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Reviews
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Pulp Fiction '94
Quentin Tarantino has done it again! He has yet again made another fantastic movie. Pulp Fiction has everything in it to make it awesome. From the directing to the acting to the plot line and everything in between. Pulp Fiction has some of the best actors and actresses money can buy. Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, John Travolta, and Uma Thurman, are just some of the huge cast; together they make a great team to make this film what it is today. The main reason to why I personally think this film is amazing is the way it was directed by Tarantino. This isn't just a regular film, where the story line starts from the beginning to ending. Pulp Fiction is a jumbled up mess, as if someone took the script and switched the pages. But that is what makes this film unique and memorable. It takes a couple times to watch the film, or just once, while really paying attention, to really understand what is going on, with all the subplots and characters. Filled with comedy, drama, and memorable quotes, and characters is just fantastic. A must see movie for any film lover.
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.
Guess who's Coming to Dinner is a light hearted love story about a man and a woman falling in love. The thing that makes this a very different film subject is because it is about interracial marriage. A very powerful film for the late 60's. Katherine Houghton plays the role of a bubbly rich girl, Joanna. Bursting with excitement about getting married to Dr. John Wayne a black man she just met 10 days ago in Hawaii. Joanna believes that what she is doing is right, and out of love and doesn't want people's opinions. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner is a very well put together film with a strong storyline, dialogue and camera work. Dr John Wayne (the fiancé) is very nervous to meet the family, and scared to tell his own family about his "white" fiancé. While Joanna on the other hand doesn't have a care in the world on what others may think. The acting throughout this film is marvelous and very memorable. With some great actors and actresses with really shine with realism on what is going on. There isn't very many scene changes during the movie, as it mainly takes place within the Drayton's home. As the film unravels the interracial problem becomes less and less awkward and less feelings of wrongness.
All in all I believe this film was so nicely put together, and very strong. A very nice classic, that I could enjoy watching again for a second time.
Do the Right Thing (1989)
Do The Right Thing!
Spike Lee is the director of Do The Right Thing (1989). Set in Brooklyn New York on the hottest day at 92 degrees.Everyone on the block is over heated and on their last straw. Tempers letting loose and fights starting. The only way to cool down is fire hydrants, and staying indoors. All the actors and actresses in this film portray just that level of drama that is brewing.
The story line for Do The Right Thing is kind of short, but very understandable, not much really goes on throughout the film to keep a person highly interested. Do The Right Thing is based off the perspective of a handful of people all connected and know each other in some way or another.
Stardust Memories (1980)
Stardust Memories (1980)
Stardust Memories is a black and white film written and directed by Woody Allen. First of all I was never a big fan of Woody Allen films, for all the ones I have seen or heard of are to abstract for me. His way of directing is far different from others.
Stardust memories is one of Woody Allen's "abstract" films. I personally did not get ANYTHING on what was going on in the film. Making it hard to focus on trying to figure it out. Stardust Memories is filled with flashbacks and different scenes. Woody Allen plays Sandy Bates, a comedian who wants to change his subject away from comedy but his loyal fans don't agree on this change. I have the opinion that the comedy was dull and/or confusing for me.
The ways of the camera, and film editing is what made this film worth the while. At some points in the film, Allen uses the camera on the track, iris shots for some of his flash backs, process shots all making Stardust Memories directorally fantastic.
I have to say at the end of the film, everything from the beginning of the film that made no sense, rounds up in one scene. One dramatically important scene at the very end. This makes Woody Allen's Stardust Memories a moderately fine movie.
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
Dr. Straaaangelove
Dr Strangelove was an alright movie. I have to say it ended up being more of a comedy then I expected.
This film was created in black and white. The quality and and visual effects was very modern for its time, the air plane shots, which now look corny, but back then it was the best money could probably buy. The filming quality such as camera angles, and scene running times were all greatly put together. making that visual effect all the more better.
The directors and writers use of making a serious subject about bombs and war, is somewhat brilliant. The actors all pulled off their roles making a wonderful cast, showing humor in almost every scene.
Dr Strangelove is an alright movie. Not the greatest in my dictionary but definitely not the worst.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
One of Nicholson's Finest!!
