Change Your Image
arcturus6
Lists
An error has ocurred. Please try againReviews
China Rose (1983)
Ir isn't all that bad.
I will admit that I do not have an advanced degree in Drama or have I performed on stage, Shakespearian or otherwise, but the criticism that Ms. McGraw received in some of these reviews sounds a bit much. Is there a "Let's Get Ali" Club out there? As far as her acting ability I do not find her as objectionable as some and, in fact, I like her. If that makes me something of an amateur in theatrics, well so be it! The critical remarks made against her go too far I think and border on gross insult. Frankly there are a numerous so-called actresses today who cannot act as far as I am concerned but I am not going on a tirade against them. I just don't watch them. Many people go "ga ga ga ga and ga" over Meryl Streep and frankly I would not pay a dime to see her perform. So therein lies the issue, some of us like certain actresses and others don't and vice versa! Besides, I miss the Lana Turners, Greer Garsons, Betty Davisis, Susan Haywards, Joan Crawfords, and other fine actresses from the 1940s, 50s and 60s!
True Grit (1969)
Why?
What is all this talk about a remake of True Grit? I do not have anything personally against Jeff Bridges, but is not John Wayne. Is Tinsel Town so intellectually void they have to remake other movies? I have had the misfortune of seeing some of these remakes and the originals were much better. Of course, I am rendering a personal opinion here, so for those of you who want to indict me for whatever reason, back off! Frankly, I am not going to waste my money attending any remake of True Grit. For those who desire to, be my guest. I realize there are still a lot of John Wayne adversaries out there, who despised him for various and sundry reasons....however I do not recall Paul Newman, and his fellow travelers walking on water either! Apparently we need a fresh supply of writers who can actually come up with something new instead of rehashing films that should be left alone!
12 to the Moon (1960)
For Those Who Suffer From Insomia
This is a magnificent display of boredom. The space ship was unbelievable but then this is a movie, so there. The acting was over dramatic and pretentious. It reminded me of a 6th grade attempt to make a sci-fi movie. (actually, I think the 6th grade attempt would be better.) I am sorry, I wish I could be more generous in my comment. I did give it a 2 out of a generous heart but that is as far as it goes. I was attending movies at the time this was made and I would have probably walked out on it as soon as I had finished my popcorn and drink; unless of course someone enticed me with a candy bar. It just did not come across in a serious light; now as a comedy it might have had potential.
War and Remembrance (1988)
Change of Actors
I was not at all happy with the replacement of Ali McGraw with Jane Seymour; Jan Michael Vincent with Hart Bochner and some of the other changes. Thank God they left Robert Mitchum alone despite his age. I really missed John Houseman in his role as Aaron Jastrow and while I consider the late Sir John Gielgud to have been a superb actor, I kept looking for Houseman. Unfortunately his health prevented his reprisal of that role. I have nothing personal against Ms. Seymour but I much preferred Ms. McGraw in the role of Natalie. I also preferred Mr. Vincent over Mr. Bochner as I believe he portrayed Byron much more convincingly. I gave War and Remembrance a seven (7) rating as opposed to the ten (10) for Winds of War. Why? Precisely because of the change in actors. While I could understand the change from Houseman to Geilgud, I think there were too many changes. I am thankful they left Jeremy Kemp in the role of Gen. Von Roon however I was more impressed with Gunter Meisner's portrayal of Adolf Hitler in Winds of War over Steven Berkoff's portrayal in War and Remembrance. Ralph Bellamy did a masterful job as FDR. As to the critics of historical accuracy, the author was not presenting his work as a non-fiction textbook; but rather a novel set against the background of events leading up to and including World War II. And yes, there were some changes from the novel to the screen, but again, this is a great work of fiction that remarkably included real life events!!!
