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Reviews
Der Krieger und die Kaiserin (2000)
Loved every minute of it
This film was unpredictable, strange, and engaging. It's different from "Run, Lola, Run", but in a good way. Franka Potente (who happens to be exactly one week older than me) was, as always, very intriguing.
The only downside the movie had to it was the title, which prevented me from renting it several times until I finally went for it. X Creative Pool is coming up with some very good stuff, here.
Watch this film with an open mind, without any preconceptions, and you may like it...
Cold War (1998)
Great overview of the events of the Cold War
Excellent documentary series! I found this series at my local library, and it's an excellent primer for the events of the so-called "Cold War" from the beginning to the end. Contemporary footage is successfully mixed in with many interviews of still-living witnesses/participants of history, and Kenneth Branagh's voiceovers keep the viewer up to date on every crucial detail.
If you've ever been interested in learning the real historical background behind John le Carre's and Ian Fleming's spy novels, this is the series that will bring you up to date. CNN also has a Cold War website with further information, as well as a list of books which one may wish to borrow from the library to learn still more about specific events.
I borrowed two videos at a time and watched them in order, and I was never disappointed. If you love history as much as I do, you'll love this documentary series!
Hôtel Terminus (1988)
Ambitious and highly flawed
I had been considering renting this documentary from my video store for some time now, but I am glad I happened to notice it at the video section in my local Library. I only wish I hadn't bothered to watch it at all...
This documentary film is virtually incomprehensible to a viewer without specific knowledge of the background to Klaus Barbie and the situation in Lyons, France, during the war. Several rambling interviews are pieced together without much, if any, explanation of the figures being discussed.
From the other reviews I've read here and elsewhere, apparently the film becomes "better" near the end. I won't bother to find out for myself whether that is true or not.
(To those brave enough to wade through the entire documentary, I have one tip: Watch the subtitled sections at double-speed -- it'll save you time.)
Up in Arms (1944)
My all-time favourite comedy-musical!
The first Danny Kaye vehicle, this film still has the power to make me laugh. The action revolves around a hypochondriac named Danny Weems who is hopelessly in love with a beautiful nurse named Mary (played by the lovely Constance Dowling) at the hospital he works as a doorman at, while completely unaware of the attentions of her multi-talented best friend and fellow nurse, Virginia (played by the talented Dinah Shore, a singer known to those alive in the '70s as the host of "Dinah! & Friends"). Meanwhile, Danny introduces his handsome roommate Joe to Virginia, but Joe and Mary end up hitting it off, though Danny is completely oblivious to it all.
This movie was contemporary with World War II, of course, and the real action begins when Danny is drafted by the U.S. Army despite the multiple ailments he believes he has. Joe joins up along with him, and -- of course -- the two nurses join up as well. And the movie goes along from there.
As with Kaye's other well-known movies, "Up In Arms" is a virtual showcase of his comedic talents when they were still very fresh and seemingly spontaneous. The musical numbers are particularly enjoyable.
This is a film one needs to see if one needs a good, clean laugh. I saw this movie as a kid a decade ago when I was home from school and sick, and Danny Kaye kept me laughing throughout the whole thing -- it definitely made me forget my troubles.
The only downside to this film is the stereotypical characterisation of the Japanese soldiers seen near the end, but the viewer must remember when this film was made, and that wartime propaganda like this was common. In comparison to others from that era, the comedy is fairly tame.
My rating for this movie is 10 out of 10. They truly don't make them like this any more.