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Reviews
Bright Victory (1951)
Gripping tale!
I found this movie while channel surfing and trying to find something to watch. I'm a fan of old movies so I thought why not. I'm not a fan of war movies at all, but boredom will do strange things to you...
I'm so glad I put the movie on! I was so engrossed within the first few moments, something that rarely happens. It's more than just the story of a man blinded in the war and his learning to navigate his way in the world again. It's the story of a man who didn't learn to see until he lost his eyesight. I won't spoil it by going further on that...
Not only did I love this movie, but I told my mother (also an old movie buff) and she watched it when it was aired again. She was also hooked! So if you're also a lover of old movies, it's worth a watch. You won't be disappointed!
Sweet November (2001)
One of the best tearjerkers ever to grace the silver screen!
I've heard this didn't get the best reviews and I'm puzzled... Honestly, this is one of the greatest movies I've ever watched. It's not just some sappy love story. It's a story about learning to live, the little things that give our lives meaning. And it gives us a good look at a very touchy subject, that being terminal illness and how those facing it as well as how their loved ones deal with death, which is just as important as how we face life. Now, I'm not one that cries at movies. There are very few that can bring a few tears to my eyes. "Sweet November" had me literally SOBBING uncontrollably for the last 10-15 minutes of the movie. I still cry and I've seen it more than a dozen times. Never in my life have I seen a movie so moving. It caught me off guard. I can't give props to any of the actors specifically as they all did a phenomenal job telling this tale. I've never found Keanu Reeves as being the type of actor to play emotional roles, he normally seems a bit stoic and those are the roles that best suit him. But I have to say, he surprised me in this movie. It's a must see!
The Others (2001)
Great thriller!
At first, I wasn't sure about this movie. It seemed odd and I found the ailment of the children a bit ludicrous. Not that people don't suffer from it, but both children having the same rare ailment is a bit far fetched. But if you can look past that and continue watching, you soon get drawn into the story. It seems like your normal, creepy haunted house story, but the more you watch, the more hints that are dropped, you start to wonder if this movie is more than that. What I enjoyed best were the twists that you never see coming. Think "The Sixth Sense"... If you enjoyed that movie, you'll love this one. A must see for those who like a mind f**k more than gore.
Logan's Run (1976)
I'm not sure how to feel about this movie...
I was only 3 when this movie was made, so I didn't see it back in the day. The first movie I remember seeing was Star Wars episode IV, A New Hope. So I'm no stranger to 70s sci-fi. Actually, I've seen older sci-fi movies as well. That being said, I thought the majority of the special effects were pretty cheesy. The laser effects were pretty good, but that was about it. The story was also a bit too cheesy for my taste. I'd like to think that a culture so advanced would know better than to exterminate people at the age of 30. After the apocalyptic event (which they never mention specifically what it was) that destroyed the world, you would think people wouldn't do things even more foolish, but they do, apparently. The acting was, at times, rather mediocre. My whole reason for watching it was to understand references made of this movie in TV shows and other movies. Now the references make sense and that's all I wanted. Not planning to watch it again unless I'm bored out of my mind.
Schindler's List (1993)
Watch and decide for yourself...
There are a lot of negative reviews on here... Most of those focus on the fact that Nazis weren't as bad as how they depict them. I suppose that's a matter of opinion. And, as we know, opinions are like assholes, everyone's got one. Honestly, the fact that they exterminated so many people (and not just Jews) because they felt them to be "inferior" doesn't make Nazis all sunshine and rainbows. Were they an efficient society? Yes. Did that make them superior to people of other faiths or races? No. No matter how you look at it, everyone has their own definition of good and evil and levels thereof. It all depends on your point of view. And how Spielberg views exactly how evil he felt the Nazis were should not be the sole basis of a movie review. My apologies to those who think otherwise. Now, as for the movie itself, it is a bit dark and depressing. But then again, the real life events weren't like a Club Med vacation. If you know anything about this particular period of time, you shouldn't expect cheerful. If that's what you want, go watch something else. My son watched this in history class in high school (I had to sign a permission slip because of the nudity and content). When he saw it was on one of the movie channels a year later, he told me I should watch it, that it was such a good movie. Now... my kid loves video games and Pokemon. That's pretty much it. He hates to read and hates historical anything. So when he said it was good and I should watch it, I knew I had to see it. I must admit, I was engrossed from the beginning. I had never heard of Oskar Schindler before this movie (when I was in high school, they didn't delve much into WWII) and I found his story fascinating. He risked a lot to save the lives of a lot of people. Whether or not he profited from this financially or not is kind of irrelevant. What's most important is that he wanted to save lives when the rest of the Nazis wanted to kill them all off. And the very fact that these people, who are shown at the end honoring his grave, shows me they held him in high regard, which I found moving. And I'm not easily moved. From an artist aspect, I think this was very well done. The use of black and white was quite appropriate for the content and also allowed for the few splashes of color to help the viewer focus on something important you may not have noticed otherwise, like the little girl in the red coat. As for people who complained about Spielberg... You may not think this his best movie or some sappy piece of fluff he cranked out. For those who felt that way, I'd like to ask that you go read some of the trivia items. He doesn't get a dime from this movie. He wants everything he could get donated. Mind you, he could have just donated a chunk of money, but this was obviously something he felt strongly about. I consider that to be more than admirable.