The Good Shepherd (2006)
Thank God I Read A Review
I had reservations about this motion picture when I saw the cast, in which some names read like a roll call of left-wing ideologues on another tirade against the CIA. Then I read a review and I am glad I did not waste my money going to see this apparent travesty. It amazes me these days that the malcontents in tinsel town cannot turn out a decent film. I have to admit, I am more comfortable with the stars of the 1940s/1950s/1960s. I sincerely wish I could find something good to say about the stars of the new millennium but what I do see are basically a group of hopelessly narcissistic children caught up in a world of illusions, seeing themselves as "pied pipers" leading us to glory-land! Frankly, I would not follow them pass the front gate. There are some exceptions among the older group whom I admire for their acting ability and sense of propriety. It would appear to me that The Good Shepherd is just another gussied up anti-CIA film.
The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)
An Excellent Film
On the whole, this film is an excellent adaptation of the life of Jesus Christ, albeit it may not be 100% down the line, I do not believe that any unnecessary liberties were taken in a malicious manner. Considering this was a George Stevens film, I am satisfied that the intent of the film's message was sincere. Perhaps it was more idealized in some portions, but I think it only added to the greatness of the message that was delivered by Christ himself when he lived on Earth. Christ's message was love and forgiveness; charity and forbearance; devotion and commitment. The film had a splendid cast and I very much enjoyed Max Von Sydow's portrayal of Christ. All in all, an excellent film. And while I am on the subject, I think the film Jesus of Nazareth was an excellent film as well.
Hitler: The Rise of Evil (2003)
Another Telling Episode on Hitler
It is too bad that the film makers of tinsel town and elsewhere cannot make a film with equal wrath on Josef Stalin. When it came to murder, Hitler was an amateur! That Hitler was evil there is no doubt, but for some it seems that the satanic Stalin walked on water! NOT SO! He also was the embodiment of EVIL! I thought the time period was interesting and while Peter O'Toole's performance as President Paul Von Hindenburg was interesting, I thought he did a much better job as General Tanz in "Night of the Generals." Of course I am never surprised at the rank hypocrisy that emanates from tinsel town. Most of them have their heads so far up in the clouds I would guess the lighter oxygen levels have affected their ability to produce an objective documentary/historical drama. I gave the film a five due to its historical inaccuracies!
The Green Berets (1968)
A Motion Picture With A Point of View
Yes, the Green Berets was a motion picture with a point of view, and yes, the Liberal Establishment is going to find everything wrong with it that it can, because the Liberal Establishment despised John Wayne. Now, I am not saying this motion picture was academy award material, but neither was Reds, Julia, Platoon, and a few other films that had a "point of view." The reason I gave it a higher rating was to offset the bias displayed by the doom-sayers and pseudo-critics who constantly condemn anything that does not fit into their small little minds.
I found the film to be good entertainment. I had problems with the Vietnam War myself.....mainly that it was conducted to achieve a political settlement. It should have been fought with one thing in mind...total and complete victory over the enemy, period!
The Razor's Edge (1946)
A Superb Film
This is a superb film and I have a copy of it in my collection., I am aware of a 1984 remake, but I cannot imagine it being better or even equal to this 1946 rendition of W. Somerset Maugham's work. I much prefer the cast in the 1946 version and I cannot imagine Bill Murray in the role of Larry Darrell. I thought the performances by Tyrone Power, Herbert Marshall, Gene Tierney, Lucille Watson and Clifton Webb were very good, along with that of Anne Baxter as well! Why is it that some clowns in Hollywood (The Twilight Zone?) these days seem to think they can do a better version of certain films made in the 1940s?
I read somewhere that Brad Pitt wanted to remake The Fountainhead, a 1949 film that starred Gary Cooper, Patricia Neal and Raymond Massey. I can just imagine Ayn Rand rolling over in her grave at the thought of Pitt perverting her work. Brad needs to stay close to Jolie and mind the kids they have adopted or planning to have or whatever.
King Kong (2005)
If I Had My "Rathers" I would "rather" have not!
