T-27 Reviews

The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)

Just like a television news interview

[8/10 · 21 July 2010]

What struck me the most about this movie was how much it reminded me of a black and white television news or court room interview from the 1950's and 1960's. Several times I had to remind myself that this was NOT a pseudo-documentary in that vein. Then it occurred to me that, having been made in 1928, it was before the advent of television,so this bonus effect had not been planned. Of course seeing it on video on an actual television must have added to the effect.

The spare, largely blank gray background and closeups of Joan concentrated ones attention on her and heightened her personal pain, dread and tragedy.

For me this was a new treatmernt of with new insights into the Joan of arc story.

Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye (2000)

intelligent love story

[21 December 2009]

I bought this movie on DVD because I had seen several of the songs on another compilation DVD. As you may have guessed I loved the musical numbers.

Why have so many people dissed this movie? I understand that this is a remake of the Wedding Singer. Although I have not seen the Wedding Singer I cannot imagine Adam Sandler playing anything other than a jack ass and any movie he is in as anything but a piece of ignorant garbage. Our Man Salman took his role and made it into a reasonably intelligent and emotional character. I was especially impressed with his emotional portrayal as Prem when he lost the girls, I almost cried with him! Our Man in particular and Bollywood in general have a knack for turning Hollywood ridiculousness into something dignified. He did overdo it playing the drunk though.

Rani Mukerji was fantastic. She has the right combination of beauty, sexiness, earthiness and heart to make a great romantic love interest.

The portrayal of the close knit and loving family and neighborhood added a lot to the emotional appeal of the movie. All of the characters were people that I liked and cared about.

I did not find the movie that funny, but found it to be a good love story.

Colossus and the Amazon Queen (1960)

Swords Sandals and Jazz

[7/10 · 30 November 2009]

I rate this movie as pretty good. The action part of the plot was not bad for such fare - after all sword and sandal epics were not known for top notch plots or dialog, but the attempt at humor were simply stupid. It would have been a much better movie without them. The budget obviously left no room for retakes; I noticed three goofs: A trumpeter at the very beginning dropped his trumpet then picked it up; the queen once had to lower her head to stifle a giggle and the high priestess tripped over something.

The attack of the horse mounted freed male slaves on the Amazon city reminded me a lot of the Indian attacks on wagon trains in old television and movie westerns

I found the use of the beatnik style jazz sound track in this ancient Greece set movie kind of interesting. So was the extended avant garde dance sequence in the middle. Very "Bohemian". So bad it is good you might say.

Partner (2007)

What is wrong with simply enjoying BOTH!!!!!!!

[10/10 · 6 July 2009]

I just don't see how another commentator could not enjoy this movie.

I saw all five of the music numbers on music compilation DVD's and they were stupendous. So when I joined Netflix, Partner was the first movie and second title (the first was Swingtown) that I ordered.

The movie was a hearty and up beat comedy. Like I said in the summary a combination romantic comedy and buddy movie. The characters were all very likable, I had no trouble enjoying the writing, the plot was great and even had a few unexpected twists. And of course the all important music and dance numbers were well spaced and dynamite.

All of the acting performances were excellent but Our Man Sal Man, Govinda and Ali Haj as the little boy, Rohan, stood out.

Since so many people were so down on this movie and comparing it most unfavorably with Hitch - I decided to see Hitch over the weekend. I had only viewed one Bollywood remake and Hollywood original, and that was Chhodon Naa Yaar after Blair Witch Project - and I thought both were stupid.

So I decided to see Hitch after PArtner to see what all of the hoopla was about. Actually I really liked both. It is no secret that Bollywood films, shall we say, heavily borrow, from Hollywood films so when one does, why complain. I see no reason to put down one or the other, both were very good and both have their place. Why not enjoy both of them.

As has been pointed out, several scenes from Partner were directly copied from Hitch. The front of Priya's father's house is an exact copy of Allegra Cole's. I had a lot of fun looking for and watching the duplications. I also liked the way a plot element was borrowed by Partner, but given a different twist.

At he same time the movies had a lot of plot differences.

