theshape-13
Joined Dec 2005
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theshape-13's rating
What a nice surprise the film "Latter Days" turned out to be a mature, humorous and heartbreaking love story featuring characters that one can become emotionally attached to very quickly. While the film doesn't come across as dramatically "hard-hitting" as other movies of this genre (BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, for example), I found myself liking this film more and more as it progressed. To be honest, I didn't want it to end.
This is the story of Aaron and Christian Aaron is a young Mormon Elder sent by his Idaho congregation out into the world (West Hollywood, CA to be precise) to preach the Book of Mormon. Christian is Aaron's neighbor a handsome, hard-partying young man who can pretty much have any guy he wants. When Christian's co-workers call him out on his conquests, a bet ensues - for $50, he can get the underpants of any of the Mormon guys that just moved into his neighborhood and he sets his sights on getting Aaron into bed. Little does Christian know that Aaron is a repressed young man who secretly watches Christian late at night when he comes home with one guy after another after another A series of incidents culminates with the 2 young men passionately kissing one another. They are caught in the act by Aaron's house mates, who in turn report Aaron for his 'misdeeds'. Before Aaron can say good-bye to Christian, he is whisked off to the airport bound for Idaho to face excommunication from his sect. Christian hears of this and upon learning Aaron's plane is to be laid over in Salt Lake City for 5 hours, he races off to find Aaron. For Christian, Aaron is no longer the victim in his inane bet he has become the object of Christian's affection. At the Salt Lake City airport, Christian finds Aaron outside & professes his love for him. Aaron, knowing he now has nothing to lose, embraces Christian and soon the young men are making love in a hotel room. The next morning, Christian awakens and finds that Aaron has left him once more without saying good-bye the only thing left behind is a pocket watch that Aaron's dad gave to him when he left Idaho. The watch now becomes a catalyst in Christian's search for Aaron.
From this point, "Latter Days" begins its emotional roller coaster ride with the audience. We know from their beautifully romantic encounter and subsequent pillow talk that Aaron & Christian belong together we feel their attraction as much as they do. I won't go further in regards to the rest of the film it is something you really need to experience for yourself. There are a few twists as Christian searches for Aaron and I will admit that the film's final 10 minutes left me pretty teary-eyed. Even after subsequent viewings, I still get choked up.
Personally, I don't think the film would have worked for me if it weren't for the two lead actors. As Aaron and Christian, Steve Sandvoss and Wes Ramsey were excellent I can't imagine anyone but them playing these characters. Sandvoss was terrific his portrayal of Aaron is that of a haunted, tortured soul yearning to love who he wants, yet his religion tells him it is wrong. I just wanted to reach out and hug him! Ramsey took the character of Christian and turned what could have been just another "pretty boy" role into a character whose actions and lifestyle hide a man who yearns for a real chance of actually falling in love with the right person.
In short, "Latter Days" is a very good film expect to laugh, expect to cry a bit and expect to be very entertained.
This is the story of Aaron and Christian Aaron is a young Mormon Elder sent by his Idaho congregation out into the world (West Hollywood, CA to be precise) to preach the Book of Mormon. Christian is Aaron's neighbor a handsome, hard-partying young man who can pretty much have any guy he wants. When Christian's co-workers call him out on his conquests, a bet ensues - for $50, he can get the underpants of any of the Mormon guys that just moved into his neighborhood and he sets his sights on getting Aaron into bed. Little does Christian know that Aaron is a repressed young man who secretly watches Christian late at night when he comes home with one guy after another after another A series of incidents culminates with the 2 young men passionately kissing one another. They are caught in the act by Aaron's house mates, who in turn report Aaron for his 'misdeeds'. Before Aaron can say good-bye to Christian, he is whisked off to the airport bound for Idaho to face excommunication from his sect. Christian hears of this and upon learning Aaron's plane is to be laid over in Salt Lake City for 5 hours, he races off to find Aaron. For Christian, Aaron is no longer the victim in his inane bet he has become the object of Christian's affection. At the Salt Lake City airport, Christian finds Aaron outside & professes his love for him. Aaron, knowing he now has nothing to lose, embraces Christian and soon the young men are making love in a hotel room. The next morning, Christian awakens and finds that Aaron has left him once more without saying good-bye the only thing left behind is a pocket watch that Aaron's dad gave to him when he left Idaho. The watch now becomes a catalyst in Christian's search for Aaron.
From this point, "Latter Days" begins its emotional roller coaster ride with the audience. We know from their beautifully romantic encounter and subsequent pillow talk that Aaron & Christian belong together we feel their attraction as much as they do. I won't go further in regards to the rest of the film it is something you really need to experience for yourself. There are a few twists as Christian searches for Aaron and I will admit that the film's final 10 minutes left me pretty teary-eyed. Even after subsequent viewings, I still get choked up.