I love Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings Trilogy and I have them in my film library. I WILL NOT be adding King Kong to my collection.
Some of the scenes were definitely not for children and some of the scenes were definitely not for anyone as far as I am concerned. Some of the scenes are absolutely unbelievable, although I suppose anything is possible if it can be imagined! The picture was too long. Frankly I think the 1933 version is still the best. It may not have had as many special effects as the Jackson version, but it got the point across well.
As for the ending scenes, I thought I was in the middle of a Kong Manhattan Mello-Drama waiting to be interrupted with a soap commercial.
I could only give this film a 3 out of 10....I think I am being generous at that.
A Study in Terror (1965)
A Sherlock Holmes Movie Or Not?
First of all, I am not sure if I agree with one commentary who suggested "any two detectives could have investigated and it would have worked." Well, yes, it probably would have worked, but the fact that it was Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson made it all the more interesting to me. I too am a fan of Sherlock Holmes thus I liked Murder By Decree much more than I possibly would have if say "Frick and Frack" had been the investigators. I think the fact that Holmes and Watson were included makes this story all the better! As for the cast, they were superb. I have always admired Christopher Plummer and James Mason and consider them both actors of the best group. They made an excellent Holmes and Watson. The other members of the cast turned in excellent performances as well which made this motion picture a first rate one as far as I am concerned.
I happen to have a copy of this film in my library and I love to re watch it from time to time. I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery and is especially fond of Holmes and Watson! And most certainly is is far and above a lot of the genre coming out of of "tinsel town" these days!
A Christmas Carol (1984)
My Favorite Interpretation So Far
I have always loved this story. Let me say now that the 1951 version with Alistair Sims is my second favorite as I believe it too captures the essence of the Scrooge character with Sims giving a masterful performance.
What makes me rate this one higher is the late George C. Scott. Imagine, this is the man who portrayed General George S. Patton some 15 years earlier and won an Academy Award for that memorable performance (although he declined to accept the Award) and now here he is performing a totally different character from another age which only testifies to this man's excellence in his chosen craft.
Scott, like Sims, makes Scrooge believable! He makes one want to embrace this man despite his hardness and bitterness because we see a man who himself was hurt in his own past. Scott brings all of this out in a most excellent way.
I watch this version every year (as I have my personal copy) at least once. I always pick up something new after seeing it again and while I think Scott is truly the star of the film, I also think it possessed an excellent supporting cast who portrayed their characters very convincing! I urge anyone who loves A Christmas Carol to see this version, particularly if you have not seen it! I do not think there is a better version of it since it was released. I give it a 10 and I think Dickens would have been notably impressed!!
Patton (1970)
A Film of Epic Proportions On A Man Bigger Than Life
This film is one of the best I have seen in my entire life. I would personally rank it in the Top 100 or Top 50 films of all time.
It presents the viewer with an enlightened view of a General who was not given the credit he deserved in World War II; a General who was, in my considered opinion, resented by other generals mediocre at best.
George C. Scott gave a masterful performance as Patton and Karl Malden performed Omar Bradley with great skill as well. This is a film that I can re-watch time and time again.
We need more Pattons in our armed forces today and less Beedle Smiths, Dwight Eisenhowers et al.
I recommend this motion picture to anyone who values a military history film.
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
I cannot believe I paid $8.00 to see this!
I am at a disadvantage here as I have only seen this film once, and that was enough. I do not think I could sit through another showing of this galactic mello-drams without first being administered a couple of cc's of morphine or some other pain relieving drug!!! Quite frankly, I even nodded off a couple of times during this film from sheer boredom. I have to admit, I am more of a Star Trek fan than that of Srar Wars, although I enjoyed the original Star Wars films much more than the later three.
Anakin's decent into the dark side reminded me of an adolescent who could not make up his mind if he wanted to be good or bad. The character Palpatine is the only one who really knew what he wanted while Obi Won was fairly convincing at playing Mr. Goody Two-Shoes.