Chiller (1985)
Great thriller
I know some reviews weren't exactly positive, but I really enjoyed this movie. Michael Beck does a phenomenal job acting the part of a man who no longer has a soul. His cold, calculating, selfish nature alone is enough to give you chills. As are some of the weird effects (his eyes are just freaky). Granted, it may not have been on the same level of horror/thrillers that Wes Craven pumps out, but you need to consider that this was a made for TV movie in the 80s and the restrictions on content and language that were allowed to be aired were much more strict than today. If you take that into account, this is a very good movie. It may not be so scary you need to change your shorts after watching it, but the whole portrayal of a man who was brought back to life with no soul is enough to give you the willies.
Barefoot in the Park (1967)
One of the best feel good movies!
This is by far one of my favorite older movies. I just watched this recently after a lousy day and I found myself laughing and in a much better mood after. Aside from the fact that there's just something adorably fun and comical about this movie that greatly improves your mood, it also gives the viewer some helpful insights. It accurately portrays what it's like when you first marry and move in with someone. You drive each other crazy! That's exactly what happens as this couple begin their life together and learn of each other's idiosyncrasies. Add to this the fact that they live at the top of a five story walk up (how awful!) and that the building is inhabited by "colorful" inhabitants and you've got yourself one hell of a living situation. I also like the fact that the movie portrays that love, no matter what your age, is not an impossibility. And that relationships are all about give and take. Great lesson to remember packaged into a fun movie. Plus Redford and Fonda make the most adorable couple! I highly recommend this for those planning to marry, newlyweds and those like myself who have been married many years and can see themselves and their spouse as newlyweds while watching and find it more than a bit comical!
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Maybe I'm missing something...
I've watched this movie a few times, now, hoping that maybe I'll see what other people do in this movie. So far, I've had no luck... Is there gore? Sure, and I'll give kudos for the gore. But in all honesty, I think that was the only redeeming quality of this movie. Although I'm not a fan of movies that only consist of gore or overdo it. The story line is weak and one of those typical of low budget (or pretty much any) horror film. "Don't go on the big, creepy, seemingly empty house in the middle of nowhere where no one will here you scream." "Omg, there's a lot of horrifying things in this house that warn you psychos live here, why the hell are you taking time to look around instead of getting the hell out of dodge?!" I found myself talking to the characters and asking them things like this through the whole movie. It was rather predictable, some parts were confusing to the point that you have no idea what things are or what's going on, and none of it scared me or even made me jump in shock or surprise. And the end left you hanging but not in a good way. I didn't care for this movie, but I recommend everyone see it at least once. Not only just so you can judge for yourself, but also so people won't look at you like you have two heads as they shout, "You've NEVER seen The Texas Chainsaw Massacre?!?" as if it's some sort of crime against humanity that you haven't seen it. At least it's not so bad that you can't get through it at least once...
To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar (1995)
One of the most marvelous movies I've ever seen!
The first time I watched this movie, I laughed like hell! Seeing men like Swayze and Snipes (who always seemed to play very masculine, brawling roles) playing women and doing it so well is an absolute joy! All three men were so convincing! Even the opening scene... I've often wondered exactly how long it took Snipes to learn to put on silk stockings as well as he did! All the actors in this movie gave phenomenal performances, but the biggest kudos need to go to the 3 men who played the drag queens. I don't want to spoil any of the movie for those who haven't seen it yet... Sufice it to say, this is one movie that needs to be on your must see list. Seeing these actors being so comfortable in their masculinity playing overly effeminate characters as well as they did is an absolute joy! And let's not forget that this movie was made during a time when men dressing and behaving as women was not as widely accepted as it is today. These 3 men really made a statement taking on these roles, proving that you can still be a "manly man" and show off a feminine side.
Pushing Daisies (2007)
Most original show I've seen in a long time!
When I first saw the commercials for this, I thought, what the hell, it sounds offbeat, think I'll watch it. I'm so glad I did! In a world that gives us shows about people stranded together on islands or ones that make us suffer through months of horrible singers until we get a full episode of talent, they FINALLY came out with a show that was quirky, original and captivating! I loved it so much, I recorded every episode to my DVR and still watch them! I'm sorry that it didn't last very long. But then again, the good shows never do. If you really want a fun show to lose yourself in, this is what you need to watch!
Star Trek: And the Children Shall Lead (1968)
Great Trek!
I'm a bit embarrassed to rate it 10 out of 10 after reading all the negative reviews, but this has always been my favorite episode. Maybe it's because I've watched Star Trek my whole life (my mom was a Trekkie) and so, as a child, I liked watching things starring children. That being said, I still think this is a great episode. Are there a few plot holes (in particular the fact that no one reminds Kirk that they stranded a few security guards on an uninhabited planet)? Sure there are! I think that's part of the beauty of the show! No offense, but there were bigger plot holes in other episodes. Case in point, The City on the Edge of Forever... Once McCoy steps through the time portal, the others have no contact with the Enterprise. They're told that all they knew was no more because McCoy screwed up something in the past that changed the entire future. If that's the case, how the hell were they still there on the planet?! For that matter, if that were the case, they wouldn't have been there to have McCoy mess things up... See? It makes you feel like a confused Norman in I, Mudd, doesn't it? Star Trek is full of plot holes and head scratching moments, but that's its charm! I think the appeal to this particular episode is the fact that it's a psychologist's dream. You've got children being misled and being used as a tool for evil, they're all in denial (more like totally oblivious) to the fact that their parents are dead, something most children would be devastated by. Not to mention that the crew is made to face some major anxieties that I think most of us can relate to at least a few of ourselves. And it gives a good view of what can happen when you trust people who promise you anything your heart desires. The acting of the children was just wonderful! They were quite believable in their roles and I think they meshed well with the normal cast. But don't take mine or anyone's word for it, watch it and decide for yourself.