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Reviews
Swimfan (2002)
enjoyable time killer
Hey this wasn't so bad! The story is trite but I particularly enjoyed the music and the cinematography. Beautifully filmed, decently acted and a nice score with the cello. It would have been even a little better with some of the deleted scenes edited back in. It's clearly an attempt to make a serious teen thriller foregoing the usual over the top elements of other teen movies. I really enjoyed it. 6/10
The Outlaw (1943)
Horrific!
Ahhhh! I can't believe anybody wrote a positive review of this movie. It's just unbelievable! This IS the worst movie I have EVER seen. This one is SO bad, that it would be an injustice to let the MST3K crew take this..... they simply wouldn't have anything to do because this movie does it ALL on it's own.
The music is attrocious! The dialogue is the worst I've ever heard. It's just a riot from start to almost finish (because you'll be wondering how you made it this far when you get to 90min.) This movie doesn't know whether it wants to be a comedy or a western or a drama .... in fact WE don't either... it's not dramatic, it's not funny and it's barely a western!!!
I'm recommending this to EVERYONE. It is NOT to be missed! I guarantee you will howl with your friends at the dialogue, cringe in pain at the music, and stare in awe at a movie that was somehow produced but not directed! It's a riot.
When Worlds Collide (1951)
Money to burn!!!!
This movie rocks!
Okay, I know it's dated. know what?? I Don't care! This kind of movie making would put half the people in Hollywood out of work today. Maybe that's not such a bad thing. They did it right in the early days. They had their priorities right:
Story first
Then characters
Then Special effects
Seems simple, doesn't it? How come they can't get it right today? (with few exceptions, of course). Nope, today it's Special effects, stars, then story.... in fact, even the stories aren't original!!!
This sums up why I like this movie so much and many like it from the same era. They're exciting, fun, and captivating. The kind of movie that leaves you thinking, dreaming, having nightmares, all in the name of fun. You're left dreaming of what it would be like, how you'd react, what you'd do. You'd sit and ponder about a new life on a new planet. And not once would the level of special effects tarnish your view of this gem.
When was the last time you felt that way coming out of a modern movie? My guess is a lonnnnnng time. There are very few exceptions today. The special effects in movies like "Worlds" was icing on the cake... BUT IT WAS THE CAKE THAT MATTERED! Today, it's all icing and the cake can't support it (crappy icing, in fact!!)
Eat your cake and have it too! Watch "When Worlds Collide"!
The Lady Vanishes (1938)
A fine movie and an enjoyable cast . . .
It saddens me when people compare todays technology with yesterdays movies, as if they somehow can't quite completely get into a film on it's own merits. I enjoy visiting the old classics, many times enjoying them over "modern" movies simply for their very style. Frankly, there are those who will always be short sighted and cannot see that in not too long a time, our modern movies, with their state of the art "CGI" will look equally as appalling as a "fake" train. In fact, CGI is so prevalent in today's films that this fact alone will be sure to annoy future generations. But there is something that rises above CGI and fake trains and always will, and that is a good story well told with interesting characters. The Lady Vanishes is such a story. Very enjoyable, funny, smart dialogue, and a crisp pace.
I like when a film can take you somewhere else, can let you get involved with the story and characters. After that, I will accept the CGI and the fake trains as tools of the storyteller.
Be sure to view the Criterion Collection version of this movie on DVD. The print is excellent, and the commentary is informative and interesting enough that you will watch the movie twice.
And Margaret Lockwood is as much eye candy as you will see in any movie, anytime.
This is a great film with a great history.
Disneyland: Sammy, the Way-Out Seal: Part 1 (1962)
My Kids Love This Movie
I had more fun watching my kids watch this movie but secretly I enjoyed it too. And seeing Billy Mumy and Ann Jillian as kids is a riot. Rent it for the kids and don't be surprised to find yourself plopping down on the couch next to 'em.
Battlefield Earth (2000)
Disappointed. . . .
Another great book, poorly translated to film. While I found many things to like about the movie, it could not really compare with the book. Many of the plot absurdities, simply, were not in the book. And some of the most important elements in the story where glossed over and underdeveloped. For instance, The whole Fort Knox thing was not in the book. Also, the humans learn to fly the Psychlo's ships. The characterization of the humans, made into "cavemen" in the movie, were much more "Indian-like" in the book. Johnny's character was surrounded with intelligent, capable characters in the book and all were missing in the movie.
If you want a great ride, read the book. The movie, while visually appealing simply does not come up to par with the characters, which ironically, is the essence of the book.
What could've been a landmark Sci/Fi film was pretty disappointing.
The Sixth Sense (1999)
Fresh and Original
I have recently seen "The Sixth Sense" and would like to applaud it's actors and makers as having produced one of the finest films to come out of Hollywood in a long time.
This movie was written and directed by an "artist". It is a beautiful piece of work, so rich in subtleties and at that same time, bold and personally involving. This movie is beautifully paced, for those of us who like to be coaxed into a story. Before long you realize you are much further involved with these characters than you expected. I must take exception with the crowd who found it "slow" and "boring". Perhaps they are too used to being bombarded in the "MTV" style of film presentation. If you enjoy being "invited" into a story rather than having it thrust at you in mind numbing picture flashes and sound effects then you will enjoy this movie.
This is not really a Horror picture at all. It is a thought provoking study of characters faced with a question: Can I truly say I know all about what I am seeing? It is a wonderful journey of discovery as seen through the eyes of one small boy and one grown man, each facing the unknown. This movie has the remarkable ability to make you think you have seen something when in fact you haven't. See it twice and find out....