Personally, I don't think the film would have worked for me if it weren't for the two lead actors. As Aaron and Christian, Steve Sandvoss and Wes Ramsey were excellent I can't imagine anyone but them playing these characters. Sandvoss was terrific his portrayal of Aaron is that of a haunted, tortured soul yearning to love who he wants, yet his religion tells him it is wrong. I just wanted to reach out and hug him! Ramsey took the character of Christian and turned what could have been just another "pretty boy" role into a character whose actions and lifestyle hide a man who yearns for a real chance of actually falling in love with the right person.
In short, "Latter Days" is a very good film expect to laugh, expect to cry a bit and expect to be very entertained.
The Columbia Color Rhapsody "Tree for Two" is one of the best of the entire "Fox & Crow" shorts Columbia produced. The story itself is pretty simple - Tree surgeon Fox, having 'delivered' a young sapling out in the forest, comes across a very dilapidated tree. Of course, this shack of a tree happens to be the Crow's home. After noting the tree's symptoms ("Termitus" & "Branchitus" among them) and rating it a 4F, the Fox attempts to save the sickly specimen. Of course, the Crow won't hear of it and attempts to stop him. Needless to say, the Crow's efforts to thwart the Fox are all for naught.
Having recently acquired an uncut reissue print, I was amazed to find out that 2 titles cards have been edited from the "Totally Tooned In" version that was syndicated in 1999. Why? I have no clue. They certainly don't detract from the film, so why were they excised? All in all, this is a very enjoyable entry in the series - I rate it a 9 out of 10!!!
Having recently acquired an uncut reissue print, I was amazed to find out that 2 titles cards have been edited from the "Totally Tooned In" version that was syndicated in 1999. Why? I have no clue. They certainly don't detract from the film, so why were they excised? All in all, this is a very enjoyable entry in the series - I rate it a 9 out of 10!!!
While I was exposed to various WWII propaganda cartoons on TV while growing up in the 1970s, I didn't see the Columbia Color Rhapsody SONG OF VICTORY until just recently, having acquired a print from a private collector. Man, what a great cartoon!
SONG OF VICTORY tells the story of cute cuddly little woodland creatures who fall victim to a vulture (caricature of Adolf Hitler), an ape (Benito Mousalini) and a buck-toothed hyena (Hirohito). This triumvirate bully and terrify the forest creatures, forcing them to be their slaves and bring them food. When one of their own is beaten for stealing a walnut, the animals band together to terrorize and taunt the trio with various signs of "V" for victory - the rabbits' ears forms "V"s; a woodpecker pecks the letter "V" on their cave door; the frogs croak the dreaded "DAH DAH DAH DAHHHHH". Needless to say, our furry little friends vanquish their tormentors, ending the film.
This is one of the most beautiful and daring cartoons to ever come out of the COLUMBIA/SCREEN GEMS output! The film carries 2 important names in the history of theatrical animation - Frank Tashlin and Dave Fleischer. As Tashlin's reign as production supervisor for the COLUMBIA cartoons was ending, this film was still in production. When Dave Fleischer assumed studio control, he made sure the film was completed. Fleischer received producer's credit, while Tashlin retained his credit as 'supervisor'. Kudos also to layout artist Zack Schwartz and director Bob Wickersham, 2 more unsung animation heroes whose work remains rich and impressive even today! Final kudos to musical director Eddie Kilfeather for bringing this film to life with an excellent score - the music over the end titles is quite stirring and beautiful!
With any luck, hopefully someday COLUMBIA/SONY will release its cartoon library to DVD for others to discover this wonderful cartoon.
SONG OF VICTORY tells the story of cute cuddly little woodland creatures who fall victim to a vulture (caricature of Adolf Hitler), an ape (Benito Mousalini) and a buck-toothed hyena (Hirohito). This triumvirate bully and terrify the forest creatures, forcing them to be their slaves and bring them food. When one of their own is beaten for stealing a walnut, the animals band together to terrorize and taunt the trio with various signs of "V" for victory - the rabbits' ears forms "V"s; a woodpecker pecks the letter "V" on their cave door; the frogs croak the dreaded "DAH DAH DAH DAHHHHH". Needless to say, our furry little friends vanquish their tormentors, ending the film.
This is one of the most beautiful and daring cartoons to ever come out of the COLUMBIA/SCREEN GEMS output! The film carries 2 important names in the history of theatrical animation - Frank Tashlin and Dave Fleischer. As Tashlin's reign as production supervisor for the COLUMBIA cartoons was ending, this film was still in production. When Dave Fleischer assumed studio control, he made sure the film was completed. Fleischer received producer's credit, while Tashlin retained his credit as 'supervisor'. Kudos also to layout artist Zack Schwartz and director Bob Wickersham, 2 more unsung animation heroes whose work remains rich and impressive even today! Final kudos to musical director Eddie Kilfeather for bringing this film to life with an excellent score - the music over the end titles is quite stirring and beautiful!
With any luck, hopefully someday COLUMBIA/SONY will release its cartoon library to DVD for others to discover this wonderful cartoon.