zaremskya-23761 Reviews

Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Bright and Energetic Crime Caper

[8/10 · 19 June 2023]

"Catch Me if You Can" is a film that almost makes crime and deception look fun, though with a sobering look at its consequences too.

Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks often work well together, so reviewing them as a pair at this point is almost redundant, but once again they make a great film, tracking the exploits and espionage of Frank Abagnale Jr.

Frank's ability for deception is established early on in the film and in his life, with him posing as a substitute teacher for his peers. The film is sure to emphasize, right away, actually, just how young Frank was when he started conning people.

A stressful divorce is most likely the main catalyst that drives Frank to seek escapes from himself and reality, hence the foray into conning. His many roles, forgeries, disguises, etc... I believe are a psychological escape from his true self, and a comment on the stresses that modern society places on us to find a career and make something of our selves.

The style and feel of the film is a clever mirror of modern society (or what we believe modern society is supposed to be) - fast-paced, modern styles/designs, energetic, and lots of people and cities. The music, shots, action, dialogue are snappy and energetic, moving along brusquely and intentionally, though always with a sense of mild confusion as to the urgency of all this.

Frank's exploits are mostly harmless and fun. He is clever, charming, and is able to talk to almost anyone, and is especially good with good-looking women (it is Leonardo DiCaprio after all...), however, his forging of checks makes things a little more dangerous, hence the snub-noses. Otherwise, he just wants some high-pressure fun away from responsibilities and commitment.

Again, this film seems to be mostly a comment on the pressures of modern society and the need we feel, constantly, to fill a roll, pick a career, contribute to society, keep up, etc.... stressful to say the least, and again, Frank's constant dodging, conning, and mercurial transformations into other roles and people's lives seems to be a serious attempt to escape his true self.

The film is a lot of fun, and Leo is as charming as ever, despite the constant headache he provides for the F. B. I.

Fun film!

Midsommar (2019)

Very eerie and unsettling

[9/10 · 16 June 2023]

One of the more disturbing films shot in broad daylight, and probably done so intentionally for a jarring psychological effect.

Really loved this film as a horror movie. It starts off with some rather disturbing stuff right away actually, with a graphic suicide and murder involving the protagonist's sister and parents. This immediately hints at the tone of the film to come.

Stylistically, this film works like a lot of A24 productions and films shot in the 2000s - clear shots, bright scenes and careful camerawork, etc... Lots of intensity too.

The plot is thus - after a traumatic suicide and murder, the protagonist is off to Sweden with her friends to visit a commune, the home of one of the characters, Pelle. Danis friends are students interested in the culture surrounding Pelle's commune, so the trip works out for everyone.

The commune and its festivities and activities are rather picturesque/utopic upon arrival, and the students take some shrooms right away, resulting in a bad trip for Dani, with flashbacks to her sister's suicide.

Now the students are fully engaged in the commune's activities, which turn out to be very disturbing for them. They witness a ritualistic senicide of the village elders and are horrified/disgusted, with some wanting to leave immediately. They do, supposedly. Though some still want to continue studying and writing about the commune.

Now the film continues, and the commune's vibe continues to become stranger for the Americans and for the audience. Some students disappear, some are killed, and Dani becomes "May Queen" after winning a maypole dance concert, seemingly oblivious to the strange disappearances. All the while with a hallucinatory effect from special effects and food/drink imbibed by everyone. The "trippy" effect of camerawork is a nice touch that emphasizes the surrealness the Americans are encountering.

Christian is entreated to participate in an elaborate mating ritual, which traumatizes Dani, despite Christian wanting to break up with her back in the states. The commune members are constantly "mimicking", in an almost mocking fashion, the pain and suffering that befalls the characters in this film.

After the ritual, Christian attempts to flee, encountering the dead corpses of his American friends, then is paralyzed. He is now a human sacrifice, which turns out to be the plan all along for the commune. Dani, the May Queen, decides that Christian will now be sacrificed with some other commune members and the rest of the Americans in a bizarre ritual in involving a skinned bear. Again, the commune members mock the agony of the sacrificed, but Dani smiles at it all in the end.

