dane-92 Reviews

An Affair to Remember (1957)

The Scene With the Grandma Alone...

[9/10 · 30 August 2020]

The plot is creative, interesting and romantic (though as a guy, I'm not going to admit any susceptibility there), and there are well developed characters, good acting, and a movie score to die for. Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, I mean, cummon, what a formula! But what really grabbed ahold of me in this movie is the scene in Europe with the grandmother. I don't know of very many other scenes in ANY movie to top that one for pathos. In both this version, and in the Charles Boyer version, that scene is the one that really imprints itself.

One interesting thing about this movie and its B&W predecessor, Love Affair, is how closely the second is patterned after the first. Much of the dialog, the layout of the sets, seems pretty much identical. Which goes to show, when you have something that's truly a classic, and the first version is already so good, all you need to do is bring it up to date a little, and not much else needs to be done.

One more thing I'd like to mention is the dialogue. I love the fun, flippancy of the two main characters and the way they relate to each other. They're both intelligent, articulate, poised people of the world who just happen to *get* each other really well and naturally mesh as personalities. They're also both artists in a real sense. His art is painting, and hers is music...so that may be another part of their personalities they find attractive in each other.

OK, one more thing. Admirable people. I really like movies where there are lots of people I can genuinely like, and this movie abounds with them. Even the spurned fiances are kind, gracious, and forgiving.

The Little Foxes (1941)

Patricia Collinge is Brilliant in This

[10/10 · 16 March 2020]

While the lead characters are all fabulous in this film, the person who really captured my attention was Patricia Collinge, who revived her Broadway role as the kind, but broken sister-in-law. Her heartbreaking performance steals the show for me...in the same way Academy award winner Claire Trevor stole my attention in Key Largo. Collinge was a brilliant actress, author, and playwright whose career spanned half a century, and my first exposure to her was her portrayal of Birdie in this movie. She's unforgettable in the role...and it's a shame she lost the Oscar to the rather breathy, stylized actress Mary Astor.

Mutiny in Outer Space (1965)

Surprised by the quality of the acting, characters!

[8/10 · 6 October 2019]

This movie obviously didn't have a lot of budget to work with, but a strong ensemble of actors really helps to humanize its story. Where there's an interesting storyline and believable, likable, three dimensional characters, I can forgive a sci fi movie's weak special effects.

Amphibian Man (1961)

Sci Fi as "Art"

[9/10 · 19 March 2019]

I finally saw this movie for the first time tonight, and thought it was enthralling. It creates a mood and a vibe with its music and imagery that sort of draws you into its dreamy embrace. The two lead characters are both so beautiful that it gives the movie a storybook quality. Acting is impressive. Science fiction takes a distant back door to romance in the storyline., but the small role it plays really enhances the drama of the story. If you are enamored of more modern cinematography, the production values in Amphibian Man will seem primitive, but if you appreciate old film styles, this is a classic piece of art from the early 1960s.

The Snow Creature (1954)

What Can I Say?

[2/10 · 23 February 2019]

I'm a fan of old science fiction, but this one is baaaaaaaaad. The costume of the story's central character is a wooly joke, so shabby they keep it in the shadows all the time. The acting and story are equally abominable.

This Island Earth (1955)

I give it a 10

[10/10 · 19 January 2019]

I was stunned to see this movie, one of the best from the classic sci-fi decade of the 1950s, given an average IMDB viewer rating of 5.x. Movies like these need to be viewed in the context of the era when they were produced. I've seen every sci-fi movie of that decade, and this one certainly has to rate in the top five...and I'd rate it even higher than that.

Whether you gauge it based on storyline, plot twists, adventure, quality of special effects (for the time), or the sheer effort that must have gone into it, this is certainly one of the best of its genre for the era when it was released...MST3K snark notwithstanding.

If you haven't seen it, skip the Mystery Science Theatre version, make a big bowl of popcorn, pretend you're at the 50's drive-in with Betty Lou, and see the original all the way through for the sheer enjoyment of it. It really is a fun, creative movie, with some interesting twists and turns.

Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

Family Favorite

[10/10 · 2 January 2019]

Every Thanksgiving we watch the 1947 and 1994 versions, and the latter is the one I enjoy most. Both are good, but the actors in the older one are pretty unrealistic and cornball, while the actors in the modern version feel more real, deep, and personable. Often I like older, B&W originals, but the color in the 1994 film is really rich and adds something special.

