ljcjpjlj Reviews

A Prince for Christmas (2015 TV Movie)

What's not to like?

[10/10 · 30 November 2015]

It is very hard not to like this movie. Once in a while along comes such a sweet story of love. Here comes the story of a European prince (country unspecified) who meets an American girl living in a small upstate New York town. The prince has escaped an arranged marriage in his native land, comes to America, and meets this sweet charming lady. They fall in love. 'Nuff said. This is a very American movie, filmed in America with very American themes. The acting is excellent, the sentiment very touching. Most of this is filmed within a 15 mile radius in real places in Erie County, New York State. Mary Kate O'Connell, a Buffalo native, has an important role. Much of this is filmed in the town where I live, making it VERY attractive for me. There is nothing not to like in this film, no violence, no cursing, no wasted words. They meet, she dumps local guy, they fall in love, end of story! Happily ever after!

Godzilla (2014)

Really, really awful

[2/10 · 29 October 2014]

It would be hard to sum up the poor quality of this movie in more than 10 lines, but I'll try. First, thin plot. like watered down chicken soup, not much to hear, feel, taste or see. Then acting, acting? Hardly any, dull, flat, high school play, these words come to mind. Then there's action, rather, the lack of any interesting action on the screen. Suspense? Nothing to see here, either. Truly a waste of celluloid, cheap sets, fake pyrotechnics and computer generated stuff. This movie (I won't call it a "film") is a flat, amateurish, over-hyped loser which left me begging for less. Had I spent money to see this (borrowed DVD from library) I'd be suing for a refund! Bottom line for me: an unforgettably and unforgivingly bad movie!

War Horse (2011)

Wonderful! Great! Cynics won't like it!

[10/10 · 29 January 2012]

For me, there's nothing not to like in this picture: wholesomeness, good feelings, acting is good, characters are great, scenery is wonderful, battle action is stupendous (think "Saving Private Ryan"), and if you like horse stories, this is one for you. If you want sleaze, profanity, spurting blood, and big name actors, forget it. IMDb wants more lines in my review, so...I was really impressed by the way this great horse, Joey, is trained and handled, and the adventures he goes through. Remember, this is "War HORSE"...it's about a horse, actually, several, neigh, many horses. If this picture doesn't bring a tear to your eye, you have no heart.

Battleship Potemkin (1925)

Old propaganda

[7/10 · 17 February 2007]

I love battleships and all the stories about them. This film is hard to watch. Yes, Eisenstein made great filmatic beauty, lo these many years ago, with his play of the camera and his directorship. But it is hard to watch nevertheless, in light of the history that has passed in the 102 years since the events portrayed in the film, and in the 82 years since the film was first released, and in the 18 years since the final fall of the Soviet communist dictatorship that killed so many millions in Russia and in the territories that the Soviet Union dominated for so long. This is not to mention, of course, the nazi-fascist response to communism that killed so many millions more. No mention of this famous, much acclaimed, and truly artistic film can go without a mention of the millions who died as a consequence of the events portrayed here and which in 1917 began and continued for the next six decades until this brutal regime was finally put to rest by the efforts of the United States of American under the leadership of President Ronald Reagan. The scene with the peoples' sailing craft going to the famous Battleship Potemkin is beautifully dramatic, though little do they know the fate that awaits them. The famous and horrifying Odessa steps sequence, one of the most momentous and prescient cinematic displays in moviedom, portrays not only the response to the communist revolution but the communist revolution itself when viewed in the clearer air of the 21st century. Sad as it was that these hundreds were murdered by the "White Russian" soldiers, it pales to white in comparison to the millions killed by the "Red Russians" of the "revolution". The Odessa steps sequence, complete with the baby carriage and baby rolling down the steps is emblematic now not only of the horror of the Imperial Russian reaction to the "revolution" but of the effect of the "revolution" itself. The Battleship Potemkin for all of its supposed greatness, and Eisenstein's artistic genius, is merely another piece of propaganda for the murder and genocide for which the communist "revolution" and its evil spawn the nazi "revolution" were to use to compete with one another in the following decades. The Battleship Potemkin's ready accessibility to the gullible collegians of the 60's and 70's, was just another glorified piece of communist propaganda, so popular then, that has been enshrined into our present age as something we should treasure. Rather, in light of the millions and millions who have suffered and died as a consequence of communism and fascism, this film should be relegated to the ash heap of history along with the works of Mao, Hitler and Marx as mere curiosities, to be studied for what they are, aberrations in the progress of mankind.

MacArthur (1977)

Im-Peck-able performance.

