Change Your Image
Bigspend
Reviews
Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993)
A Flashback
As I watched this completely absorbing movie, I'm reminded of the atmosphere created by the 1972 Fischer-Spassky match in Iceland. Literally everyone I knew that could competently execute a Kings castle was playing chess every day. Novices strived to improve their games. Beginners wanted to learn to play. But even more, I was transported back to high school as a 15 year old playing on our school chess team. I held the #3 slot on our five man squad playing against other schools around the city (Los Angeles). I won my first two matches then faced a kid like Josh's opponent in the final climax. Like that kid, my opponent was a steely eyed adult in a kid's body. But unlike Josh, I failed to beat this guy and our team didn't win the tournament. But it was an experience I'll never forget and am grateful to this film for giving me a reason to remember it all.
Chicken Run (2000)
Simply delightful viewing
As an older gentleman with a rather refined taste in flim viewing, I was surprised by how absorbed I got in this elaborate cartoon-like feature. It's no mean trick to create rubber characters that you can really care about. My favorites were Mr & Mrs Tweedy -- especially the latter. Mrs Tweedy was the personification of evil (within the confines of a cartoon of course) and just a thoroughly interesting character. The sets were well done, especially the Stalag 17 camp image (notice the 17 on the meeting hut). Lots of British stereotype stuff which worked pretty well and kept my attention. Fast paced without becoming just another Roger Rabbit.
Recommended!
Napoléon (1955)
Skip this Film
The best comment one can make about this film is "uninspired" if not relentlessly tedious. I'm particularly put off by the attempt to generate interest by giving top billing to Orson Welles and Eric Von Stroheim who have only minimal cameos at the end with little or no dialog. Except for Napoleon's german speaking young wife, not one character in this sleeper is even remotely interesting. At the end I only wanted to ask for my 2 hours back.