A Christmas Carol (1938)

Not as good as some others

[5/10 · 25 December 2018]

Everybody has their own expectations about what they feel makes the ideal portrayal of this classic story. For some people, this 1938 rendition is just right. But personally, I just can't get into it. The acting is over the top, awful liberties are taken with the original story, and Scrooge is kind of a stooge (with a bad make-up job). There are a number of other versions that are much more real-life-feeling, better acted, and more faithful in their storyline. Alastair Sim, George C. Scott, and Patrick Stewart are all more believable as the lead character than "Admiral Boom."

The Wild Wild West (1965–1969)

A Perfect 60s "Combo Show"

[10/10 · 6 May 2018]

The 1960s brought a fascination with science and real-life NASA space adventure, oceanic exploration ala Jacque Cousteau, the threat of communism and a fixation on foreign espionage, and a renewed love of the old West and cowboy themes. On TV, it led to science-inspired programs like Men Into Space, hugely popular western series like Bonanza and Gunsmoke, ocean-themed programs like Seahunt and Flipper, and spy shows like Secret Agent Man, The Saint, Danger Man, and many others.

But the real genius of 1960s producers was in their ability to combine the era's mega-themes into fascinating new forms of entertainment. The movie, The Glass Bottom Boat, was about spies and NASA astronauts. On TV, science and espionage were popular teammates on shows like The Avengers, Man From Uncle, The Prisoner, and Mission: Impossible. Science fiction and oceanic adventure made a great combo on Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.

The Wild, Wild West trumped them all, tapping into the themes of western adventure, science fiction, and espionage in a single program that never flagged in its popularity, right until the very last episode (it was ultimately pulled by the network as a nod to a big movement to reduce violence on television).

There was actually a fourth leg to the Wild Wild West stool, and that was sheer 1960s whimsy. Like The Avengers and The Prisoner, WWW indulged in the decade's love of the avant-garde, fearlessly and shamelessly creating a netherworld where the bad guy might be a harpsichord-playing mad genius dwarf, or a gaggle of orange alien women who arrive in a fake flying saucer.

Add to all of that, beautiful lady co-stars, and a male lead who comes as close to a real live action hero as the small screen has ever seen, and you can only come to one conclusion:

The Wild, Wild West truly had it all.

The Creation of the Humanoids (1962)

Would Have Been a Great Radio Drama

[10/10 · 7 April 2018]

SPOILER ALERT: SEE THE MOVIE FIRST!!

I like it. It's low-budget, but a very smart and interesting story. And this is one movie you could enjoy almost as much with the screen turned off. In fact, I've done it! It's all about ideas. As a movie, the eerie music helps carry the story along, and the costumes and sets are a nice enhancement...but this is essentially a "reader's theatre" performance. There's no action to speak of, just people and robots talking. I think it's good as a movie, but I think it would have also made a great sci-fi story on radio. In a way, it might be even better, because it would let you concentrate entirely on the weighty ideas being discussed by the characters, without the distraction of visuals.

Again, MAJOR SPOILER ALERT...

I'll take minor exception to the premise of the ending, where it's revealed our current population are actually decendents of a species of robotic replacements for a human race that eventually died out. Here's my problem: The story repeatedly says the robots are superior because they are essentially immortal, with unlimited lifespans. If we are descendents of them, our bodies wouldn't die either. I know, I'm overthinking a fantasy story, but after being forced to think deeply through the entire movie, it's difficult to turn the brain off when considering the ending. :-)

The Twilight Zone: The Passersby (1961) Season 3, Episode 4

A Gem

[10/10 · 27 March 2018]

I remember the spooky feeling of watching The Twilight Zone one night as a little boy in one-piece pajamas with feet, and I have seen episodes of it off and on for years, most of them many times. But somehow, I never saw this one until tonight. At 62, it was a shock to discover a "new" episode, and a real thrill to see this gem for the very first time. It's a simple, beautiful story that unfolds slowly and patiently. I won't say anything about the story, just encourage you to see it.

