When Harry Met Sally(1989):
This is a fun film that raises allot of questions about men and women(Allot of questions not suitable for children so keep the kiddies away.).It is quite a funny film and it really holds up well. I'm surprised at how many of the jokes are still relevant today in this film.
First of all Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan were made to play these parts. They just have great screen chemistry. Plus Crystal is hilarious and goes all out with the jokes. Ryan provides for a good foil to Crystal's hilarity and you begin to feel for their story.
Secondly,this can be a emotional film at times. I know the first couple of times I saw this movie I practically cried at the end. There is just allot of heart in this picture and it shows in scene's like this one. They work the romantic comedy angle way better than most romantic comedy's in this picture. Because honestly I'm not a huge fan of romantic comedy's and I really like this film
Also,Fisher and Kirby are great in their roles. They both seem made for these roles and make for very good supporting characters.
Overall,a fun film with allot of heart.I'll probably see it many more times in my life.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
What's In My Wine?
Arsenic And Old Lace(1944)
Ah,Arsenic And Old Lace a story about two old ladies who euthanize old men. What a charming tale. Well,not really, But there is plenty of comedy here.It's another Cary Grant picture and it's today's movie.
The film takes place mostly in one house and it's a refreshing way to tell the tale. It keeps the story centralized and I'd imagine it would be cheaper to film this way. Also, it's not surprising it's in one house the whole time because it's easier to do a play that way(The film was based on a play.).
Cary Grant is a comedic goldmine in this picture. It's seems that he spouts off a funny comeback in almost every scene in the film. The only thing I dislike is his apparent protectiveness of his aunts. Sure they raised him, But they are also murders and should be sent to the big house for the rest of their short life's.
The aunts do their job well. Their job however is to annoy the piss out of the viewer and they do it so well that I was hoping they'd get their comeuppance more than the despicable Johnathan Brewster and Dr. Einstein. Seriously they couldn't have picked more annoying old ladies.
Peter Lorre is quite good in his role as the doctor here also. It's strange how within two films you can go from hating a actor(Lorre was the killer in M.) to looking forward to his scenes.He is just surprisingly funny here and he plays the evil doctor role quite well. It's not surprising that he was often typecast as a villain because he fits the role well.
John Alexander is also quite good here as Teddy. He does a really good impression of what I imagine Roosevelt would be like and his craziness offer the backbone of quite a few scenes.
Overall,a pretty good comedy and probably Grant's best comedy. I would probably watch it again and was thoroughly entertained throughout.
Ah,Arsenic And Old Lace a story about two old ladies who euthanize old men. What a charming tale. Well,not really, But there is plenty of comedy here.It's another Cary Grant picture and it's today's movie.
The film takes place mostly in one house and it's a refreshing way to tell the tale. It keeps the story centralized and I'd imagine it would be cheaper to film this way. Also, it's not surprising it's in one house the whole time because it's easier to do a play that way(The film was based on a play.).
Cary Grant is a comedic goldmine in this picture. It's seems that he spouts off a funny comeback in almost every scene in the film. The only thing I dislike is his apparent protectiveness of his aunts. Sure they raised him, But they are also murders and should be sent to the big house for the rest of their short life's.
The aunts do their job well. Their job however is to annoy the piss out of the viewer and they do it so well that I was hoping they'd get their comeuppance more than the despicable Johnathan Brewster and Dr. Einstein. Seriously they couldn't have picked more annoying old ladies.
Peter Lorre is quite good in his role as the doctor here also. It's strange how within two films you can go from hating a actor(Lorre was the killer in M.) to looking forward to his scenes.He is just surprisingly funny here and he plays the evil doctor role quite well. It's not surprising that he was often typecast as a villain because he fits the role well.
John Alexander is also quite good here as Teddy. He does a really good impression of what I imagine Roosevelt would be like and his craziness offer the backbone of quite a few scenes.
Overall,a pretty good comedy and probably Grant's best comedy. I would probably watch it again and was thoroughly entertained throughout.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Let's Take A Trip
National Lampoon's Vacation(1983):
I saw this on T.V land around 1 in the morning.So I decided to watch it.Just note that I saw the edited for T.V. version so I may be missing some things.
Anyway, National Lampoon's Vacation is about a family who goes on a trip to Wallie World(A fictional theme park reminiscent of Disney World.). This movie chronicles their crazy adventures on the way there.A very simple plot for a simple film. It's not the kind of movie that would be a masterpiece but it kills two hours well enough.