One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest is one of the finest movies I have seen in a while. The story line, acting and camera editing all had an important part in making this film a well renowned masterpiece of its time.
One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest had such a large amazing cast consisting of Danny DeVito, Jack Nicholson, and even Christopher Lloyd who all did an outstanding job at pulling off the realism of the film.
The setting was simple, not very many different scenes other then the insane asylum and there outdoor adventure that takes part in some of the film. What the director had used made it all the more amazing.
Low key lighting was mainly used in this film. The music of this movie really played a big part as well, giving the more dramatic effect to what's going to happen next. Throughout the film there wasn't much dialog that was important, one can understand more on the actions of the actors rather then words, since of course the film took place with the mentally insane.
The writers mixing drama with comedy to get both sides of the aspect.
Fargo (1996)
Fargo!
The Coen Brothers, who are the directors and writers of Fargo did a swell of a job! Both of the Coen Brothers Joel and Ethan were the directors of this film, even though it wasn't credited that way.
The film itself was nicely paced and smooth flowing, making the writing of the script good. I had the opinion though that there were some extra scenes that did not really have any part to the main bases story line. The way the script was plotted it always had you wondering what would happen next in the line of bad happenings.
The camera angles, setting, and lighting had all to do with making Fargo even better. With 180 degree shots, panning, zooming, really caught the settle moments that really triggered emotions. The film was shot in Minnesota, during the winter time, giving all the scenes a low key lighting, or natural light.
Every little thing about this film was unique, confirming it to be a classic film, and memorable for its time.
Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
A Life of Crime and Romance
Bonnie and Clyde was a alright movie it wasn't exactly as I had expected. In the beginning during the opening credits I thought it was very interesting to give a small bio of who Bonnie and Clyde really were. The directing and film editing really put the watcher in the mood and placed them in the adventure of what was happening throughout the film. Adding on to the realism of the film and history. The camera angling and the 180 degree rule really caught the moments of conversation. The car chase scenes were very well handled with the widescreen angle shots and careful zoom ins. The montages and long takes during some of the important scenes really adds on to the suspense and drama. Throughout the movie we are given wide view angles to help capture every single piece of situation on what is going on. Basically everything about this film was moderately good from the story line, to the acting, to the directing and film editing. Like I said earlier this movie wasn't exactly as I expected the story was a little slow paced when there are no action scenes going on. Bonnie and Clyde was an alright movie and quite a classic to watch.
The Naked Kiss (1964)
An okay, low budget film
The name catches the watchers interest, The Naked Kiss, but it wasn't one that I would say is top 10 on my list. The Naked Kiss was filmed in 1964, making it one of the first films to break out of the Hayes Code bubble. This wasn't a high budget film, and when watching it you can highly tell. The hints were the editing, and the lack of different scenes. The acting to this film too was a little dull, nothing eye popping or dramatic happened. Within the film were a few unnecessary scenes or ones that ran on for a little bit to long, making it seem awkward. I'm not going to say that because of the low budget the film makers had, that it was a bad movie, because I'm sure that with a little more money, and new actors The Naked Kiss could be a semi classic, that others can enjoy.
The Graduate (1967)
Dustin Hoffman = Benjamin
This movie was excellent. There were so many directorial techniques. It had dramatic long takes, and zooming on the important characters. Some parts it had a montage of scenes. This movie showed the most match cuts I have seen in any movie that I have noticed. This makes the movie seem so much more interesting and really puts the watcher in the mood of the scenes.
The Graduate was filmed after the Hayes code, so the writers now had more of a freedom of having what they wanted in their films. Subjects such as sex, drugs, and more realistic drama.
Dustin Hoffman did an outstanding job at playing Benjamin. He showed great confused looks, love, and other emotions.
This indeed is a classic film, that has scenes people often still talk about. which I never knew till I finally watched this film.
Psycho (1960)
No Matter How Old, It's Still a Masterpiece!!
A great start with the introduction credits cool music and dashing movement. Starts off with a slow long take overlooking the city carefully zooming in on the subject and story line. Over the years I have been told about this movie, how well done it is, how great it is, but I have never seen this film until now.
