bernie-81 Reviews

Starship Troopers (1997)

A Great Movie of it's time

[8/10 · 14 July 2010]

I watch this movie over and over again every year or so and It gets better every time!!! The special effects, music and location photography are completely knock-out.

The script crackles and the action moves along at a fantastic pace.

Above all it's satirical take on our 20/21st century world is awesome...it's all there:the duplicitous state controlling youth by the promise of votes and citizenship, the militaristic and hedonistic attitudes of a so-called 'advanced' society towards a presumed lesser species, the parodying of just about every cliché of war/action moviesetc,etc etc.

But most of all the total equalisation of women...not only can they join the forces and achieve any rank they aspire to; but they can intermingle together equally with men in the shower in total nudity then lead the infantry action on a deadly and bloody hand-to-hand battlefield.

They achieve the ultimate accolade...they die for their 'Country' (Federation) and get a hero's funeral.

Where else does that happen (exceptpossibly in today's Afghanistan)?

Yes there is some corny acting and flabby humour but this is ALL part of the satire being played out.

A GREAT movie which IMHO will be regarded as minor masterpiece of it's time!

Richard III (1983 TV Movie)

Fantastic Tudor propaganda

[9/10 · 2 October 2009]

I recently purchased the 4 DVD versions of the BBC TV 1980's 'Henry VI/Richard III' series and they have had me spellbound.

I agree withe the general view of other commentators that the excision of the British 'hammy' style does nothing but enhance the powerful sweep of this epic.

In the final play Ron Cook's deliberately paced and under-stated (by comparison with, say, Olivier) performance renders a powerful image of the 'toad'.

I was especially struck by the scene with the 3 women characters where they debate the evils wrought by their various male relatives on them and their offspring.

The last few scenes covering the night before the battle of Bosworth where the stream of ghosts taunting Richard then support Richmond, highlights what a great piece of pro-Tudor propaganda this play is.

I know that my comments are really about the original Shakespeare play but this production made it live for me.

The final scene with Margaret cackling on top of the heap of dead is a masterstroke!

The Sword of El Cid (1962)

Lots of Horses

[1/10 · 8 August 2009]

I saw this by chance on 'movies for men' yesterday.

It seemed to be an Italian or Spanish attempt to exploit the big Cid movie and the vogue for historical costume dramas of the time.

Whilst interesting to watch it hardly stands out as an epic film. The characterisations are weak and superficial, the sword fights are lame and over-contrived and, boy, are there a lot of horses.

Horses here, there and everywhere...the director must have commissioned an expensive troop of army cavalry as he uses them EVERYWHERE.

Oh, BTW, the wigs are out of this world.

Worth a watch to catch the flavour of cinema in those times.

The Goose Steps Out (1942)

Reference to Casablanca

[30 June 2008]

A great British comedy ...

One of my favourites ...

The great Will Hay ...

Fantastic anti-Nazi propaganda achieved by outrageous satire!!

"Im England you must remember to forget your gas mask!!"

Has anyone spotted what I take to be a the reference to 'Casablanca' in the opening scene/sequence...the airport/plane/fog etc???

Even the plane seems a similar type having twin fins on the tailplane.

I think Casablanca was made a couple of years earlier so if I'm right someone had a very keen eye and respect for that great movie!!

Lovers of art-deco interiors will love the laboratory scenes!

Don Juan DeMarco (1994)

A movie that speaks about ageing

[8/10 · 21 February 2007]

I watched this on DVD for the first time last night as part of my 'get to see all Johnny Depp's movies' project (having only recently noticed him!).

This is a fantastic movie which I think is as much about mature relationships as it is about youthful love. When you have been married as long as I have then the scenes between Brando and Dunaway have an intense pertinence and reflect clearly how individuals feel when their 'best years' have past.

Depp is fantastic and I could clearly see the genesis of many of the 'Pirates' mannerisms in his performance. Watch the scene where he is training to sword fight with his father...pure 'Jack Sparrow'!! His accent was totally convincing and the truly romantic language slid off his tongue like pure gold.

A superb and very distinctive music score ensured that this was a gripping and enjoyable watch.

Thoroughly recommended.

Nana (1968)

French Second Empire decadence captured splendidly

[8/10 · 22 July 2003]

I saw this when it was first shown (1968 I think) and I remember it vividly for it's portrayal of Paris social life in the Second Empire and its very daring eroticism for the time.

Katherine Schofield, as Nana, appeared topless and, in one scene, she chastised Freddy Jones, as Muffat, with a riding crop, (I think). I'll never forget her singing 'Blonde Venus'....very sad that she died of cancer last year.

It really brought home to me the decadence of Napoleon III's hey-day and its final elimination as the Franco-Prussian War began at the end of the last episode.

A shining example of BBC TV's excellence at dramatisation.

Looking for Richard (1996)

Very Impressive Movie!!

[10/10 · 6 July 2003]

I caught this by sheer accident on BBC C4 last night backed on to another Shakespeare program.

I was immediately caught by it..the fabulous comittment to culture in the face of 'dumbing down' shown by Pacino and his team was overwhelming. I too had not thought it possible from american film stars!!

His characterisation of Richard was amazing. His fellow actors were equally impressive and the scenes where they discuss the plot, its meaning historically and it's meaning in human terms were gripping.

The intercut scenes of British establishment lovies pontificating on why Americans can't do Shakespeare highlighted the pretensiousness of our approach. I would prefer Pacino anyday to a 100 Brannagh's or Jacobi's!!

The costume scenes had a kind of byzantine grandeur and I was constantly reminded of Orson Welles, or his influence.

Shore's music is tremendous and meets the high standard of the rest of this movie.

I will be adding this to my collection at the earliest opportunity.

Watch and be amazed!!

Trouble in Store (1953)

One of my childhood favorites

[13 February 2002]

I saw this on UK TV today for the first time in many years and was reminded of the great enjoyment that Norman Wisdom has always provided. This movie now seems very dated and full of the flavour of early 50's Britain.

I'll always remember the 'pill swallowing' sequence and we always used it as a joke with our own kids when they had to take pills and struggled.

Seeing it again I became aware of a number of throw-away lines with sexual connotations that now seem quite modern.

The movie is firmly rooted in the British class system - but here the 'common' working man takes the p*** out of all the establishment figures and institiutions AND wins good in the end AND gets his girl.

No wonder Norman Wisdom was such a hero in Russia and Albania (apparently)!

See this movie if you haven't already .. enjoy it for what it is and what it represented.