Stylistically, the film, again is like A24's other great works, and like many films in the 2000s - big, clear photography, careful camerawork, and sometimes with very intense sequences and images. The re-occurring hallucinogenic "waves" that appear frequently and distorted photography becomes a visual motif representing the surreal and confusing nature of this experience.

This film, disturbing and fascinating to me, is most likely a comment on agrarian utopia, cultural rituals, communal living and what the costs of respecting and preserving such things are if there are elements involved that prove to be unethical. Human sacrifice and ritualistic suicide are not uncommon in human history and cultures, and indeed, the concept of Utopia, despite being ideal, is usually provided with a warning by scholars of what the means to that end will be, in regards to any violence carried out to achieve such an utopic society.

This film very purposefully brings those issues front and center with a stylish horror touch. Horror seems like a perfect medium to explore some serious sociological issues, and the brilliance of this film is presenting such horrifying events and scenes in a world that is supposed to be ideal for all.

Of course, ideal societies are possible and do work. I have friends who grew up on communes and were not sacrificed or burned alive, lol... You just have to be a little more connected to modern society and grounded in reality.

I hope this film does not turn people off from seeking out ideal societies/communes/etc..., but it does provide a fair warning about cultish and sadistic behaviors/practices that are not "un-checked" by modern society.

Great film. Loved it. Recommended.

Cowboy Bebop (1998–1999)

Immaculate Space Anime

[10/10 · 24 March 2023]

One of the most effective animes I've seen for a number of reasons. Atmosphere, or more-so, the complete saturation of, being the foremost technique used in this series. The jazzy soundtrack sinks the viewer deeper into the ambiance of the characters' world. The high-tension action against these smooth and calm sounds adds to the impressive audio-visual dynamics here.

The most effective element in Bebop, like any good fiction, are well-developed and written characters. The protagonists here are bounty-hunters, a precarious and uncertain vocation to be sure. They are after perhaps the most dangerous villains in the galaxy, and their own motivations remain clouded as well, leaving one to wonder just who to trust here.

The high-intensity action against the dreamy and smooth jazz is the most obvious creative dynamic, with the interestingly written characters on their many adventures fleshing out the rest of the series.

So, the interesting characters, their complexity of moral guidance, and the amalgamation of action and calm are the chief elements of success this series has. Favorite.

The Lost Weekend (1945)

A debacherous weekend

[9/10 · 10 March 2023]

The Lost Weekend, known for being one of the only films to win both "Best Picture" at the Oscars and the "Palme D'or" at Cannes, is a film about a debaucherous down-spiral into alcoholism. The characters begin in reputable social standings and have good lives, with nothing out of the ordinary wrong, other than wanting a drink.

This, though, turns into quite the disaster, and perhaps this film is a fair warning about alcoholism, with people in high standings and comfortable, stable lives descending into degeneracy and disaster.

It is sad that this happens, as the characters are very like-able, the kind of people you'd like to get to know and be friends with. You feel no ill will towards them and want them to succeed, though they struggle.

Alcoholism would obviously require some special Mise-en-scène and other film techniques - dreamy cinematography, to match the drunken states of the characters, which is done well in this film.

Don Birnam, the alcoholic in question, is a likable writer, who unfortunately seems to botch many social obligations because of his cravings, alienating his friends in the process and failing to follow through on many plans. He generates further into physical symptoms and ends up in a ward. After a suicide attempt, he agrees to write a book about his struggles.

Perhaps here, alcohol and alcoholism represents the precariousness and uncertainty of life, that success and stability can turn into failure and regret rather quickly. A lethal tightrope.

The damage alcohol can cause is perhaps milder in this film than in more recent ones about substance abuse and addiction (A film from 1945 can only show so much), though it is still a sad spectacle. Maybe a more subtle sadness creates more of an impact though. Simple, utter failure instead of wild carnage. Which would add to the slow, hidden insidiousness of alcohol.

Good characters and great film, though.

The Sting (1973)

Stung by the best

[9/10 · 10 March 2023]

The Sting is about trust, or more specifically, the lack thereof. No one is completely trustworthy in this film, and the less you trust someone, the further you get.

This film is about grifters, swindlers, and hoodwinkers. Conmen. Everyone seems to be "in on it" here, and once again, you can't seem to let your guard down around anyone here.