This was such an amazing movie from start to finish, a masterpiece. No matter how old it is, or how many times people have talked about it that one famous shower scene is so suspenseful and scary. Hitchcock is pretty much one of the greatest directors of his time. His use of long takes draws the viewer even deeper into the film. The different angle shots and subtle zoom ins makes even more suspense and horror.
(spoiler) Actress Vera Miles who plays Lila Crane did an outstanding job, even though she is in only about half the movie. I was very surprised to see that the main character of the film was murdered in the middle, probably the first or second film I ever saw to have that happen. (End Spoiler)
The suspicious man Bates, owner of the motel (Anthony Perkins) sure does pull off that creepy image. Making just about every scene suspenseful.
I just ended up loving this movie so much. Alfred Hitchcock again blew me away with his outstanding directing and film making. If you haven't seen this movie yet you should.
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
The Post Man Always Rings Twice
A slow beginning but then the drama of the film noir speeds on. During the middle of the film when all the juicy stuff starts to happen is when the audience is really sucked in. Although there are still a couple of slow scenes in the middle and end you don't know what will happen in the very end, making the audience keep watching to understand the end. All the actors did a grand performance in showing love, lies and everything in between. The new lovers Cora Smith (Lana Turner) and Frank Chambers (John Garfield) plot together to kill her husband Nick Smith so they can run away together and be in love, but soon it is all twisted and not the way they have hoped. Dark story line, murder, lies, romance, and conspiracy all about sums up this film noir. The long takes, dark lighting and other tricks the director and film editors made in this film made it an instant classic.
Sunset Blvd. (1950)
Crazed for the Limelight!
This movie was everything excellent. Both William Holden and Gloria Swanson played strong parts in this film, giving the appearance of realism. The narration in the beginning of the film and throughout helped give a very good feeling to the film, almost as if you were part of it, or reading about it in those newspapers in the film. The filming and story line and a nice flow to it, making it smoothly drift along Joe Gillis's story of his life and the troubles he is going through on the last days of his life. Gloria Swanson almost didn't agree to acting in the film, but personally I am glad she didn't since no one else would probably have been able to play the part of Norma Desmond, the used to be star. There were some over dramatized parts that were played by Gloria Swanson but that only showed us her craziness. All in all I did end up loving this film, it was both dark and romantic. A great 1950's black and white film.
Lifeboat (1944)
I'm On a Boat!
This is quite a different film then I expected. When I heard of the movie Lifeboat I thought, maybe some kind of Gilligan Island type movie, but more on the dramatic side. I guess I was wrong.
Of course this doesn't stop the movie from being a well done Alfred Hitchcock movie. Again to my surprise this was done by Hitchcock. I hardly saw any Hitchcock movies, and did not know a lot about his films. But now after watching some of his films including Lifeboat, I have come to love his work.
Lifeboat is a full on dramatic film. To think about it, this was probably a low budget film since it only takes place in one place, the middle of the sea. The camera footage was nice, angling on important characters and even in the beginning Hitchcock used his camera angle of looking through a characters eyes, something I have come to notice Hitchcock uses in his films.
In a film like this, it gives you the chance to understand the characters even better, since it is confined in a small place. Learning their personal lives and their mental states. Also you get a better picture of all the drama that is going on. All the actors and actresses did a great job.
Throughout the film it gets you wondering, "what would you do to survive?" I have to say Alfred Hitchcock yet again made an outstanding movie a very good classic to watch at least once.
Not to give anything away...but I was kind of disappointed about the ending.
Casablanca (1942)
What a Classic
Casablanca is one unforgettable film. This is a film that people talk about and love. Even those who have not seen this film yet still know and have heard about it.
Casablanca is a film about love and war. This film was created just before world war II. During it there are some between the lines showing that Germany will lose the war, before they even knew who would win and lose. Which I personally believe to be as something very magnificent and special.
The acting in Casablanca was one to be unforgettable. Humphrey Bogart plays Richard 'Rick' Blaine and actress Ingrid Bergman plays Lisa Lund. Together they play wonderful roles.
The cinematography is something amazing. some of the best for its time. The lighting and camera long takes and zooming is awesome. Can't be better. It's no wonder this film is so famous even today.
A total recommendation to friends and family. Even could be a good date night movie.
Citizen Kane (1941)
Citizen Kane = Citizen Awesome.
