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bk913
Reviews
Horror (2003)
Just not right
I'm no horror connoisseur but I've seen a lot from all kinds of time periods and genres. This one is just a head shaker. Soooo much wrong with it. The story and the plot do not make sense. And if the ending is trying to make you go "oh NOW I understand!" it doesn't work! Someone criticized the acting. I actually thought it was pretty decent. I mean when you have a REALLY weak script and even weaker dialogue as an actor what are you going to do (besides not take the role ;) ) ? I really could go on and on about how many flaws there were - so many big and little things including the gun shot sounds, the moments when you were suppose to be afraid, the motivation of the characters, the anti-climactic end of each of the characters, the horrible horrible dialogue that seems like it was just slapped together at the last minute. But anyway, I didn't give it a one star because the special effects were generally good (except for the pumpkin heads... but then again, there's only so much you can do when the script calls for "diabolical pumpkin heads" or whatever) and I did really love The Amazing Kreskin.
Rafter Romance (1933)
Funny, silly, sweet and great slice of life
Fun find! Two hip young people trying to make a go in NYC in 1933. After not paying their rents for 3 months the landlord moves them into the same attic apartment as their schedules are opposite. It's a great peek at urban life in 1933 with drunken work picnics, a lecherous boss, a high society cougar, a telemarketing office and two witty and sassily dressed 20 somethings trying to make it in the big apple. And it's shot in and around the city. As other reviewers have mentioned - the landlord is stereotypical Jew and there's a stereotypical Italian selling flowers on the street. Not so nice. But this is pretty typical in Hollywood, even now isn't it? The landlord is actually a very likable fellow. He's not one dimensional and you laugh at the crazy antics and his great acting - NOT because of anything "Jewish". And as mentioned - there's another really interesting moment when the landlord's teenage son is writing swastikas on the chalkboard near the phone. He gets a smack on the head for it and he exclaims "But it's good luck!" It is not "making a joke of Nazism" but is in fact pointing out the interesting dilemma for that time. Previous to the Nazis adopting the symbol it DID denote good luck and it was (and still is) a positive icon for many races and religions. This movie foreshadows the evilness the symbol would become, especially to Jewish families. And for an American film to be blatantly anti-Nazi so early means smart writer/director. I'm really glad I got to see this film after its 50 years of purgatory.