saw Exodus for the first time. During the last 20 minutes I was almost hysterical. How could they do this to people who'd never done anything to deserve it, I asked my mother. She had no answer, except to say that we shouldn't forget that it happened so that it wouldn't happen again.
Many years later, Schindler's List came out, many, many years later. Although I wasn't hysterical this time, I cried throughout the film and again asked the same question: How could "they" do this to people who'd never harmed anyone? This time, there was no one to answer my question because there is no answer.
The problem is -- we keep forgetting. In Afghanistan, Darfur, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Haiti, throughout the world and throughout the centuries. We teach our children to hate people who have different religions, different types of faces, even different economic stations.
Schindler's List, and the other films of its kind, should be watched regularly by everyone. Oskar Schindler and the other "righteous men," no mater what their sex, must be held up as examples to everyone, and and everyone should do what they can to emulate them every day, every hour and every minute.
Oh! The spoiler -- 6 millions Jews and 8 million other people were killed by the Germans in World War II. Stalin killed 20 million, and millions more are being killed all over the world.
Becket (1964)
Watch this and glory in the words and drama.
In the case of Becket, "the play's the thing." Not only is the conscience of the King captured, but the spirit of the time as well. Unfortunately, the history has been changed; I expect it was done to enhance the drama, although the true, historical version doesn't really need anymore drama.
Henry, however, was England's Great Lawmaker. He was the first to work on a comprehensive set of laws that would govern and protect people, setting up courts to which everyone had access. It was this, more than anything else, that created the cohesion of people that made England a land of one people rather than Saxons and Normans competing with each other. In order to provide this order, he knew that these laws had to extend to the Church as well the secular.
Becket thought otherwise, and began to defend what had long been the Church's right. Even today, the Church claims that this is its right witness the molestation scandal although now it generally bends to the will of the State. His tools in this battle were excommunication and interdiction.
Today, no one understands how powerful a weapon interdiction of a kingdom was. It stopped, quite literally, much of the daily doings of the people in an era when the Church ruled supreme over everything but war, the civil and criminal courts, and taxes. People could not baptize their children (horrifying considering the enormous infant mortality rate), be forgiven of their sins, get married, or even die knowing they'd go to Heaven. Powerful, frightening things. And to have the King excommunicated meant that God not longer watched over the Kingdom, leaving it open to plague, natural disasters, and decimation by war.
This is the stuff of great drama. To preserve and further intensify this drama, Anhuilh tinkered with small details time was both telescoped and shrunk, names were sometimes changed to protect the innocent, the sequence of events were changed. If you want to know all of these changes, go find a book on the controversy. It's great reading (at least it was for me).
There are some technical problems that only the passionate history buff might notice. The costuming is severely bad mid- to late-14th century rather than late 12th. Becket was not a Saxon but an upper middle class Norman. Eleanor was not, at the time of the controversy, quite the bitch as she is so beautifully portrayed by Pamela Brown. And the Empress Matilda actually tried to act as a mediator between Henry and Becket, without success.
Watch this film. Glory in the words and the drama, and don't worry about the factual difficulties.
1776 (1972)
My route to patriotism
I was in college during the worst time of protest against the Vietnam Era. Because of this, I have an ingrown distrust of the government and, often, I feel ashamed of what this country has become.
When these feelings get bad, I pull out my copy of 1776. While a fairly inaccurate version of the writing and signing of the Declaration of Independence, for me, it nonetheless captures that essence of those days leading up to the "birth" of the United States.
Making John Adams, "obnoxious and disliked" as he was, as the centerpiece of the play, allows one to get to known a hero of the Revolution all too often overlooked because of his short and undistinguished term as President. Yet, here we see him as one the brilliant linchpins he was. Jefferson, it is true, wrote much of the Declaration, but Adams pushed and prodded the Continental Congress into signing it.
We are also introduced to the astounding relationship between Adams and his wife, Abigail. Yes, this is real. If you want to know more about it, seek out their letters, which are published on the Web.
We also see that the issue of slavery and its repercussions have been with us since the beginning of the country. What would it have been like if slavery had been banned in 1776 -- if the country began with all people _truly_ equal? The song "Tobacco to Rum" glosses over the complex issue, but John Cullom's rendition is thrilling.
