The best thing about this movie (aside from the song quoted above) is the fact that the lovely leading lady went on to become a pretty important (and, according to Wikipedia, pretty cool) political figure. She quit acting after this, her only feature film. Can you blame her?
P.S. The MST3K treatment of this is worth seeking out, too.
Thoroughly, impressively dumb, even for a Greydon Clark film. (That's not to say it isn't entertaining, but only in a "so bad it's good" way.) It's not worth trying to point out all the problems here, but I will say that it's really not necessary to play the same two sound effects of a cat meowing every single time the cat is on-screen (and often when it's not), regardless of whether or not it has its mouth open. We get it - there's a cat in the movie, and it's an important part of the "plot." I seriously think they used those sounds close to a hundred times. (On the subject of terrible, overused sound effects, pay attention during the truck crashing scene. The same wildly inaccurate sound gets used in rapid fire to hilarious effect.) The last 10 minutes or so bring the ineptness to new heights with a terrible ship model, an Ed Woodian final "showdown," and a wholly unsurprising ending that
While not a masterpiece by any means, it's certainly better than it has any right to be as a blatant Jaws knockoff. Buoyed (no pun intended) by a solid cast and lovely photography, but beware the awful end credits theme (sorry, Ennio!).
"You have a choice. You can either lie with them or stand with me."
Leave it to Matt Cimber - director of the overlooked and underrated The Witch Who Came from the Sea - to provide the perfect cinematic antidote to Deathstalker and its ilk (which, coincidentally, came out less than two months after this film). Not a masterpiece by any means, and the message gets a bit muddled once a "suitable mate" is found, but still worth a watch. Honorable mention goes to Beast, Hundra's cowardly canine companion.
A big disappointment, and this is coming from someone who liked Us as much as (if not more than) Get Out. Tonally all over the place, it almost seemed like it wanted to be a comedy, yet any laughs it got felt unintentional. Daniel Kaluuya - a terrific actor - is completely wasted, and Keke Palmer just annoyed me. Characters make huge leaps in logic or behave totally unrealistically, and the whole Gordy subplot felt grafted on from another film (and, again, came across as more silly than dramatic). A Bible quote and some symbolism, in and of themselves, do not a good movie make.
Here's hoping Peele gets his game back for the next one.
A novel approach to zombie lore that plays more like a paranoid thriller than a straight-up horror film, complemented by Riz Ortolani's wonderfully frantic score. I enjoyed it, but the amount of screentime devoted to unravelling the mystery is bound to disappoint the more hardcore horror buffs out there.
"We gave them wings to fly and they rained death on us. We gave them a voice to be heard around the world and they preach hatred to poison the minds of nations. Even the medicine we gave them to ease their pain is turned into a vice to enslave half mankind for the profit of a few. [...] Every gift that science has given them has been twisted into a thing of hate and greed."
I'm not surprised this won Oscars, but I am embarrassed. It says a lot about the pathetic state of things in this country when a movie whose watered-down, ham-fisted message would've had eyes rolling in 1962 - the year in which its set - is deemed noteworthy in 2018. It's supposed to be about confronting prejudice, yet it's overflowing with the most obvious stereotypes imaginable. (It's also one of those films where you can tell which lines of dialogue were written just for the trailer.) Green Book is the cinematic equivalent of a fat-free, sugar-free, zero calorie snack that has had all worrisome elements extracted at the expense of any substance or flavor. It tries so hard to be inoffensive that it's...well, offensive. Fine performances and a few chuckles, but otherwise it just felt condescending.
A truly delightful fantasy adventure that pulls out all the silent-era stops. Staggering sets and set pieces, ingenious effects, literal armies of extras, all supporting a terrifically energetic performance by Fairbanks. A sumptuous treat from start to finish.
Easily the least engaging Eisenstein film I've seen thus far. Nothing remotely world-shaking takes place until three-quarters of the runtime has elapsed, and by then I was thoroughly detached from the proceedings. Unlike the superior Strike, I actually think Eisenstein's trademark skill and stylistic flourishes were counterproductive here, distracting from and diminishing the impact of the story. Perhaps if I was more steeped in knowledge of the time and place in question (as the film clearly assumes this of the viewer) it would resonate with me more, but I lost track of the various factions and faces. History hasn't felt so cold and impersonal since my class in 9th grade, where only my daydreams about the girl sitting at the desk behind me shook my world.
As ambiguous, enigmatic, and open to interpretation as this film may be, there is one thing of which I am certain - the world can never have too many Irène Jacobs in it. ♥
"Mrs. Lautmann, let me explain. You're Jewish, aren't you? Well, I'm an Aryan. Jewish shops are finished. That's the law. There are only Aryan shops now. It's called 'Aryanization.' Understand?"
"No, I don't."
Sometimes it takes a person who is completely outside of (or, in this case, oblivious to) a situation to cast into stark relief its absurdity; like a child asking "Why?" about something the rest of us have long since learned to accept.
The first half of this outstanding film eases you in like a warm bath, and even has some genuinely amusing moments. The second half makes it increasingly clear (if it wasn't already) that there can be no happy ending to this story. And that final sequence... so haunting yet beautiful.