Star Trek Continues: Pilgrim of Eternity (2013) Season 1, Episode 1

Watched Them Back to Back

[7 April 2017]

I lived through the era of the original series, and am a long-time Star Trek fan, so when Star Trek Continues came along, I was excited to watch. It's such a treat to see such a faithful fan reproduction done, and I appreciated the storyline in "Continues'" first episode when it came out in 2013.

It's now 2017, and last night, I sat my son down and we watched the original "Who Mourns for Adonais," and right after that, "Pilgrim of Eternity," so he could get the perspective and back story of Apollo from its introduction in the 60s. We both enjoyed seeing how nicely the new story meshed with the old, and carried it on to a very satisfying conclusion.

Star Trek Continues bridges the divide in another special way, too. It takes us from where TOS abruptly ended in 1969, and gracefully transitions the crew of the Enterprise forward to the point where 1979's Star Trek: The Motion Picture picks things back up. We now have a complete chronicling of Kirk's captaincy, from his first year in command through to his retirement, and eventual demise in a Next Generation film.

Continues is achieving its goal with such love and respect for the fans of the original production, because they are fans themselves. Their fidelity to the original series, beautiful writing/storytelling, sets, costumes, makeup, characters, direction, production, make these new episodes a joy to watch.

The Wizard of Mars (1965)

Horrors of the Red Planet, the list...

[1/10 · 23 May 2016]

You may be wondering just what horrors await you in the movie, "Horrors of the Red Planet. Let me break it down for you:

Story...Horrendous. Acting...Horrific. Script...Horrible.

I collect classic sci-fi movies, and in order for the collection to be complete, it was necessary to include this flick.

There are lots of really sad sci-fi specimens from the 50//60s, and a few that are true gems. But this has to rate as the worst of the worst. It makes "Plan 9 From Outer Space" look like "Citizen Kane."

An appearance by respected actor John Carradine only serves to illustrate, by contrast, how horrible the other actors are, and indeed, how far his own career had slumped by 1965.

Prospect of sitting through it a second time...horror personified.

Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land (1983 TV Movie)

infidelity on every level

[4/10 · 15 October 2015]

This movie has a few exciting moments, but for the most part, it's just another Airport redux. For me, it was hard to get past its unfaithfulness to science, to reality, and in the case of the characters, each other.

Every time they re-launched the space shuttle to go and rescue the stranded passengers, I just rolled my eyes and how implausible that whole thing was...especially when they launched it the third time, just two hours after the second mission had landed.

The happily-ever-after scene at the end is of the pilot joyously embracing his stewardess mistress, while his wife drives away alone. That's supposed to make us feel all warm and fuzzy?

Ender's Game (2013)

Disappointing to readers of the book, less so to people who haven't read it

[8/10 · 4 January 2015]

Based on the reviews I've read, the understandable reaction of the fans of the book series is that the movie doesn't come close to representing the complete storyline. But then, how could it? I agree the story does feel rushed as you watch it. The kid climbs the ladder of success at a dizzying pace, and the amount of plot required to even touch the original story forces the viewer through what, at times, feels like a breakneck sequence of scenes and events. All of that is a nod to the detractors. Now, let me tell you why I liked this movie.

Ender's Game has heart. There is a warmth to the characters that nicely counterbalances the coldness of war, space, and technology. You feel with, and for Ender as he tries to adapt to the pain of alienation, loss of connection with loved ones, and the incredible pressure and challenges he faces.

The atmosphere of the movie is enveloping. The acting, colors, and melancholy music underscore the dire nature of what's going on . Ender's plight, and at times his character, is reminiscent of Frodo Baggins in Lord of the Rings, another character plucked from obscurity, at times unwillingly, and shouldered with the weight of the world.

I also appreciated the lack of vulgarity and bad language. This movie proves you don't need it to tell a fascinating story.

The ending was an interesting and surprising twist, and even Ender's reaction to the "twist" was interesting.

So, yeah, I can understand the reaction of fans of the book, but for someone who was coming into it without any previous frame of reference, I thought the movie was great.

Without Warning (1994 TV Movie)

As Compelling as Mercury Theatre

[8/10 · 17 November 2014]

Are they just random asteroids? Or are they something more? It's a 1990s twist on War of the Worlds, this time, reported through the lens of the TV camera. As the story unfolds, we come to realize these asteroids are more than just hunks of rock.