After a foolish con that gets an accomplice killed, conman Johnny "Kelly" Hooker, played by Robert Redford, flees to Chicago to avoid a similar fate. He meets seasoned conman Henry "Shaw" Gondorff, who reluctantly agrees to help him get back at Doyle Lonnegon who is responsible for murdering Hooker's friend and accomplice, Luther.

There is now more elaborate games to get even with everyone. Lots of money, guns, and other antics that result in some true chaos.

Robert Redford and Paul Newman have always been a dynamic duo, and their onscreen chemistry is guaranteed gold. They blend so well on screen you don't even notice, though become a powerful pair rather effectively and quickly. They always work very well with director George Roy Hill, who carries them once again to success, here.

The mischievous leitmotif "The Entertainer" by Scott Joplin plays throughout, combined with other impish cinematic techniques (playful camerawork, etc...) to enhance the prankish nature of the film.

This is a clever and charismatic film. A lot of fun, and the conmen definitely seem like anti-heroes you'd root for all the way. Hopefully not enough to venture into a life of crime yourself, but still fun to enjoy.

M (1931)

Disturbing and Riveting

[10/10 · 8 March 2023]

Child murder would most likely rank as one of the more horrifying and disturbing things imaginable, so this is automatically a very serious film with a very serious problem. Fritz Lang is a master filmmaker, so is the man for the job. He creates plenty of very intense cinematics - dialogue, cinematography, and sequences that impose the seriousness of the subject material on the audience, and this is where Fritz comes through as a filmmaker - using cinematic techniques, quality dialogue, well-rehearsed sequences and intense photography to represent the seriousness of the film's content. All with relativity calm shots, too, as most film sequences from that era are without much tracking, steadicams, crane-shots; all to the benefit of Fritz here to enhance the tension in the film's plot. The lack of music/soundtrack other than the killer's whistling also adds an eerie calm to the whole film.

There is a child murder wrecking havoc in Berlin. The police, and everyone else, are desperate to stop them, and conduct a series of raids that end up disrupting a local criminal circuit. The criminals are outraged at the disturbance, and take it upon themselves to capture the child murderer themselves as semi-vigilantes. The child murder is eventually caught by some clever traps and teamwork from the police, local beggers, and the other criminals.

The killer is taken to an improvised "Kangaroo Court" in the basement. He argues, rather pathetically, that he cannot help what he does. He cannot control his homicidal urges and kills children because he has no other choice. Free will is obviously the major theme of this film, and the supposed lack of that causes Hans Beckett, the killer, to do what he does. Whether or not this is a satisfactory excuse is not quite covered in the film. The other criminals freely admit they commit their crimes because they want to, while Beckett does not. That is the conflict of free will that concludes the film. The film ends with a warning to keep careful watch over children, as you do not know who might be after them! Ahh!!

The production of the film is impressive. The cinematography is stark, representing the bleakness of the subject material. The scenes are quiet, very tense, and foreboding too, hinting at awful things. The acting is very good, especially Peter Lorre who gives a disturbingly intense speech at the end. All these key cinematic elements, the tense direction and stark photography, are utilized expertly by Lang to enhance the disturbing subject material of the film. An incredibly well-made film by a very talented filmmaker about a very disturbing subject. Top notch!

Django Unchained (2012)

Jamie, Quentin, Christoph, and Leo on fire

[9/10 · 1 July 2022]

This film is structured like many of other Tarantino's films. It is rapid-fire, action-packed, and very sharp, with biting dialogue and flashy scenes.

The characters are bold and colorful, and their interactions, with Tarantino's signature dynamite dialogue, make the scenes that much more engaging and interesting.

Jamie and Christoph give terrific performances and the film is really about them and their relationship with each other, within the backdrop of Antebellum South to create such a dramatic story.

Tarantino is all style, and so much style. His films have so much personality and style, you don't even know what to do but sit back and enjoy the ride. There is a lot of cinematic power in his films, and Django Unchained is a force to be reckoned with for sure.

Revenge is obviously the main theme here, a common one in Tarantino's films, and Django gets his in spades, taking out a number of slave-masters and otherwise villainous characters in the film. I think Tarantino is tapping into, and exploiting some deep-seated elements of the collective African-American unconscious in Django's quest for revenge, and he does it with this spectacular spectacle.