Suzuki brings his trademark vision and energy to this simple tale of a gang of prostitutes trying to survive in post-war Tokyo. When an injured ex-soldier (played by Jô "chipmunk cheeks" Shishido of Branded to Kill and Youth of the Beast) uses their base as a hideout, tensions arise and trouble ensues. Budget constraints coupled with the director's willingness to eschew realism result in beautifully theatrical shots and sets. Bursts of color - particularly the girls' dresses - stand out among the drab gray backgrounds of a ruined city. Suzuki admits in a Criterion interview that his own experiences in WWII left him quite bitter towards America at the time of filming, and it shows in the finished product. Regardless, Gate of Flesh succeeds at being another pulpy, sexy bit of entertainment from this unique director.
"Introducing Audrey Hepburn"... and what an introduction it is! She is at the peak of her charm and elfin beauty here; utterly adorable throughout. The viewer can't help getting caught up in the childlike wonderment and joy of the Princess's holiday. Peck is in top form, as always, and the two make a deservedly iconic screen couple. It's a very rare film that can bring a genuine smile to my face and keep it there for its duration, not to mention warm the heart of a jaded misanthrope like myself. To quote the Princess, "So happy..."
Excellent, undeservedly obscure Spanish giallo full of atmosphere. Featuring great work from the female cast, an effectively creepy setting, and some genuine surprises along the way, it's sort of a cross between Suspiria and Picnic at Hanging Rock. Beware shorter versions mangled by censors to remove "disturbing" but key plot elements.
Comments 26 - 50 of 190
Movie comment on Final Justice
MrE2Me
♫ You better ruuuun, you better hiiiiide... ♫The best thing about this movie (aside from the song quoted above) is the fact that the lovely leading lady went on to become a pretty important (and, according to Wikipedia, pretty cool) political figure. She quit acting after this, her only feature film. Can you blame her?
P.S. The MST3K treatment of this is worth seeking out, too.
Movie comment on Uninvited
MrE2Me
Thoroughly, impressively dumb, even for a Greydon Clark film. (That's not to say it isn't entertaining, but only in a "so bad it's good" way.) It's not worth trying to point out all the problems here, but I will say that it's really not necessary to play the same two sound effects of a cat meowing every single time the cat is on-screen (and often when it's not), regardless of whether or not it has its mouth open. We get it - there's a cat in the movie, and it's an important part of the "plot." I seriously think they used those sounds close to a hundred times. (On the subject of terrible, overused sound effects, pay attention during the truck crashing scene. The same wildly inaccurate sound gets used in rapid fire to hilarious effect.) The last 10 minutes or so bring the ineptness to new heights with a terrible ship model, an Ed Woodian final "showdown," and a wholly unsurprising ending thatMovie comment on Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park
MrE2Me
The very definition of "misguided."Movie comment on Should I Marry Outside My Faith?
MrE2Me
"...but worse than that, it could lead to both of you giving up your church life and rearing your children with no faith."That sounds ideal to me.
Movie comment on Narcotics: Pit of Despair
MrE2Me
"Forget it, man, and get with the countdown. Shake this square world and blast off for kicksville!"Movie comment on Orca
MrE2Me
While not a masterpiece by any means, it's certainly better than it has any right to be as a blatant Jaws knockoff. Buoyed (no pun intended) by a solid cast and lovely photography, but beware the awful end credits theme (sorry, Ennio!).Movie comment on Hundra
MrE2Me
"You have a choice. You can either lie with them or stand with me."Leave it to Matt Cimber - director of the overlooked and underrated The Witch Who Came from the Sea - to provide the perfect cinematic antidote to Deathstalker and its ilk (which, coincidentally, came out less than two months after this film). Not a masterpiece by any means, and the message gets a bit muddled once a "suitable mate" is found, but still worth a watch. Honorable mention goes to Beast, Hundra's cowardly canine companion.
Movie comment on Nope
MrE2Me
A big disappointment, and this is coming from someone who liked Us as much as (if not more than) Get Out. Tonally all over the place, it almost seemed like it wanted to be a comedy, yet any laughs it got felt unintentional. Daniel Kaluuya - a terrific actor - is completely wasted, and Keke Palmer just annoyed me. Characters make huge leaps in logic or behave totally unrealistically, and the whole Gordy subplot felt grafted on from another film (and, again, came across as more silly than dramatic). A Bible quote and some symbolism, in and of themselves, do not a good movie make.Here's hoping Peele gets his game back for the next one.
Movie comment on Zeder
MrE2Me
A novel approach to zombie lore that plays more like a paranoid thriller than a straight-up horror film, complemented by Riz Ortolani's wonderfully frantic score. I enjoyed it, but the amount of screentime devoted to unravelling the mystery is bound to disappoint the more hardcore horror buffs out there.Movie comment on The Man They Could Not Hang
MrE2Me
"We gave them wings to fly and they rained death on us. We gave them a voice to be heard around the world and they preach hatred to poison the minds of nations. Even the medicine we gave them to ease their pain is turned into a vice to enslave half mankind for the profit of a few. [...] Every gift that science has given them has been twisted into a thing of hate and greed."Movie comment on The Return of the Vampire
MrE2Me
A strong, intelligent female protagonist; a wolfman sidekick; and a story set during WW2 help this one to stand out from the usual monster movie fare.Movie comment on The Vampire Lovers
MrE2Me
Cleavage: The Motion PictureMovie comment on My Winnipeg
MrE2Me
I kinda wish LedgeMan was a real thing.Movie comment on Memorias del subdesarrollo
MrE2Me
That "beautiful knees" line gets 'em every time...Movie comment on Meghe Dhaka Tara
MrE2Me
Let the record show that this is the opening shot of the film:Incredible stuff here...