20 years later, it's surprising how well Without Warning holds up. The acting, and enacting, are convincing enough to lock you into the story, and the presentation is done so much like real network newscasting that you occasionally have to pinch yourself and remind yourself this isn't actual event coverage.

The story itself has plenty of plot twists and unexpected developments that keep things interesting. It was definitely entertaining, exciting, and pretty convincing as a docudrama, and I can see how somebody tuning in midway through could have been fooled by it for awhile. The movie's a good diversion for anybody who enjoys speculative fiction.

There, I'll stop, and allow those who haven't seen it yet to look away. Spoilers and a bit of nitpicking ahead:

The story unfolds interestingly, but there are places in this movie where I'm unclear where they're going... and I'm not so sure they are either. There are many clear references to Biblical prophesy, including speaking in tongues, Armageddon, and, clearly (in the scene where the entire inhabitants of "Faith, Wyoming" disappear off the face of the earth), "the rapture". But in this case, it's not God, but unseen aliens, who are performing the miracles. What are they suggesting? That God is going to fulfill Biblical prophesy by sending aliens to earth...in the form of asteroids?

Another puzzling assertion, first suggested by a scientist who broke away from NASA to speak the truth of the situation to reporters, and reinforced by Sander V in the final words of the movie, is that the aliens were ticked with the earthlings, and we brought destruction upon ourselves. Why? Because, after the aliens said "howdy" by dropping three big asteroid fragments on us, the military stepped in and blew up the next one before it could impact the north pole. The aliens' next move was to counter-attack against our three most-powerful cities, and when that failed, to obliterate the entire planet. That's like throwing a rock through somebody's window, and when the residents board up the window, blowing up their house. Cummon! :-)

The Maze (1953)

Not as disappointed with ending as some others

[7/10 · 28 March 2014]

You know, this is not a terrible movie. It's atmospheric and mysterious and the female lead plays her part well...she reminds me of Grace Kelly. Richard Carlson is always good. The conclusion is creative and imaginative, and unlike some viewers who reported on this movie, I actually liked the ending. Interesting notion. They could only do so much with the special effects back then, but I can look past that.

One thing this movie has going for it that too few movies do these days is good-heartedness. There aren't any truly "bad guys." Everybody is acting primarily out of a desire to do good and to look out for the interests of others rather than themselves, and I was left with a feeling of goodwill rather than the typical sense of foreboding and doom that so often is the central theme of movies like this one right to the end.

A waste of time? No, I wouldn't say so. I'd say it's worth a watch.

Lark Rise to Candleford (2008–2011)

Characters You Can Actually Like

[9/10 · 23 February 2010]

I get so tired of modern drama based around dark, cynical, unpleasant characters. Lark Rise to Candleford is so different. The characters in this little community manage to rise above their conflicts, see past each others' foibles, and support and love each other.

The program's good-heartedness is reinforced by a gorgeous soundtrack, beautiful camera work, amazing sets, scenery, and costumes, fine directing, and a rich cast of interesting characters.

Granted, it's a fairy tale, but it's a mighty pleasant one. And after all, what's so bad about with having one show on television that actually leaves you feeling better about people?

Bleak House (2005)

Very Dickens, But Distracting Use of Effects

[6/10 · 28 January 2010]

Acting is good. Sets, costumes, etc., are good. Mood is spot-on Dickens. BUT...the directing makes me crazy. It's like "Bleak House Meets Lord of the Rings."

Shaky-cam shots, wild zooms, synthesizer swooshes and whams, over-the-top digital colorization. This story doesn't need all that sci-fi/fantasy production value, and in my opinion, it damages the series.

When style gets in the way of content, it takes away from the story, and regrettably, that's what I feel happens in this adaptation. I really hope directors will step back from this new faddish style, which everybody is copying now, and get back to good storytelling.

Battle Beyond the Sun (1959)

Just Ignore The Monsters

[7/10 · 16 August 2009]

From the very beginning, I was impressed with the quality of the special effects in this movie which, I agree with other reviewers, were very good for their time. The obligatory monster scene on the Mars moon is mercifully short...and if you can just hold your nose through that part, the rest of the film is good enough to make you feel you're really up there with them. I liked the message of the film too, even if it wasn't the original intention of the longer communist propaganda flick. I disagree with those who completely pan Battle Beyond the Sun. I thought much of it was convincing sci-fi, and I'd recommend viewers judge it for themselves.