Reviews
Go for Broke! (1951)
American history to be definitely remembered and honoured...
This film depicts (for a 50's war flick) the trials of the 442nd Infantry Regiment, a group of ALL-VOLUNTEER Japanese-American soldiers that fought in Europe against the Axis forces. The soldiers in this unit volunteered from the concentration, err... internment camps to fight for their and our country. They performed brilliantly and became the highest decorated unit in U.S. Army history. Former Senator Daniel Inouye was an officer in the 442nd, too!
While this is not the most exciting war movie ever made, it is certainly worth adding to a collection, especially since it can be bought in a 2-VHS set with "Gung Ho." Of special note is the scene where two German soldiers are trying to make heads-or-tails of of the Japanese chatter on field phone lines they are tapping.
Richard III (1995)
A joy to watch, it fills me with mirth
A previous reviewer says it best when he defended the play against its detractors instead of listing its merits. This is one of the few movies that not only turns a Shakespearean work into a good piece of movie, but a great piece of Shakespearean movie.
Okay, England was not under Fascist control in the 1930's...but the movie works on the supposition that it *could have* been. Before and after abdicating the throne, Edward was known to be pro-Fascist, even meeting with Hitler once! What if Edward had NOT abdicated, once assuming the throne he would have had an American wife? Definitely something not welcome among England upper crust.
While not pointing accusatory fingers this alternate history not only serves as a rough stereotype of Europe prior to World War II but helps to vilify Richard as one evil son of a ... you get the idea. The use of Nuremburg-like banners and visual settings cannot help but associate Richard with Adolf.
Elizabeth and Rivers are similarly given the alternate treatment by showing them as Americans married into the York family as opposed to the historical association with the Lancastrian houses. Either way, it places a slight barrier between them and Richard. Besides, who can resist Robert Downey Jr. shouting, "I have too long borne your blunt upbraidings and your bitter scoffs!" It make me quake as much as Keanu Reeves' British accent in "Bram Stoker's Dracula."
All in all, the essence of the play does come through: Richard is an evil man who is more than willing to destroy his own family and "friends" in his quest for the "seat majestical." Ian McKellan plays the role to the knife's hilt (ahem) and earns my serious respect for it. If you can ignore the window dressing you are left with the heart of Shakespeare's works: characters that make you believe they are real. So what if the recent "Romeo and Juliet" had guns and cars...was the story still not about two lovers kept apart by fate? (I am ignoring Troma's "Tromeo and Juliet" since Shakespeare was not written to include Lemmy from Motorhead...)
I highly recommend this to my friends and anyone else in seeing one of literature's nastiest villains portrayed to his utmost.
In fact...writing this review has made me want to watch it again so I am off to the DVD player!
Dr. Caligari (1989)
one strange yet compelling movie
This is definitely one of the strangest alt-indie-freak films I have seen. The characters are almost caricatures, but their actions are choreographed with their lines as they pose around each other.
Madeline Reynard is electrifying as Dr. Caligari, a descendant of the infamous Caligari. She is working on an insidious plot to transfer personality traits between patients in a mental hospital by swapping brain fluids. Her plans go awry when some staff members catch on and she uses a cannibalistic masochist (Shivver Boy) in her experiments.
I definitely recommend this movie for your collection, if not to scare your "normal" friends but for the giant latex tongue.
Stealing Heaven (1988)
Touching and visually stunning
This romance is based on the real story of two lovers separated by the Catholic Church but bound by their hearts.
Set in Paris during the building of Notre Dame, young Heloise is brought from a convent to live with her uncle, a solicitor for the cathedral building fund. Heloise is well-educated and spirited, a dangerous combination for a woman in this time. She meets Master Abelard, a teacher at the cathedral and they fall in love despite his vow of celibacy.
The scandal of their love explodes when Heloise becomes pregnant.
The sets and costume are quite convincing--if only the actors sounded more French than English.
This is one of my favorite films despite the fact I have a book of some of Abelard's writings in which he displays a near-contempt for Heloise and those around him. A far cry from Derek de Lint's character.