[9/10 · 13 January 2007]

MacArthur is a great movie with a great story about a great man…General Douglas MacArthur. This is of course, the story of one of America's great military figures, and a figure made familiar to me from the earliest moments of my memory. Though there is a continuity issue (there may be others) e.g. MacArthur's speech portrayed in the film as his 1962 address to the U.S. Military Academy on accepting the Thayer award did not contain the phrase "old soldiers never die; they just fade away." (That was in his speech to Congress upon his dismissal by President Truman) in 1951 for his alleged insubordination (these two did not see eye to eye!) Gregory Peck is im-Peck-able as the general who vowed he would return to the Philippines in World War II. The film moves quickly and easily with the General, his family and his staff from the beginning of the Second World War to the end of his service career. This film would be of much greater significance to one familiar with both WW II and the Korean War. Nevertheless, Peck's portrayal of this great man who fought the twin evils of fascism and communism and who hated war as only a soldier can is a memorable one indeed. "In war there is no substitute for victory."

The Thin Red Line (1998)

Too tedious for me...

[12 March 2006]

These comments came into my head before I read anyone else's comments, and thus were not influenced, though I did read some. My view of this film is very different from the comments I read. First of all, I had a hard time enjoying this movie, and a hard time watching it, finding it sleep-inducing, slow moving, and insipid in dialog. Despite its having plenty of blood and gore, it just seems to lack realism. The characters seem trite and stereotyped, and only of three or four "types". I find it difficult to write the required ten lines here, because it it hard for me to find words to recommend this movie. Maybe it's too much of an "anti-war" movie to be a good war movie.

Five Easy Pieces (1970)

If you don't hate Bobby you weren't paying attention!

[7/10 · 19 May 2005]

This classic from 1970, seen for the first time in 35 years, left me angry at Jack's character Bobby, and at the same time feeling sorry for his pitiful soul as it must surely burn in hell for his absolutely rottenness. Only Nicholson could play such a rotten, evil, ruthless, miserable, low-down, conniving, despicable character as Bobby, as opposed to the "heart of gold" simplicity of Karen Black's Rayette, the epitome of country/western innocence and charm. Nicholson's Bobby goes from one miserable tirade and temper tantrum to another, as he philanders, cheats, lies and steals his way through this entertaining but often angering film. He hates his life, he hates his family, he hates his great missed opportunities, he belittles all whom he encounters, and in the end goes out of the film just as ugly as when he enters it. You just KNOW that in the imaginary sequel (SIX Easy Pieces?) he surely must end his useless life by his own hand! Ah, Jack, only YOU could have done this character!

Pulp Fiction (1994)

Highly enjoyable non-stop action, fun, silliness, twisted and perverted.

[8/10 · 3 April 2005]

Having seen both of the Kill Bill movies, and having enjoyed their extreme entertainment value, I decided to see Tarantino's earlier Pulp Fiction. This film, filled with the "f" word and the "n" word and all manner of profanity (enough to make a sailor blush)and obscenity (who really cares), is a highly entertaining and cartoonish, mish mash of stories, plots and subplots centering about a gang of varied characters featuring drug dealers, dopers, perverts, rednecks, gangsters, murderers, bullies, victims, and all their blood, guts, violence, stupidity, and even a smattering of religion. What Tarantino has done here with his cast of wild characters is cover all the bases, providing non-stop entertainment and excitement for the viewer who is able to suspend his disbelief and disconnect from reality long enough to last until the head-scratcher that comes when the film runs out. (The story really doesn't end; I think Tarantino just ran out of time!) This is a great vehicle for the ever-familiar and versatile John Travolta. Samuel Jackson is a great and lovable baddest-type bad guy. I loved Harvey Keitel's cameo. Don't look for a lot of reality here, but enjoy the exaggerated realism. I found lots of laughs (it's easily as funny and silly as Kill Bill 1), lots of gore, lots of nice guns, strange twists, and enough time warps to want to see it again just to get things straightened out.

Notorious (1946)

One of Hitchcock's best!

[28 October 2004]

Notorious is absolutely one of Hitchcock's best films. The suspense sneaks up on you, and I found myself on the edge of my seat. Cary Grant is in love with Ingrid Bergman, (but who wouldn't be) caught in a triangle of love, deceit and lies. They both shine as the super stars they are in this meticulously filmed masterpiece. Hitchcock's hand is all over this film. And as is usual for the master, he never misses a beat, never puts in a sloppy scene, and sees it all in his mind's eye (and on paper) before committing it to film. This is why he is The Master of his craft. Bergman is at her lovely best, that sometimes smiling, sometimes pouty mouth, that cute nose, and those stupendously beautiful eyes. This film, which I've just seen for the first time (why, oh why, did I wait so long?) is up there, near the top, I have to see it again and again.

Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970)

One of the best WW2 movies ever.

[21 October 2004]

Tora! Tora! Tora! has long been a favorite of this WW2 buff. Considering I have had 34 years to study and learn about the war since the film first was shown, I still maintain it is almost unbeatable in terms of realism and historical accuracy. An added attraction for me has always been it's total lack of a love interest. Unlike the recent "Pearl Harbor", T!T!T! is not complicated by any silly love stories. While by recent standards the movie may seem slow paced and plodding, the details of the events leading up to the attack is gratifying to see and actually educational. The attack action is thrilling, well paced, and in its use of models, actual planes and other equipment,is extremely realistic with few distracting anachronisms. Be aware that this is definitely not a movie to watch if you are in a hurry.