Movie comment on Green Book
MrE2Me
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Racism.I'm not surprised this won Oscars, but I am embarrassed. It says a lot about the pathetic state of things in this country when a movie whose watered-down, ham-fisted message would've had eyes rolling in 1962 - the year in which its set - is deemed noteworthy in 2018. It's supposed to be about confronting prejudice, yet it's overflowing with the most obvious stereotypes imaginable. (It's also one of those films where you can tell which lines of dialogue were written just for the trailer.) Green Book is the cinematic equivalent of a fat-free, sugar-free, zero calorie snack that has had all worrisome elements extracted at the expense of any substance or flavor. It tries so hard to be inoffensive that it's...well, offensive. Fine performances and a few chuckles, but otherwise it just felt condescending.
Movie comment on The Thief of Bagdad
MrE2Me
A truly delightful fantasy adventure that pulls out all the silent-era stops. Staggering sets and set pieces, ingenious effects, literal armies of extras, all supporting a terrifically energetic performance by Fairbanks. A sumptuous treat from start to finish.Movie comment on Oktyabr
MrE2Me
Easily the least engaging Eisenstein film I've seen thus far. Nothing remotely world-shaking takes place until three-quarters of the runtime has elapsed, and by then I was thoroughly detached from the proceedings. Unlike the superior Strike, I actually think Eisenstein's trademark skill and stylistic flourishes were counterproductive here, distracting from and diminishing the impact of the story. Perhaps if I was more steeped in knowledge of the time and place in question (as the film clearly assumes this of the viewer) it would resonate with me more, but I lost track of the various factions and faces. History hasn't felt so cold and impersonal since my class in 9th grade, where only my daydreams about the girl sitting at the desk behind me shook my world.Movie comment on La double vie de Véronique
MrE2Me
As ambiguous, enigmatic, and open to interpretation as this film may be, there is one thing of which I am certain - the world can never have too many Irène Jacobs in it. ♥Movie comment on Ma nuit chez Maud
MrE2Me
Has the word "idiot" ever been uttered so charmingly?Movie comment on Obchod na korze
MrE2Me
"Mrs. Lautmann, let me explain. You're Jewish, aren't you? Well, I'm an Aryan. Jewish shops are finished. That's the law. There are only Aryan shops now. It's called 'Aryanization.' Understand?""No, I don't."
Sometimes it takes a person who is completely outside of (or, in this case, oblivious to) a situation to cast into stark relief its absurdity; like a child asking "Why?" about something the rest of us have long since learned to accept.
The first half of this outstanding film eases you in like a warm bath, and even has some genuinely amusing moments. The second half makes it increasingly clear (if it wasn't already) that there can be no happy ending to this story. And that final sequence... so haunting yet beautiful.
Movie comment on Nikutai no mon
MrE2Me
Suzuki brings his trademark vision and energy to this simple tale of a gang of prostitutes trying to survive in post-war Tokyo. When an injured ex-soldier (played by Jô "chipmunk cheeks" Shishido of Branded to Kill and Youth of the Beast) uses their base as a hideout, tensions arise and trouble ensues. Budget constraints coupled with the director's willingness to eschew realism result in beautifully theatrical shots and sets. Bursts of color - particularly the girls' dresses - stand out among the drab gray backgrounds of a ruined city. Suzuki admits in a Criterion interview that his own experiences in WWII left him quite bitter towards America at the time of filming, and it shows in the finished product. Regardless, Gate of Flesh succeeds at being another pulpy, sexy bit of entertainment from this unique director.Movie comment on Blood Freak
MrE2Me
"Gosh, Herschell, you sure are ugly."(The movie is available here at archive.org.)
Movie comment on Roman Holiday
MrE2Me
"Introducing Audrey Hepburn"... and what an introduction it is! She is at the peak of her charm and elfin beauty here; utterly adorable throughout. The viewer can't help getting caught up in the childlike wonderment and joy of the Princess's holiday. Peck is in top form, as always, and the two make a deservedly iconic screen couple. It's a very rare film that can bring a genuine smile to my face and keep it there for its duration, not to mention warm the heart of a jaded misanthrope like myself. To quote the Princess, "So happy..."Movie comment on La residencia
MrE2Me
Excellent, undeservedly obscure Spanish giallo full of atmosphere. Featuring great work from the female cast, an effectively creepy setting, and some genuine surprises along the way, it's sort of a cross between Suspiria and Picnic at Hanging Rock. Beware shorter versions mangled by censors to remove "disturbing" but key plot elements.Showing items 26 – 50 of 190