Wuchakk
Joined Dec 2004
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In 1835-1837, during the Second Seminole War, a fresh lieutenant (Rock Hudson) and friend of Chief Osceola (Anthony Quinn) is assigned to Fort King in the heart of Florida, which is commanded by a strict major (Richard Carlson), who hates the Indians. Barbara Hale and Lee Marvin are also on hand.
"Seminole" (1953) tackles American history with the addition of expected Hollywoodisms, like the unbelievable ending. Yet the gist is surprisingly true: Major Degan was based on General Thomas Jesup (and the character was even called Jesup until three days before shooting, a change that was made to prevent potential legal ramifications); Osceola was friends with a Caucasian or two, as he is with the lieutenant (such as Indian agent Wiley Thompson and, later, portraitist Robert John Curtis); Degan's raid on an encampment of sleeping Seminoles and how it turns out was based on a real incident; the Seminoles indeed executed a counter-ambush in which Jesup was wounded and carried to safety by his men; and Osceola's deceitful capture under a flag of truce caused a national uproar, not to mention was condemned by the international press.
The deceitful violation of a peace talk was considered "one of the most disgraceful acts in American military history" and Jessup was forced to resign in disgrace with a forever-stained reputation.
Furthermore, the military uniforms and weaponry of the time period are accurate, as well as the log fort. Meanwhile the flaws in the strategy of swamp warfare reflect reality. I should add that the Seminoles are portrayed in a sympathetic and realistic manner with Hugh O'Brian standing out as the embittered secondary chief Kajeck. Plus, real Indians were used as peripheral characters.
A couple of interesting tidbits: The paintings made of Osceola during his three-month capture, when he happened to be deathly ill, were used as the blueprint for the iconic Cigar Store Indian. Also, unlike in the film, Osceola's head was actually cut off after decease and his decapitated body buried. The head was then displayed in Dr. Weedon's drug store.
It runs 1 hour, 27 minutes, and was shot in Everglades National Park, along with some scenes done in the studio.
GRADE: B.
"Seminole" (1953) tackles American history with the addition of expected Hollywoodisms, like the unbelievable ending. Yet the gist is surprisingly true: Major Degan was based on General Thomas Jesup (and the character was even called Jesup until three days before shooting, a change that was made to prevent potential legal ramifications); Osceola was friends with a Caucasian or two, as he is with the lieutenant (such as Indian agent Wiley Thompson and, later, portraitist Robert John Curtis); Degan's raid on an encampment of sleeping Seminoles and how it turns out was based on a real incident; the Seminoles indeed executed a counter-ambush in which Jesup was wounded and carried to safety by his men; and Osceola's deceitful capture under a flag of truce caused a national uproar, not to mention was condemned by the international press.
The deceitful violation of a peace talk was considered "one of the most disgraceful acts in American military history" and Jessup was forced to resign in disgrace with a forever-stained reputation.
Furthermore, the military uniforms and weaponry of the time period are accurate, as well as the log fort. Meanwhile the flaws in the strategy of swamp warfare reflect reality. I should add that the Seminoles are portrayed in a sympathetic and realistic manner with Hugh O'Brian standing out as the embittered secondary chief Kajeck. Plus, real Indians were used as peripheral characters.
A couple of interesting tidbits: The paintings made of Osceola during his three-month capture, when he happened to be deathly ill, were used as the blueprint for the iconic Cigar Store Indian. Also, unlike in the film, Osceola's head was actually cut off after decease and his decapitated body buried. The head was then displayed in Dr. Weedon's drug store.
It runs 1 hour, 27 minutes, and was shot in Everglades National Park, along with some scenes done in the studio.
GRADE: B.
An American hitman working for the Latin American cartels (Kiefer Sutherland) always uses and loses a solitary woman for his assignments. But this time, his last hit, he apprehends a woman who's more interesting than usual (Melora Walters). Meanwhile, the FBI is hot on his trail.
"Desert Saints" (2002) is a crime thriller cut from the same cloth as "The Getaway" (1972) and Dennis Hopper's "Backtrack," aka Catchfire," mixed with 90's Tarantino flicks and their knockoffs, such as "The Way of the Gun." Like those movies, don't expect likable protagonists. The only person who's noble is FBI Agent Scanlon (Jamey Sheridan) and maybe his female partner (Leslie Stefanson).
Kiefer does a convincing job as the humorless assassin "tough guy," but the highlight, for me, is Melora Walters, perhaps best known as George Costanza's date in "The Hamptons" episode of Seinfeld. She's also infamous as the 'kitchen table woman' in "Cold Mountain."
The 3-second scene before the end credits roll almost makes the film.
It runs 1 hour, 28 minutes, and was shot in SoCal at Santa Clarita, Simi Valley, Los Angeles, Barstow and Sierra Madre (the expensive hotel).