I still have to say I like Partner just a little bit better. BUT that does not count the five - seven if you count opening and ending credits - gang-buster, show-stopping musical numbers in Partner

It might not be the greatest movie ever made, but it does not claim to be. I thoroughly enjoyed it and do not need to see Hitch!!

The Librarian III: The Curse of the Judas Chalice (2008 TV Movie)

I want to add a couple of trivia

[9/10 · 1 June 2009]

Morgus Bay is named for Dr Mommus Alexander Morgus, a mad scientist character who introduced horror movies on television in New Orleans for thirty years - he is still active. His side kicks are an executioner type named Chopsley and a talking skull named Eric.

The exterior for the building where the auction is held is the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge, the interior is the New Orleans Museum of Art. The exterior of the museum/library where Flyn works is the New Orleans Museum of art, the interior the Old State Capitol Building!

The interior of the Capuchin monestary where the chalice is hidden is St Alphonsus Church, the exterior is St Mary's Asumption. They are across the street from each other, St Alphonsus was the Irish Catholic Church, Saint Mary's Assumption was for German Catholics. (A third one for French Catholics has been torn down.)

Dark Shadows (1966–1971)

goof by Lady Kitty Hampshire

[9/10 · 6 April 2009]

In the 1895 storyline, Lady Kitty Hampshire mentions that in England Cout Petofi used his hand to control people's minds. At he time Count Petoffi was supposedly thus using his hand, he did not have it, the Gypsies had cut it off. He had not gotten it back until several episodes before in Collinwood. He was in Collinwood the whole time he had his hand the second time. So he would not have been able to use the hand in the presence of Lady Kitty Hampshire in England some time before. I know this comment is a bit wordy, but it has to be ten lines long!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am about to finish watch Dark Shadows on DVD.It has taken me almost two years. I hear the the first year, the pre-Barnabas portion, is to be released soon. I hope my local public library buys it so I can see that too.

Elizabethtown (2005)

This is a correction for a goof

[7/10 · 25 August 2008]

An error in geography goof has been posted for this title. Actually it is not a real error, Drew ends up lost when he drives North, on I-65 trying to get to Elizabethtown. In one of the lost scenes there is a sign saying he is in Indiana, Inidana is North of Louisville. He would drive through downtown Louisville and get to Indiana. There is also a scene of him going through a tunnel that is on the Waterson Expressway going East. If he really messed up he could have gone that way, driven around the east side of Louisville, and ended up in Indiana as well.

I am from Louisvile, Iought to know!!

T Diemer

China Gate (1998)

Worth it for Chama Chama

[7/10 · 11 September 2007]

First of all let me admit, I like Bollywood movies for the singing and dancing. So I always have a"plot" verdict and a music verdict. I rate the movie as good, there was an interesting plot, the acting was good, and the tale had a good moral.

But I must admit I would probably have never watched it if it were not for Urmilla's rendition of Chama Chama. Simply spectacular, one of the greatest things ever. I rank it up there with Dola Re Dola from Devdas, and Rhamba's Pyaar Achcha Hota Hai from the film Pyaar Diwan Hota Hai.

In fact I work for a public library and recommended the library purchase both China Gale and Pyaar Diwan Hota Hai simply because I was totally blown away after seeing them on the Chart Busters DVD from Eros Entertainment. Both movies are OK plot wise, but these two are true show stoppers. So I literally would not have seen either movie except for these two songs!

Moulin Rouge! (2001)

This should go under Trivia AND movie connections

[7/10 · 11 September 2007]

The Hindi song featured in the Indian musical within a musical at the end is Chama Chama from the Bollywood movie China Gate. Chama Chama is a show stopping song and dance number.

The second song was of course the Marily Monroe classic Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

This should be a trivia AND a movie connection, but I could not place it there, so I am putting it under comments.

Maybe IMDb could put a user submission trivia link, even links in other features for the movies.

It is also difficult to correct more than one misspelled word per submission.

Godzilla Raids Again (1955)

Katrina the Water Monster!!