In all, however, 1776 shows us exactly what it meant when these ordinary men became extraordinary by committing their "lives, {their}fortunes and {their} sacred honor." And, by doing so, it encourages us to do the same.
Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
World War II from a different eye
The companion film to Eastwood's Flags of Our Fathers. This is the better film. It's good to see the US as the bad guy, to see a war film told from the viewpoint of the other guy.
The film looks at the Japanese with a dispassionate eye. We see men who are all honorable and brave, even though some follow the path of the warrior unquestioningly (e.g., Lieutenants Tanida and Ito, who, contrary to orders, decide that they -- and their men -- must suicide rather than retreat, even though their commanding general needs them in his battle (I'll never understand Bushido completely).
Watanabe and Ihara are wonderful as the General and Captain who have lived with Americans and respect them; who would rather party with their counterparts than kill them. When Kuribayashi and Nishi die, I felt sorrow and respect, for they were good men placed into an impossible, untenable situation. Ninomiya Kazunari, as Saigo, the "everyman" is sympathetic as he is placed in critical situations which he faces with no understanding of the circumstances which cause them. All he wants, just like the American soldiers, is to live through the war and go home to his wife.
I think that people who see this film will come away with, not only new ideas about World War II, but perhaps with a better understanding of the ideas that still drive the Japanese world.
Grendel (2007)
Not a bad version -- But not good, either.
I first became acquainted with the story of Beowulf when, in high school, I was forced to read the first twenty lines of it in the original Anglo-Saxon (with a glossary, of course). It's an old story about a champion who comes to the aid of the Kingdom of the Danes which has been beset by a monster by the name of (Surprise!) Grendl. If you've read the story already, you know how it comes out. If not, try this film.
This is a fairly accurate retelling of Beowulf, which is the reason I gave it a "5." However, certain of the characterizations are not terrific, and production values aren't very valued. Chris Bruno, in the lead role, works hard to bring dimension to a role which, at the very best, is one-dimensional. Beowulf, after all, is a Hero, and heroes don't have to be well-rounded -- just strong and brave. Ben Cross doesn't seem to have his real voice, and Marina Syrtis, of Star Trek Next Generation fame, looks haggard and old. The supporting players, I think, were chosen more for their willingness to work for scale rather than for their talent.
The CGI monsters, unfortunately, are poorly executed and not very scary. If it wasn't for the fact that the original story has a strong plot, the writing, which tries very hard to be good, winds up being long-winded and silly. The production design and costuming is about what one might expect from a low-budget film -- Suffice it to say that Beowulf's troop all wear horned helmets -- something that one usually only sees in grandiose productions of Wagner.
All in all, the movie is about what one would expect to see on a boring Saturday night. And you need to be very bored to enjoy it.
Serenity (2005)
The best space opera since Star Wars
I don't get out much, but I'm glad I could make it out to see Serenity. While it is true that Mal was quite a bit darker in this film than on the series, it makes it more believable -- I couldn't quite believe that a soldier who went through what Mal did during the War and still be sunny and generous. I was also glad to see the background material on the Tams.
I guess I was naive not to realize that the Serenity crew made most of its income through illegal means, which is made completely plain here (-5 points for Bronwyn!), but I also was quite sure that they never took a life that didn't need to be done -- and that was certainly true.
I wish I could discuss that last 30-45 minutes, because it was scary, funny, and sad all at the same time. However, not wanting to give away the "blow-out" I can say that my husband, Star Wars fan deluxe, said "This wasn't in Star Wars, and this is better for this. He was was also convinced, as am I, that Serenity may well be this generation's Star Wars.
It should therefore be no surprise I shall definitely be buying this when it comes out on DVD -- probably as a preorder so I can see it again immediately. And it should also be no surprise that I can't wait for the next Serenity movie.
Does anyone hope that there might be a revival on the series on the distant horizon? Bronwyn
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
A brilliant end to the Star War legend
I'm not going to analyze everything that happened in this film -- there are a lot of folk out there who will do that just fine. What I do want to do is point out something that everyone else seems to be missing. Something that takes this film out of the ordinary space opera genre, and should make it immortal.
