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conwayk
Reviews
Les fabuleuses aventures du légendaire Baron de Munchausen (1979)
An unexpected and delightful return to a childhood favorite
I remember seeing this movie in a video store when I was about 6 or 7 years old, and when I took it home and watched it, I was immediately captivated. It was completely unlike any of the animation that was being put out at the time, or little did I know at the time, would ever be put out again. When I saw it was finally out on DVD format on Amazon, and for a measly $0.97, I had to have it. I assumed it would be like Pink Floyd: The Wall; amazing when I was a kid, but completely embarrassing frou-frou as an adult. I was completely wrong! It is even better than I remember, and the music is absolutely fantastic, the work of a genius (trust me, I'm a musician). The songs will be stuck in your head for days. What also surprised me is how FUNNY is movie actually is (especially the cannonball scene, which had me cracking up), with incredibly sophisticated dialogue and clever rhyming schemes and excellent English dubbing (you'd never know this film was originally in French). The only downside is the lack of extras, because this film actually has a fascinating backstory, which included a strike (that may explain some inconsistencies in the animation). But all in all, it's a feel-good adventure film, with amazing music, guaranteed to satiate the kid in everyone.
'Twas the Night Before Christmas (1974)
Happiness!!!!
I have never seen a holiday special that I could sing along to as much as this. I literally grew up watching this this on a cruddy VHS from the 1980's, and when the UPS guy finally came with it today I nearly accidentally mauled him with excitement. The fact that this wonderful little treasure is finally on DVD format shows that there is indeed justice in the world. I won't have to worry about breaking down that trusty old video, I just break down this trusty old DVD! When I have children, I will force them to watch this everyday before Christmas (and learn the songs of course) so they can be dorks like me. There aren't enough stars to rate this, but I'll give it 10/10 anyway.
The Return of the King (1980)
Adorable, heartfelt, and a staple of 70's-80's animation
I don't believe people are giving this movie the benefit of the doubt, because it seems simplistic compared to the Peter Jackson extravaganzas. What people also have to remember is that, unlike the Jackson renditions, this and 'The Hobbit' were made especially for children. The characters designs and the story itself have to be toned down so that children (or stoners) can follow the story without becoming too freaked out by orcs.
Roddy McDowall is pretty much the most hilarious sounding Samwise ever, and the character design fits him perfectly, and both elements create a character of great vulnerability. For a 'Rings' movie this short, we are still able to sympathize with Sam. This is not just because of the well-compressed storyline, but because the design for both Frodo and Sam is just so cute. They look like a cross between puppies and elves. And that's cute.
I recommend this to anyone with an open mind about an alternate version to the final chapter. It won't really ruin the story for you, it'll just show how this story was made into a film before the use of CGI and before movie studios started puking money at Jackson.
Hostel (2005)
A lack of sympathy is odd, but inevitable in this case.
I literally just saw this film and I'm puzzled as to how I feel about it.
Usually the whole point of watching people being tortured is that the horror stems from not only the visceral horror, but the sympathy for the victim. Without this necessary factor, the thrill of the scene is all but lost.
However, in the beginning of the film, when Paxton, a rude American with his rude American friend and a stereotypically horny European male, shouts, "Man I hope bestiality is legal in this country, cause that girl is a f@$%kin pig!" (at a prostitute who is nowhere near fat), I found myself muttering, "God, just kill him now." We have already lost sympathy for the characters. All we have left is the violence.
The rest of the film is overextended sex scenes that cut into valuable film time that could be used to explain why we should care about these men. Perhaps that's Roth and Tarantino's intention--to view the victims as the murderers would: as arrogant, rude, oversexed and boorish Americans that are only good for tourism and death, if anything.
Blah blah blah, death death death, shame shame shame. I expected better from Tarantino, master of Kill Bill and helping hand in the amazing Sin City.
Even the prize cow needs to deliver sour milk once in a while.