[9/10 · 4 September 2007]

By pure coincidence the DVD for this movie arrived and I watched it during the week of the second anniversary of hurricane Katrina. I live in Metairie, one parish upriver from New Orleans. I could not help but notice how much the apprehension over the approach of Gigantis was like that of the approach of a hurricane. Is it coming this way or isn't it? How bad will it be? etc. Few natural disasters are ad predictable and thus dreaded than a hurricane.

The devastation after the battle of the monsters reminded me of the devastation still evident in much of New Orleans. It also reminded me of the atomic bombed city in the classic twilight zone movie about the man who loved to read and broke his glasses. The similarity between an atomic bombed city and a monster destroyed post-World War II Japanese city was no accident.

I saw this movie at the drive in when I was eight years old, it sparked a life long love of dinosaurs for me. Being able to finally see it again after almost fifty years is a real treat.

All three versions - English, English with commentary and Jpanese are worth watching. The English and Japanese versions are truly different experiences.

The Ten Commandments (1923)

poem identified

[10/10 · 16 July 2007]

Isaw both versions of Ten Commandments on a special DVC, so I suppose one would call it Tenty Commandments.

I also watched the commentary for both films. The poem on the page where Mary Leigh writes Good Bye near the end of the prologues is the poem Helas by Oscar Wilde. The narrator of the commentary did not know this, so I feel that I have staged something of a coup. It does not look like the place in the book where Mary pressed the orange blossoms, she takes them out then flips a few pages before writing.

The narrator also compared the rock where Danny wrecks his boat to Mount Sainai, but it looks more to me like the rock at the edge of the Red Sea, the Israelites destination, and figuratively the Rock on which Pharao crashed.

The Orthodox Monastary of Saint Catherine at the foot of Mount Sinai is called a Greek ORTHODOX monastery in some of the commentary on the 1956 film. The Orthodox Church of Sainai is an independent Orthodoc Church, it is the Church of Sinai, so the monastery is a Sinai Orthjodox monastery. It is a common misnomer to call any Orthodox Church the Greek Orthodox Church. The Greek Orthodox Church is the Church of Greece only, other countries have their own Orthodox Churches.

Apocalypto (2006)

great movie, contains BIG spoiler

[8/10 · 18 December 2006]

This was a very good movie. It is not for everyone, one has to read the English subtitles and it is very bloody and violent. But the violence is necessary time, place,and plot wise.

* The story involves a Mayan raid to obtain slaves for human sacrifice. The first third of the film portrayed the violence, pain and suffering inherent in a slave trade. As one of European descent I sat there wondering How can these Mayans be so barbaric and cruel to each other. Then I remembered that Europeans were just as cruel during the African slave trade, the conquest of the Americas, Nazi Germany, and many other times.

I enjoyed the middle third, in the Mayan city. I am a big fan of the crowds, costumes, hair do's, dances and other pageantry.

**** I felt that the ending was a cop out. Having the European ships show up and overawe the hero's final two pursuers. I suppose there was a time crunch - our hero's having to kill three pursuers in time to rescue his wife and son from drowning in a well like pit during a rain storm. Reducing the pursuers to two or one and having the hero defeat them would have been much more satisfying than the ending used.

This movie showed both the dark side and the light side of Mayan civilization - great cruelty but also great humanity and courage.

United 93 (2006)

About that last comment

[10/10 · 9 October 2006]

The contradiction between the plane being in a nose dive and the passengers being impeded in their progress froward to retake the plane was more than just an indication, it took up the whole scene. Once you notice the flouting of the laws of physics, you still have several minutes to sit there and think "doesn't anyone realize that this is impossible".

It is a great movie none the less.

In the families special feature one relative syast that she is glad the movie was not Hollywoodized - I am to - made for a much better film. I think there should be a lot less Hollywoodization in all historical, biographical and non-fiction films.

