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super_lopez
Reviews
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
overrated, i agree
I liked some parts of this movie, but Hammett's book was tough, and his Spade was way more in command than Bogart in the adaptation. Bogart is great as an actor, but there's something comical about his screen presence which Sam Spade in the book didn't have ... or at least you didn't laugh at him in the same way.
Brigit O. was terribly miscast. At least to me her screen presence was null, ie not sexy at all, therefore it was hard to understand why Spade would come close to being a "sap" for her. where were the smoldering looks, the seduction. where was the imposing, amoral spade? no this movie didn't work.. the one exception was Peter Lorre who was perfect casting as the levantine. I couldn't see him any other way
Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966)
Manos: a work of staggering genius
Hal like any other great artist is misunderstood by feeble-minded contemporaries. My prediction is that in 50 or so years when celluloid has gone the way of the dodo, Manos will be recognized for the bold (and reckless) artistic triumph that it was. Hal, a true visionary (some say he hallucinated from fertilizer fumes), has set a trend for modern cinema. The shocking orgiastic violence and the horrifying screen presence of Torgo, the master's minion, have yet to be topped by today's unassuming and bland filmmakers.
I have watched Manos several times and each time I see another facet of sparkling genius in this diamond of a movie. I cannot recommend it enough. To anyone with a modicum of self respect, by all means watch Manos and prepare for the ride of your life.
You might wonder why I only gave it one star. I have been observing the Manos forum for some time now with no small amount of disgust. Manos is #1 on the worst films of all time for IMDb. I, super lopez, am not one to displace Manos from this worthy if ignoble position. Manos deserves to be number one in at least one area.