GRADE: B-/C+
"Desert Saints" (2002) is a crime thriller cut from the same cloth as "The Getaway" (1972) and Dennis Hopper's "Backtrack," aka Catchfire," mixed with 90's Tarantino flicks and their knockoffs, such as "The Way of the Gun." Like those movies, don't expect likable protagonists. The only person who's noble is FBI Agent Scanlon (Jamey Sheridan) and maybe his female partner (Leslie Stefanson).
Kiefer does a convincing job as the humorless assassin "tough guy," but the highlight, for me, is Melora Walters, perhaps best known as George Costanza's date in "The Hamptons" episode of Seinfeld. She's also infamous as the 'kitchen table woman' in "Cold Mountain."
The 3-second scene before the end credits roll almost makes the film.
It runs 1 hour, 28 minutes, and was shot in SoCal at Santa Clarita, Simi Valley, Los Angeles, Barstow and Sierra Madre (the expensive hotel).
GRADE: B-/C+
An engaged professor at Washington University in eastern Missouri (Bentley) finds himself attracted to a mysterious woman of dark beauty (Sofya Skya) as the shadowy events wind up near the Black Sea.
"The Tomb" (2009), also known as "Edgar Allan Poe's Ligeia," is loosely based on Poe's macabre short story from 1838. It transfers the characters to the modern day while switching the locations from England (as well as the Rhine in the heart of Europe) to greater St. Louis in middle American and Ukraine on the Black Sea.
If you want gory horror, I'd give this a pass. It's more artistic and Gothic in the manner of "Bram Stoker's Dracula," "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein," "THE ETERNAL Kiss of the Mummy" (1998) and Coppola's later "B'Twixt Now and Sunrise" (aka "Twixt"). Costing $8.8 million, it lacks the blockbuster budget of the first two, but it had a little more money to work with compared to the latter two, which cost $4 million and $7 million respectively (not factoring inflation).
Like those four films, the sumptuous Gothic ambiance is worth the price of admission. There's a dark, mysterious beauty to the proceedings, which makes the flick a pleasure to watch even if the story is confusing, dreary or dull, as some criticize. It's clear that the writer & director were aiming for art more than common horror thrills.
Blonde beauty Kaitlin Doubleday is a highlight as Rowena, as is petite brunette Mackenzie Rosman as Lorelei. While the latter might look 15-16 years-old, she was actually almost 19 during shooting. Raven-haired Sofya is yet another highlight, of course.
Lastly, Wes reads Poe's poem "The Conqueror Worm" during the end credits, which is a nice touch. It's followed by the quality song "Ligeia's Bed" by Jon Kahn and star Sofya Skya.
The film runs 1 hour, 28 minutes, and was shot in the greater St. Louis area of Missouri (Washington University, University City, Kirkwood and Maplewood), as well as Crimea, Ukraine, which is the peninsula on the north-central coast of the Black Sea.
GRADE: B/B-
"The Tomb" (2009), also known as "Edgar Allan Poe's Ligeia," is loosely based on Poe's macabre short story from 1838. It transfers the characters to the modern day while switching the locations from England (as well as the Rhine in the heart of Europe) to greater St. Louis in middle American and Ukraine on the Black Sea.
If you want gory horror, I'd give this a pass. It's more artistic and Gothic in the manner of "Bram Stoker's Dracula," "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein," "THE ETERNAL Kiss of the Mummy" (1998) and Coppola's later "B'Twixt Now and Sunrise" (aka "Twixt"). Costing $8.8 million, it lacks the blockbuster budget of the first two, but it had a little more money to work with compared to the latter two, which cost $4 million and $7 million respectively (not factoring inflation).
Like those four films, the sumptuous Gothic ambiance is worth the price of admission. There's a dark, mysterious beauty to the proceedings, which makes the flick a pleasure to watch even if the story is confusing, dreary or dull, as some criticize. It's clear that the writer & director were aiming for art more than common horror thrills.
Blonde beauty Kaitlin Doubleday is a highlight as Rowena, as is petite brunette Mackenzie Rosman as Lorelei. While the latter might look 15-16 years-old, she was actually almost 19 during shooting. Raven-haired Sofya is yet another highlight, of course.
Lastly, Wes reads Poe's poem "The Conqueror Worm" during the end credits, which is a nice touch. It's followed by the quality song "Ligeia's Bed" by Jon Kahn and star Sofya Skya.
The film runs 1 hour, 28 minutes, and was shot in the greater St. Louis area of Missouri (Washington University, University City, Kirkwood and Maplewood), as well as Crimea, Ukraine, which is the peninsula on the north-central coast of the Black Sea.
GRADE: B/B-