The Goddess of Spring (1934)

Inspired vivid memories

[19 August 2006]

Iprobably only saw this cartoon ONCE and I was probably under FIVE years old. Talk about making an impression, that would have been forty something years ago and I still remember a lot of it - Persephone picking flowers, Hades coming our oft ground on something like a spinning turn table, little devils dancing around singing "Hidey Hades" (maybe actually Mighty Hades?) , Persephony in tears pointing upwards, and Hades retuning her to the upper world on that turntable thing. It was a segment at the end of the Mickey Mouse Club TV show, they would open a drawer and pull out the title of that day's cartoon. I saw it once and though I wanted to see it again, I never did.

Years later I read Edith Hamilton's Mythology - one of my all time favorite books - and there was the story of Hades and Persephone!

I sure wish this would come out on DVD or something.

Disney would make a fortune with a vintage Disney Channel - run to old Mickey Mouse Series, the Silly Symphony cartoons, those fantastic serials like Spin and Marty, Boys of the Western Sea. I have to confess I have not seen the new cable but I would bet it is junk.

And Anettw Funichello can out Mousketeer Brittany Spears any day!!!!

Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega... (2000)

But the songs are so good

[8/10 · 14 August 2006]

I have to admit I have NOT seen the movie but I want to comment on it. The last comment really trashed the movie. I have seen several of the songs on the smashing EROS International DVD Chart Toppers and they are fantastic. Really hard driving music and dancing. Even if the rest of the movie would turn out to be garbage, these hot songs would be the magic mushrooms on top of the dung hill. Iwould buy or see this movie for the songs alone. But then its the music and dance that I love about Bollywood movies. And while we are at it - check out Chart Toppers - forty five songs - four hours of Indian MTV with no commercials. Char Tppers from Yas Raj films is another excellent Bollywood musical compilation.

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001)

If Mel Gibson had seen this movie -----

[10/10 · 23 December 2005]

If Mel Gibson had seen this movie, Jaya Bhaduri would have played the Virgin MAry in Passion of the Christ - she's that good. Give her an Oscar.

Ireally would have to say Gone With the Wind was the greatest movie ever made - but KKKG is the second best. Great plot, wonderful acting, super fantastic music/song/dance numbers. Production values excellent, everything is beautiful to look at and to hear.

I loved the DVD so much I gave it to everyone on my list for Christmas (2005)

***SPOILER*** Going to the mall will never be the same

Mujhse Dosti Karoge! (2002)

It's about t9ime!!!!!!!

[9/10 · 21 December 2005]

Its about time Rani Mukherjee finally gets the man!!! She plays such sympathetic "good" characters but also gets left at the altar or takes second best.

The musical and dance medley near the end of the movie was superb. (IMDB should include a list of the songs used in trivia or movie connections.) An Indian friend told me she used to dance to these songs when younger.

The romantic plot is typical Bollywood but with an interesting modern twist. I must admit I would be getting tired of these plots if it were not for the music and dance numbers which I love. It takes great plot, great acting, great music and great dancing to make a great Bollywood movie. I know that the actors and actresses do not usually do their own singing, but they must do their own dancing - and what dancers. Unlike in the United States I guess you have to be a great actor and a great dancer to make it in India as a star.

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)

Very good romantic comedy

[9/10 · 12 November 2005]

I usually go for Bollywood films for the music-dance numbers. While this flick has a few good ones, I was mostly pleased with the plot. I liked the second half the best. I was very disappointed to learn from IMDb that this is the second of only two films done by Pooja Rupanel. She brought a lot of life and spark to a minor role - the female lead's younger sister. She should have done more films. Like any really good comedy, the story had its serious aspects - just enough to make the plot interesting. The stand=by Bollywood love triangle plot can be used as many times as one wishes as long as one has good actors, terrific musical numbers, and a few novel plot twists.

The Adventures of Jim Bowie (1956–1958)

Something for the Trivia feature

[26 October 2005]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that Jim Bowie is the only TV show to have its theme song hummed. Maybe there was music too, but there was also the sound of men humming with it.

Since I have to have ten lines of text I guess I will go on with this comment of Jum Bowie. Since I was born in 1951, I was only four or five when this show was on, but I remember it well. I guess that would prove that it is an impressive show for someone that young to remember it. What I remember particularly is two men fighting. One of them stretches the other man's arm out over a fire and the other man screams in pain.