The action shots were good along with the computer animations, but the plot of this hapless galactic tale left me wondering why I even bothered seeing it! Star War fans will no doubt castigate me for my review, but I cannot in good conscience recommend this film to anyone unless they are dying to waste $8.00 or more and have their intelligence insulted.
I gave the film a 2 instead of a 1 just to be charitable.
Guilty Until Proven Innocent (1991)
Could This Happen To Me or You?
This is a very good film that shows how justice in our American system is sometimes lacking. The film centers on a young man (Bobby McLoughlin) with Brendon Fraser giving an excellent performance, who is wrongfully accused of a murder and the trials and tribulations that he and his parents must endure to prove his innocence. Martin Sheen and Caroline Kava give very good performances as the foster father and mother of McLoughlin.
I was particularly disturbed by the apparent lack of legal representation McLoughlin received at his initial trial at the hands of a so-called Public Defender. Also, the film depicts disturbing elements in law enforcement of police errors that are very slow in being corrected at the expense of the wrongfully accused. Had Mr. McLoughlin been wrongfully convicted of first degree murder, he could very well have been executed.
I highly recommend this film for those who may have known someone who was wrongfully accused or themselves accused. It is a thoughtful film that will hold your attention.
A Man for All Seasons (1966)
A Masterpiece
One of the finest films I have seen and probably will see in my lifetime. The musical background was superb and the acting by Paul Schofield was excellent. The entire cast deserves a well round of applause.
I love historical dramas and I find this one to rank right at the top. Robert Shaw's portrayal of Henry VIII was also very good. The film reflects the dangers of living in 16th Century England with high moral standards, and how humankind manages to inflict treachery toward one another with precise intent.
I would recommend this film for anyone who values excellence in film making!
Our Town (1940)
It Was Not That Bad!
First of all, we are talking about a film made in 1940. Second, we are talking about a film based upon a play in which real people are portrayed in every day living. This film is not a adoration of tinsel-town and quite frankly I would have been taken back if all of a sudden a chorus line of girls came out dancing and baring all to see! I am not quite sure what some of the critics wanted to see. I found it moving and thoughtful. It seem to deal with life as life is lived in normal communities, not tinsel-town. Perhaps that is why some of its critics objected. Gore, perversity, sex, and profanity all in their most blatant forms were missing from the film as well. By today's standards I would suppose that automatically makes it a bad film! Not so!!! As for the set, considering the theme of the film, I would not have expected a set from the one seen in Cleopatra! Once again, I think the critics missed the point.
I think this film is a good film and has a lot to say. I would recommend it to anyone. This of course is my opinion, but then I have always enjoyed films such as this. I suppose that places me outside the "tinsel-town clique" or mentality. For that, I am thankful.
The Fountainhead (1949)
Masterful Film Depicting the pitfalls of conformity
I found this film to be highly illustrative of man's struggle against the state and the trend toward a "collective will" where mediocrity reigns supreme at the expense of the brilliant and gifted. Gary Cooper was superb as Howard Roark as was Patricia Neal and Raymond Massey in their respective roles. Using an uncompromising but brilliant architect who defies the mediocrity in his field, Ayn Rand wrote a brilliant novel of the eternal struggle of gifted talents verses the morbid purveyors of mediocrity. Isolated and ostracized by others in his profession, Howard Roark is relentless in his goal to practice his chosen profession undaunted by the vulgarity of others who despise him for his originality and brilliance. This film is an excellent treatment of how brilliance and originality are condemned by those who lack the vision and intellectual ability to see it for what it is and thus initiate a campaign to eradicate it from existence! The film provides a powerful message as to the evils of a "collective will" that will oppose anything or anyone it deems to be contrary to its pursuit of the vulgar, mundane and egalitarian collective! The direction was excellent and supporting actors such as Ray Strictland and Robert Douglas made significant contributions to the film in their excellent portrayal of their characters. I give this film an A!