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Reviews
The Illustrated Man (1969)
VERY ENJOYABLE FILM
I first saw this movie in my early 20s and have seen it over the decades a few times. I have read bad critics reviews and I think they are pretty harsh. I really enjoyed it, its atmospheric and a bit dark and wierd. Rod steiger was excellent as usual, powerful and a bit menacing and fairly over the top as you would expect from him. I love him as an actor, so I am probably biassed and Claire Bloom is so beautiful. Summing it up, you have a few stories linked to Rod Steiger's skin illustrations, each one different and quite strange. It's a late 60s film and is of its time, but none the worse for that. I recommend seeing it.
Brief Encounter (1974)
OK BUT NOT AS GOOD AS THE ORIGINAL
I only saw this because I fancied watching a Richard Burton film, and I wish I had watched Night of The Iguana or The Sandpiper etc. It was ok, but it lacked the desperate longing of Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson that anyone who has ever been in love knows only too well. My eyes were completely dry which they never are when watching the original. Hey ho, Ive seen it now. I don't think it works in a more modern setting, albeit the 1970s, as it loses something fundemental. Sophia Loren is of course beautiful and Burton's performance is for once quite understated and his voice as gorgeous as ever. My overall view is it was an unnecessary remake of a beautiful original.