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

About as silly as they get

[4 June 2004]

Kill Bill (the first one) is the silliest movie I've seen in years! It's sillier than Blazing Saddles, sillier than a Monty Python movie. It is very cartoonish. Part of it even is cartoon, (although it's that highly stylized Japanese cartoon). Uma Thurman plays a good role, but I thought she used to be good looking. All the murder, mayhem, incredible martial arts, spurting blood, severed limbs, funny character names, and goofy plot twists will keep you munching your popcorn with great animation. This silly piece of fluff is filled with fantastic violence, totally unbelievable plots and characters. Keeping all that in mind, it is hilarious from beginning to end! I hope the sequel is as cutely charming.

Manna from Heaven (2002)

Not your typical Hollywood movie

[10/10 · 9 March 2003]

This film is not your typical Hollywood fare, though the pickings are so bad I often tend to stay away from movies rather than be disappointed. However, this little low-budget gem is thoroughly loveable and enjoyable and definitely a keeper. The actors are as varied as the characters they portray, the Buffalo setting is charming (what a pretty city), and the story sparkles. The lack of gratuitous violence, sex and the "f" word doesn't detract in the least! Take the kids, take grandma, take a break from Hollywood! I give it an 11 out of 10!

Apocalypse Now (1979)

What a great shoot-em-up movie!

[10/10 · 4 February 2003]

Apocalypse Now is another of those films that is about half dream sequence. First of all it is a great movie. It has great characters: Sheen defines the height of his character actor career. Hopper plays his Easy Rider character o a T, but this time with a job and a camera. Duval, utters those immortal words "I love the smell of napalm in the morning…" and "Charlie don't surf!", and Brando is at his best. It has plenty of Vietnam War action for you, whether you liked the war, hated the war or fought the war, and is a slam-bang shoot-em-up of the kind that has been replaced by the computerized action films of the 21st century. Realism or the lack of it aside (your opinion, your call) one can't help caught up in Sheen's Willard and his mission to terminate the command of Brando's Kurtz "with extreme prejudice" and all the entertaining and exciting stuff involved in this purposeful character's quest. Never does Sheen's character waiver from this purpose and seldom does the story of the film wander from this path. (when it does wander, you love it.) With "Redux", through the wonder of the DVD format (ever heard of too much of a good thing?) New scenes are added (swept up from the cutting room floor) and pasted in here and there. A new viewer of Apocalypse Now Redux might not notice that the bits are added, even though the movie has gone on past his bed time, but a veteran watcher of it might find them annoying, irrelevant, and easily skipable. To me the "Redux" version came down to this question: "OK, so they didn't change the ending, why did they change the end". In "Redux" I seriously miss the dreamy end with its combination of napalm, burning trees, The Doors and the final credits. I'd give up all the cutting room floor stuff for the original finale.

Badlands (1973)

An ethereal masterpiece

[1 February 2003]

Many films of this era (60's & 70's) had a dream sequence where we were lifted away from the reality of the film's story into another, dreamy world. Badlands IS a dream sequence. It is beautiful, ethereal and surreal, made more so by Eric Satie's music. Its depiction of the brief but savage crime career of Starkweather and Fugate is irrelevant, but its lyrical charm and forthright innocence will insure its continuance as a remarkable bit of film. As 15 year old Holly, Sissy Spacek is at her freckled and wrinkle-free height of fragile beauty, and one can't help falling in love with her as her character falls for the heartless murderer of her father and anyone else who crosses the path of Martin Sheen's Kip. Sheen, at this tender age before he became full of himself and just another Hollywood cliche, also plays a lovable character, even as a cold blooded killer. We almost feel bad for Kip as he is led off into the sunset toward his eventual meeting with "sparky". Don't look for heavy meaning, don't look for answers, just sit back and take it all in. It's that kind of film.

Casablanca (1942)

The best film ever made

[10/10 · 1 February 2003]

If it weren't for Casablanca, there would be no best film ever made. To see it is to love it. Bogart is wonderful in it. Bergman is wonderful. Greenstreet is wonderful. Everyone in it is wonderful. I can't get enough of this film. I'm gonna watch it again tomorrow!

Easy Rider (1969)

Time wore this film out.

[22 January 2003]

I guess you had to be there to appreciate this film (in 1969) and in the right frame of mind, however, seeing it now almost made me want to hide behind the couch in case anyone came into the house while I was watching it. It got old somehow between '69 and '03, and all of its cleverness and relevance then has turned into stupid cliche and stereotypical characters. Fonda is dull, Hopper is, well, Hopper and as a saving grace, Nicholson is still great.