The cast here works out well enough. Chevy Chase is quite funny as the father just trying to give his kids a little fun,Beverly D'Angelo is acceptable in her performance, and Anthony Micheal Hall gets in quite a few funny lines in this film.Nothing spectacular,But nothing too bad either.
Also, the cameo's are very funny. John Candy is hilarious as the suck-up security guard and Dennis Quaid is funny the crazy brother-in law.
The laughs are there in abundance in this film, But be forewarned that even though the premise seems family friendly this movie would be better suited for adults. There are just certain scene's even in the T.V. version that aren't acceptable for children.
Overall, a fun film and I'd probably watch it again on T.V. Now I'm off to get that catchy theme song out of my head. HOLIDAY ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOAD.
I saw this on T.V land around 1 in the morning.So I decided to watch it.Just note that I saw the edited for T.V. version so I may be missing some things.
Anyway, National Lampoon's Vacation is about a family who goes on a trip to Wallie World(A fictional theme park reminiscent of Disney World.). This movie chronicles their crazy adventures on the way there.A very simple plot for a simple film. It's not the kind of movie that would be a masterpiece but it kills two hours well enough.
The cast here works out well enough. Chevy Chase is quite funny as the father just trying to give his kids a little fun,Beverly D'Angelo is acceptable in her performance, and Anthony Micheal Hall gets in quite a few funny lines in this film.Nothing spectacular,But nothing too bad either.
Also, the cameo's are very funny. John Candy is hilarious as the suck-up security guard and Dennis Quaid is funny the crazy brother-in law.
The laughs are there in abundance in this film, But be forewarned that even though the premise seems family friendly this movie would be better suited for adults. There are just certain scene's even in the T.V. version that aren't acceptable for children.
Overall, a fun film and I'd probably watch it again on T.V. Now I'm off to get that catchy theme song out of my head. HOLIDAY ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOAD.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
To Catch A Movie
To Catch A Thief(1955)
To Catch A Thief is a rather simple movie about a retired thief who is framed. The plot is quite easy going and not very complex at all, But it doesn't need to be. The actor's play their roles well enough to make the movie good.
Cary Grant plays the thief here and he does a pretty good job in this role. His witty comebacks are always something to look forward to in his films and he's got some good one's here. Also, the scene's where he is trying to catch the thief that framed him are very well performed.
Grace Kelly shines here also as the the rich American girl. She has a good combination of humor and grace(obviously a pun). She is just so elegant looking and sometimes her beauty distracts from the fact that she can act.
The cinematography is really the shining aspect of this film though with the amazing scenes of France in the 50's(I can only assume that this was on location). Also, the color's in this film are magnificent and it's as if you are looking at a painting. The color's just seem to pop out at you and really grab you throughout the film(Even in night time scene's like the roof scene the color's are still amazing.).
Lastly, watch for the black cat throughout the movie. I feel that what he does in certain scene's represent allot about Grant's character.I really like how something as simple as a cat could be used to interpret some of the movies plot points and it does add to the film.
Overall, it was a fine piece of film. Although it wasn't spectacular from a plot point, the actor's make it work and the cinematography is simply amazing.Another Hitchcock masterpiece.
To Catch A Thief is a rather simple movie about a retired thief who is framed. The plot is quite easy going and not very complex at all, But it doesn't need to be. The actor's play their roles well enough to make the movie good.
Cary Grant plays the thief here and he does a pretty good job in this role. His witty comebacks are always something to look forward to in his films and he's got some good one's here. Also, the scene's where he is trying to catch the thief that framed him are very well performed.
Grace Kelly shines here also as the the rich American girl. She has a good combination of humor and grace(obviously a pun). She is just so elegant looking and sometimes her beauty distracts from the fact that she can act.
The cinematography is really the shining aspect of this film though with the amazing scenes of France in the 50's(I can only assume that this was on location). Also, the color's in this film are magnificent and it's as if you are looking at a painting. The color's just seem to pop out at you and really grab you throughout the film(Even in night time scene's like the roof scene the color's are still amazing.).
Lastly, watch for the black cat throughout the movie. I feel that what he does in certain scene's represent allot about Grant's character.I really like how something as simple as a cat could be used to interpret some of the movies plot points and it does add to the film.
Overall, it was a fine piece of film. Although it wasn't spectacular from a plot point, the actor's make it work and the cinematography is simply amazing.Another Hitchcock masterpiece.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
H,I,J,K,L,
M(1931):
SPOILERS AHEAD!
M is a rotten tale about a man who murder's kids and after watching it I just felt disgusted.The ending of this picture doesn't really resolve what happens to the killer or if justice is served and to have a horrible man and not give the viewer any reassurance that he got what was coming to him is not right.