Lucas made Anakin/Darth Vader the very essence of the "tragic hero" that is discussed in all literature courses. The one with the one, huge flaw that causes him to make his tragic mistake.
Well, actually, he had two patience was the first, but it's the lesser of the two. The very sad thing is that the big flaw was the fear of losing the one person in the world that he thought loved him, and that he loved more than life. And the biggest tragedy is not that he becomes Darth Vader, but that his ultimate decision to turn to the Dark was what caused her death, which, of course
I think that it was doing this that turned Revenge into something more than just a space opera, and took Lucas out of the realm of the good directors and into the same circle as Spielberg, Hitchcock, Truffaut, and Ford.. It may have become the classic example of the tragic hero that some films have come close to but not truly shown. At least for this generation (and I don't mean yours and mine, but your kid's).
And now, for something completely different...
I also think that this film brought the ideal of computer graphics nearly to fruition, too. I could still tell just a little bit when the living actors stopped and the computer-generated avatars began, but it was practically seamless. The fights between human and digital creatures were wonderful. And I could truly believe that Obi-Wan and Anakin were really fighting in a very nasty environment at least until they started to surf the lava. C'mon! Lava flowing like that has to be somewhere in the 1,500 to 2000 degree Farenheit range. One does not stay real fresh when completely surrounded by lava, no matter how fast or slow it's running. So, I have to give that part a little teeny tiny "thumbs down". However, even at that point, I couldn't tell where the humans left off and the digital guys started.
The Wind and the Lion (1975)
Not just a "guy film;" and not just an adventure.
I'm surprised that no woman has commented on this film, since most of the ladies I know love it.
Sean Connery is at his sexiest here, and Candace Bergen plays the type of strong, feisty woman who will become common in the 1990's -- except that she plays a real person from the turn of the 20th Century. The sexual tension between the two characters is obvious, agonizing and never eased. During the film, however, the two build an uneasy alliance that gradually transforms into deep respect and an unlikely friendship.
This is a film that should be viewed more than once. The first time, watch it for the adventure and the romance. But, then watch it for its commentary on relationships between cultures and people.
In a culture where women are neither seen nor heard, Bergen's character represents one of the areas of deepest disparity between the western and Muslim worlds. She asserts herself in ways that the Muslims find not only unattractive but offensive in the extreme (and certainly something they would never want their own women to even see for fear of contagion). However, here, a reprensentative of the Prophet finds he must tolerate it in order to fulfill his goals.
Rio Grande (1950)
Ford's Grand Vision of the West
As many people know, Rio Grande is the third installation of John Ford's sweeping "Cavalry trilogy*," his paean and dirge for the forging of the West after the Cival War. In each, there is Indian fighting, romance and Monument Valley. Younger officers look forward to winning glory in the Indian Wars while the older, veteran officers who served in the Civil War are tired of fighting and would rather keep the peace instead. And the enlisted men coming from all walks of life, some running from something, others trying to find something, but all taking war and peace as they come. They want to stay alive, but aren't too worried about dying.
Unlike the first two cavalry films, Rio Grande focuses more on the love between an Army officer and his wife, and the pain his life causes her. This pain is made even worse by the fact that their ònly son has chosen to follow his father's way of life, and winds up serving in his father's command. When, as is inevitable, Indians flee their reservation, the family becomes embroiled in war against the Apaches (whom, everyone knows, were the toughest, most ruthless and evil Indian fighters of them all). :))
This is where Ford moves away from typical westerns. While his Indians are fierce and tough, Ford tries to show in all the Cavalry films that they are also honorable and fighting for home and family, not because they are evil. And while Wayne's character must pursue his Indians until they're either captured or dead, he is not without both sympathy and respect, and knows for certain that it is the white man's treatment of them that is at the heart of all the Indian wars.
Over the years, as I've seen more and more of his movies, John Ford has become my favorite director. He had the ability to make stories with depth, compassion and remarkable truth; and these qualities have caused his films to last. I hope that you will see all of the Cavalry Trilogy, and then seek out all of the rest his movies.
*The other films in the trilogy are Fort Apache (1948) and She Wore A Yellow Ribbon (1949).