All I really wanted to do is submit the trivia about the humming of the theme song, you can throw the rest of this out since I am only rambling on to get the minimum ten lines of text.

Devdas (I) (2002)

Don't settle for English version!!!!!

[20 August 2005]

What can I say, Devdas is a spectacular classic on par with Gone With the Wind and Cecil B. DeMille. At first I was pleased that there was an English version, and I would not have to read subtitles BUT - IT'S CUT!!! The final song is missing, and parts of most of the other songs are snipped. Whole scenes are missing!!!! Luckily I watched the Hindi version first. It is far superior in that it is complete, plus it looks better. I did need the English version to iron out some of the plot - although a couple of the scenes that I needed translated had been cut. In future, if they are not going to English version the whole movie, subtitles are better. Dola Re is the best song/dance number ever!!!!!!!!!!

Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001)

excellent movie on a lot of levels

[9/10 · 27 July 2005]

Like most Bollywood films, this one satisfies on a lot of levels - music, song, dance plot. Hit has history, sports and romance. Unlike Morton, I had a good DVD copy from my local public library, the colors were brilliant and vibrant. The story contains a lot of clichés, but that's Bollywood, but at least the Victorian Indian setting gives a new twist.

At almost four hours, I did find it long. I would advise taking a break at the intermission. Maybe watch it over two nights - or make dinner during intermission!!!!

Great movie T

Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)

I want a Bollywood wedding!!!!!!!!!!!

[11 July 2005]

Heart warming romantic comedy about lost love/found love. Interesting plot very endearing characters. Echoes of "West Side Story" ,"Grease" and "Saturday Night Fever" with a little Judy Garland/Mickey Rooney "let's put on a show" - even some Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid thrown in. At three hours the movie was a little long - but there was an intermission. It took too long for the hero to get the girl. As usual there was a great wedding production number. (Someone should issue a DVD of Bollywood weddings.) Also loved the Sita-Rama mantra - but the ceremony was done before a painting of Durga!!! Highly recommended

Bombay (1995)

Great love story with meaningful ending.

[7/10 · 6 July 2005]

This story of love and marriage between a Hindu man and Mospem woman was very well done. Even though I could not get the English subtitles to work on my DVD player, I was able to follow the plot with a little help from the package notes.

The portrayal of the Hindu/Moslem religious riots of 1992/3 was very well done. It was an excellent portrayal of the violence, horror, bloodshed and suffering in so many such acts of violence in too many time periods, for too many reasons, and between too many groups of people. The thing uppermost in my mind was how Christian fundamentalists could want to import such horrors and such suffering to the United States - but I guess Christian fundamentalists do not watch movies like this.

Bombay Talkie (1970)

OK movie, Great DVD Featurette

[6 July 2005]

I agree with Dilip, it is an OK movie, but the DVD that I got from my library had an added feature - a half hour of dancer Helen. She is really over the top. So skip the movie and enjoy Helen!!!!! I have to give ten lines of text, so here goes. The opulent sets and costumes of the movie were a definite plus, a nice look at the modern wealthy Indian life style. While not great, the movie's plot did generate some interest. For me high lights of the Helen feature were her cabaret dance with an caged afro-wigged "wild man" and a portrayal of a drunken bar patron at the end. During the course of this half hour she dances through several world dance genres.

Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai (2002)

Great Bollywood music and dance numbers

[8/10 · 6 July 2005]

I recently discovered Bhangra music and Bollywood films/music videos and am a fan of both. This movie is well worth it just for the dance/musical numbers. The bachelor party dance was praised in an earlier comment. The dance contest is even better - worthy of Saturday Night Fever! And the wedding number is truly out of this world - music, song DANCE and costumes - and there is even a plot excuse to repeat it.

Plotwise this is also a good movie. Even though I could not get subtitles on my DVD player, with a little help from the package notes I could follow the story. One refreshing aspect is that each of two romantic male rivals turn out to be positive, good-guy characters - and there is a girl for each.

Very highly recommended for music video enthusiasts, highly for romantic comedy movie enthusiasts.