Otherwise, the film really dragged in spots,But some of the scene's were suspenseful and the lack of a score really helped to bring drama to the film.Also,The cinematography was interesting with all those camera angles.
Overall,I can't give this a thumbs up because of the ending. The ending is so wrong to me and I cannot condone this film.
SPOILERS AHEAD!
M is a rotten tale about a man who murder's kids and after watching it I just felt disgusted.The ending of this picture doesn't really resolve what happens to the killer or if justice is served and to have a horrible man and not give the viewer any reassurance that he got what was coming to him is not right.
Otherwise, the film really dragged in spots,But some of the scene's were suspenseful and the lack of a score really helped to bring drama to the film.Also,The cinematography was interesting with all those camera angles.
Overall,I can't give this a thumbs up because of the ending. The ending is so wrong to me and I cannot condone this film.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Can't think up a witty title here
Quick and the Dead(1995):
The Quick and the Dead is our first western and our second tournament settings film. Anyway, the films about a quick draw contest in which the character's are fighting for 123,000 dollars.This is before inflation kids, so it was alot of money.
The performances are ok,But what stands out is Gene Hackman's portryal as the sherrif. He does a good job playing a low life jerk here. The rest of the cast features Sharon Stone, Russel Crowe, and Leonardo Dicaprio,and they do a good enough job in their roles.
My gripe with the movie is that during the shootout scene's there are alot of lousy camera effects(like panning in on the backround.) and it really takes away from the drama of a shootout. Also the slow mo bullet scene was not neccesary either.
Overall, a fun film and worth watching again,But only if it's on T.V.
The Quick and the Dead is our first western and our second tournament settings film. Anyway, the films about a quick draw contest in which the character's are fighting for 123,000 dollars.This is before inflation kids, so it was alot of money.
The performances are ok,But what stands out is Gene Hackman's portryal as the sherrif. He does a good job playing a low life jerk here. The rest of the cast features Sharon Stone, Russel Crowe, and Leonardo Dicaprio,and they do a good enough job in their roles.
My gripe with the movie is that during the shootout scene's there are alot of lousy camera effects(like panning in on the backround.) and it really takes away from the drama of a shootout. Also the slow mo bullet scene was not neccesary either.
Overall, a fun film and worth watching again,But only if it's on T.V.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Enter The Witty Title
Enter The Dragon(1973):
The first kung-fu movie made by a Hollywood studio and most people favorite Bruce Lee movie, Enter The Dragon a tale about a spy (Bruce Lee) sent into a fighting tournament. Along with Bruce is a cast of ridiculous stereotype's. You've got the black guy who talks smooth, the American guy who is an obsessive gambler ,and the Chinese man who is good at martial arts. Looks like they've covered all their bases.
Anyway ,the plot is really typical for kung-fu style films. There's a tournament and something shady is going on in the background. Not particularly groundbreaking and really quite boring. Then again who goes to see kung-fu films for the plot anyway.
The action is the major contributing factor in this film and this film delivers it in spades. Although the acting in much of the film looks contrived.For example, Bruce Lee fights the man with the scar on his face (Who they built up earlier in the film as a really tough guy.) and the scar face guy doesn't get any hits in. Then again I wasn't really expecting a degree of realism anyway.
Overall, this film does entertain ,But the whole plot is throwaway and you really don't care about any of the character's in the film. I definitely wouldn't watch it again and wouldn't recommend it to anyone except hardcore kung-fu fans.
The first kung-fu movie made by a Hollywood studio and most people favorite Bruce Lee movie, Enter The Dragon a tale about a spy (Bruce Lee) sent into a fighting tournament. Along with Bruce is a cast of ridiculous stereotype's. You've got the black guy who talks smooth, the American guy who is an obsessive gambler ,and the Chinese man who is good at martial arts. Looks like they've covered all their bases.
Anyway ,the plot is really typical for kung-fu style films. There's a tournament and something shady is going on in the background. Not particularly groundbreaking and really quite boring. Then again who goes to see kung-fu films for the plot anyway.
The action is the major contributing factor in this film and this film delivers it in spades. Although the acting in much of the film looks contrived.For example, Bruce Lee fights the man with the scar on his face (Who they built up earlier in the film as a really tough guy.) and the scar face guy doesn't get any hits in. Then again I wasn't really expecting a degree of realism anyway.
Overall, this film does entertain ,But the whole plot is throwaway and you really don't care about any of the character's in the film. I definitely wouldn't watch it again and wouldn't recommend it to anyone except hardcore kung-fu fans.
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