The first couple minutes of this movie we are shown the death of Kane, and soon it jumps to be some documentary of his life, with a narrator telling us. This is a great way to start out a film, especially one that has mystery.
After this introduction we are introduced to the main character inspector Leland who is determined to figure out the meaning of "Rosebud". Joseph Cotton plays a great inspector making the film watcher think they too are trying to figure out the meaning.
The filming is one of the best I have seen in ages. So many different angles and long takes really makes the realism of this film come to be. With having a lot of long takes it takes a lot of practice and patience, and all the actors and actresses were marvelous to pull it off working with one another.
The Women (1939)
A Good Chick-Flick
If you are in the mood for a full on chick flick movie, The Women, (1939) is the one for you! It is the perfect film to grab popcorn or a Ben &Jerry's and just nestle down on a comfy couch and just forget about men.
This film was based off a Broadway show, so the story line is something amazing. All the women in this film showed a strong bond of friendship and everything else you would expect. This film is just an endless joy that any woman should have on their DVD shelf. It's funny and dramatic throughout the film.
The black & white color, and directorial shots, just made this film even more classical then when it first came out.
Notorious (1946)
Hitchcock Geniousness
Alfred Hitchcock, the famous director of all sorts of films is such an outstanding person! Notorious was so well written, acted, played out, and the film was marvelous.
Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman made the perfect couple. Since the beginning of the film you can see the passionate love they have for one another. Other smaller actors that took place in this film did a great job as well, into making this film full of realism between the characters.
The thing that really caught my attention since the beginning was the camera angles and stunning and daring shots that Hitchcock used. With the first person camera shot in certain parts of the film, gave you (the watcher) what Alicia Huberman saw and felt during a couple of semi-important parts.
This is one movie that I would most definitely tell everyone should watch. It certainly is a true Alfred Hitchcock classic!
King Kong (1933)
So sooo Amazing!
Everyone knows the film King Kong, whether it's the 1930's 1970's or even the new 2005 film, anyone can say they have seen or heard of King Kong.
The 1930's King Kong is mainly the more famous and talked about one, since it was of course the first. Now during the 1930's films were still in Black & White, and the editing to films aren't as spectacular as we see today. This down side to the film may have people saying "Wow that was so corny" but editing to films isn't what makes films memorable and famous.
What made King Kong famous was the story line and acting. If you think about it, no part of the story line was changed in any of the remakes of the movie, possibly because if you were to change it it wouldn't be as good or well flowing.
King Kong was so magnificent and well made. The acting to this film made it what it is. Ann Darrow who played Fay Wray, showed such amazing and fear, and her scream was done so well, it must be famous! This movie was downright amazing, and for those who love old fashioned films, King Kong is a must see for everyone.
Stagecoach (1939)
A Well Worth Movie
Stagecoach is basically the first real mature Western movie I have seen. This film was rather very enjoying.
The beginning of this film was a little bit confusing for me, not knowing which character is which, they all looked similar and were in an enclosed area throughout the film. All the actors did quite an amazing job at playing their characters. The only memorable one that I personally can remember is John Wayne (figures).
The setting was spectacular, and made the film jump to life. It helped the film capture such realism that made you think "wow that could have really happened back then in the West".
What I really loved of this movie and so many others will too, is the film makers making it unpredictable in many places. The feeling of knowing something, but finding out differently intrigues many people to watch all the way to the end of a film.
So if you enjoy Westerns or never really watched them this is the movie to watch.
The Palm Beach Story (1942)
cute screwball comedy
Palm Beach story is an cute love story that anyone can easily enjoy. The actors and actresses played great parts in this film, and the film makers did an outstanding job. The flow of the story line was something simple, and the camera people put a lot of work to make it wonderful.
All the actors and actresses were full of life and different personalities. There were some real characters in Palm Beach Story. They were full of so much humor and sillyosity.
I was quite upset about the beginning of this film, I didn't understand the whole screwball fast paced-ness and not there was not much explanation of what is happening, it just cut off and went to the future. Thankfully the end of this film had a cute, yet very, lack of a better word, weird explanation and ending.
My Man Godfrey (1936)
"I've got a goat!" "well, I have a forgotten man!"