Worth seeing for Tarantino fans and those wanting to explore cinematic representation of the Antebellum South.

12 Years a Slave (2013)

Harsh

[10/10 · 11 June 2022]

12 Years A Slave is the perfect visual representation of what made slavery so disturbing in Southern Colonial America.

On the surface, things seem just fine, picturesque even, on these big beautiful plantations with sunny skies and birds chirping in the background, but then the whippings, beatings, and hangings start, and the running and screaming and confusion, and you know something is terribly, terribly wrong.

These worlds on celluloid that the filmmakers present to us, removed from us, yet projecting different interpretations back at us, can powerfully alter our perspective, and 12 Years A Slave, masterfully done by Steve McQueen, does just that, by showing just how brutal these institutions were.

The South is all too eager to hide this shame, and films like this are great ways of projecting these atrocities for all to witness.

12 Years a Slave is an intimate personal study in a very vast and broad cruelty. It goes from deep and personal to wide and encompassing very well, effortlessly, even. The film is as savage as it is aesthetically well-made.

Perfect film by Steve McQueen and should be required viewing for all Americans.

Munich (2005)

Revenge.

[8/10 · 9 December 2020]

Munich, despite a detailed plot and events, is about one thing and one thing only - revenge. It is about the vengeance sought after the killing of Israeli Olympic athletes during the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich by Palestinian terrorists. Indeed, the name of the operation to track down those responsible is even called "Operation Wrath of God". They show no mercy.

Some anti-Semites claim that Jews are obsessed with revenge if anyone wrongs them. Who knows what truth there is in this, but Spielberg does not shy away from intense feeling of vengeance that permeates the film. He embraces it fully and crafts a story around the intense manhunt for the Palestinian militants responsible for the slaughter of Israeli Olympians. The morality of the Mossad assassin's private mission is called into question many times, and no one is sure if they are satisfied with how they are handling things.

Eric Bana is an intense actor, and his performance here does not disappoint. His high energy and intensity from start to finish rubs off on the other actors throughout the film.

This film is historically relevant, I believe, to the ongoing crises between Israel and Palestine. There has been much strife and violence between two peoples and countries in such close proximity, and many people don't understand why. This film sheds some light on the relationship between the two peoples, but only in time of high conflict. Still, it provides some clues, mostly due to lack of cooperation between the two peoples, on how things out to be between them.

You will enjoy this political thriller, and people interested in the Israeli/Palestine issue will also enjoy this film as a piece to the conflict's "puzzle".

War of the Worlds (2005)

The End of the World.

[8/10 · 9 December 2020]

It truly is the end of the world in this film. There really is not much humanity can do to prepare for alien invasions in movies. The extraterrestrials seem to always outgun us with superior technology and are far more intelligent and crafty with their plans to take us over. The best we can do in these films is to run, hide, and resist, whilst trying to study our invaders and find weaknesses in their physiology and society to exploit.

That is what Tom Cruise must do here. Ray, his character, must survive an intense alien invasion of Earth and protect his daughter from the giant machine-like alien "pods" that vaporize everything in their path. The special effects and sound design of the whole production is very Spielberg, and as such, spectacularly advanced and polished, as always. Even if some of Spielberg's work is a little "overdone", his mastery of incorporating effects and technical wonders in his films will be his legacy.

Back to the plot. The Aliens want blood, literally. They have come to our world to literally suck the physical essence out of us to fertilize their crops. Gruesome, right? Very gruesome. So they obviously do not come in peace or offer us any notion of friendship. This is why they destroy everything and everyone in their path.

Eventually, as some sort of poetic "Deus-Ex Machina", it is discovered that the aliens cannot tolerate the microorganisms on Planet Earth and that they begin to wither and die, the force-fields protecting their massive shells disappearing as well. This is the end of their invasion of Earth.

This film explores the consequences of an alien invasion and everything that would be as a result of a hostile encounter with said invasion. Hence the title - "War of the Worlds". Maybe one day Spielberg will make a film about a peaceful encounter with alien worlds, but this film is not that.

Minority Report (2002)

Sci-Fi Thriller done right; very right.