My Man Godfrey was a film shot during 1936, towards the end of the Great Depression. For people who love screwball comedies and lots of humor this is the film for you! The plot for My Man Godfrey is one that is basic and easy to understand immediately. The main family, the Bullocks, are a frantic and insane and make this film even funnier. The daughter Irene played by Carole Lombard is by far the craziest family member, always whining and getting what she wants, and somewhat of a ditz. William Powell who plays Godfrey who is a forgotten man, really makes this character amazing, mysterious, and heart throbbing. The acting was marvelous.
The filming was something perfect, the opening credits were very original and something to remember. With the different screen shots, scenes, and editing tricks, it flowed together greatly. This is still a black & white movie, but we have the vita phone in this film, and it made it have such realism.
This is a definite classical I can suggest anyone to watch. Especially those who say they have a crazy family, wait until they meet the Bullocks. This movie has nonstop smiles and laughs and you will enjoy every last minute of it.
Baby Face (1933)
No such thing as love through Lily Powers's eyes
This film is one of the more risqué black and white films of this time in the early 1930's before the Hoyts Code was enforced. It's the story of a young beautiful woman moving to New York and making her way to the top of the business by using her body as a tool to get there.
Barbara Stanwyck plays the young and beautiful Lily Powers who indeed does a fairly well job with her performance. Lily moves to New York and makes her way up the business place by sleeping with all the men. Stanwyck does an outstanding performance as being a strong woman who uses men as one time deals, hardly any emotion towards them playing them as if they were pawns. Lily Powers is a woman who doesn't have love on her mind just power and money.
I thought this movie to be a little bit different then other films I have seen because there is hardly any background music heard. I believe it is only because this is when people were first introduced to live sound and dialogue between the people of the film. The few times the music is heard is during the beginning as we are shown how she makes her way up the chain. The filming and different scenes were something fantastic! The director of this film did all the right angles and all the right tricks, making this film full of realism.
This film was all together an alright movie.The ending to this movie wasn't as good as it should have been, but it didn't entirely ruin it. Baby Face had its slow moving scenes throughout the movie, and perhaps a few predictable parts such as who she will sleep with next. But this is a lovable movie that can be watched more then once, and suggested to some people and friends.
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)
A Well Thought Out Movie
I Am a Fugitive of a Chain Gang is a well written, well played out film. Paul Muni, who played the main character of this film did an outstanding job in playing the role of James Allen, a man who is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Muni helped make this suspenseful movie jump to life.
The beginning of this movie kept you wanting more with a good interesting scenario. Possibly making the watcher want to keep watching to find out what will happen to James Allen next. As the film ran on it started to feel as though it would never end, basically it looped to be like the beginning.
The editing in this film made it fantastic for its time of the early 1930's, pretty much the beginning of the vita phone (sound and music added to a film after the filming). With the words added into the film, it makes a person more entranced into the film, making it more realistic and exciting to watch.
Broken Blossoms or The Yellow Man and the Girl (1919)
Not as Good as I Hoped.
"It is a tale of temple bells, sounding at sunset before the image of Buddah; it is a tale of love and lovers; it is a tale of tears." Broken Blossoms is not a movie that you will see me recommending to all my friends and family. The entire beginning of this movie left you hanging with not being able to understand what is happening and hard to understand. During the beginning of the movie there are different time flips such as something happens some amount of years ago, then the present time, making it a little bit confusing.
Filmed in the early 1900's the editing of this movie were more then likely as high end as it can be. Broken Blossoms has different angle shots, many scenes, and a longer run time of 90 minutes. The only editing technique that I believe the film makers over used was the telescope focusing on people, and activities. Instead of giving notes on what the actors are saying to one another, the watchers are given poetic snippets of what is happening within the film, making some scenes a little more difficult to understand. Lillian Gish and Richard Barthelmess, the main actors in the film were not as talented as I would have hoped. A majority of them and other actors did not give the good affect of fear or love, but their faces ended up looking distorted and corny.
During the middle of the film when you are in better understand of what is going on, you can imagine how the ending will turn out. All in all Broken Blossoms is a moderate film, not intensely horrible to watch yet bearable. The ending wasn't one of a happy sense, but one of gloom showing us that not all stories end in happiness like we would hope.