[10/10 · 9 December 2020]

Minority Report is a thought experiment about what the consequences would be if we could predict violent crimes before they could happen. An interesting premise that raises many ethical questions. The film, as a whole, is put together very well and the world created by Spielberg is airtight. Beautiful science fiction. The cities, cars, sets, costumes are all highly imaginative and also a pretty realistic prediction of how the future might look.

The protagonist works with a set of genetically modified humans called "Pre-Cogs" that predict violent crimes. One day, John Anderton predicts a crime that he, himself commits. He runs. The rest of the film is a tight and nail-biting chase to find a "Minority Report" memory from one of the pre-cogs that is different from the prediction and will clear Anderton's name. Along the way, he discovers corruption and murder within the program and how it inherently flawed, seeing as how people still have the ability to make decisions about what they do despite the pre-cogs' predictions.

There is a deep look at morality and ethics within the film, and those two concepts are the primary theme Spielberg studies. These themes are examined within a science-fiction, "alternate" world as a way of looking at them from another angle, and in doing so, perhaps uncovering some truths about us that we might not otherwise have learned.

This is definitely one of my favorite Spielberg films. Tom Cruise gives a forceful performance and the actions sequences are all top-notch. Like I mentioned previously, the "world" of the film is put together very well and should be viewed as very successful world-building.

Brilliant film. Brilliant Science Fiction. Definitely worth seeing.

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)

Thoughtful, sad, dreamy.

[8/10 · 18 April 2018]

Originally a dream from the brilliant Stanley Kubrick, A.I. is a great bit of Science Fiction. It dwells on powerful and human themes from the perspective of the mechanical. This is the main goal of the film, to explore and examine what makes us human with beings that are almost, but not quite.

The protagonist, who is done justice by Haley Joel Osment's great performance, has all the characteristic's of a human child, and has even been programmed to feel love and attach to other humans. A curious characteristic for a machine. The film revolves around his quest to become human so he can fully love, not just be programmed to love, as he wants to be with his adopted human mother.

This major theme carries the film well. There is the standard flair of flashy Sci-Fi and adventure, but the theme of love is so all-pervading, warm, and powerful, that you cannot escape it. It guides the characters just like any other film, despite the fact that they are machines. That is the magic here, and the gift of Spielberg, to take powerful themes and explore them in ways no other filmmaker can. The result is very effective.

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

THE War Film

[10/10 · 18 April 2018]

This, in a long list of big films, is probably Spielberg's greatest accomplishment. It has so much heart, humanity, and raw drama that it will most likely be in the top tier of films for all time. It's just spectacular in every way. It throws you into the biggest armed conflict of our time while deftly and carefully drawing you into a very intimate story that puts many aspects of the war into perspective.

Reviewing a war film is difficult for someone who has never been in one. I don't think any serious critic would pretend to know what it's like to be in such a horrifying event. I think the best you can do is speculate, and even then, you risk treading on some serious ground by giving such films a review.

That being said, the film looks, feels, sounds, and moves perfectly from start to finish. Technically, it's a masterpiece. The lesser-known stars give as good of a performance as the big-name actors, which is a sign of terrific directing. The personal story-line weaves effortlessly within the big drama of the war, and the whole thing is written beautifully.

As I'm writing this, I can think of no flaws. Some people give Spielberg a hard time for being overly sentimental, but I just don't see it in SPR. The emotions all seem appropriate for the environment. The action is riveting and often brutal. Characters fall off the radar quickly. The war is overwhelming. It all makes sense in context.

The best films are like statues; solid, powerful, and eternal. This one will stand for a long time. Even if some of Spielberg's films get taken down a notch for sentimentality and overblown spectacle-making, this one won't, and never will.

The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)

More Dinosaurs

[8/10 · 18 April 2018]

Spielberg always aims high, very high. His fault, I suppose, as a filmmaker, is trying to make the biggest movies possible, so when they aren't perfect, it shows. The Lost World is a terrific sequel to Jurassic Park, and ties in with the classic rather well in terms of plot and characters, but for a movie chalk full of enormous computer dinosaurs, you feel like there is something missing, and honestly, I'm not sure what it is.

Maybe the movie moves too quickly from peace and calm to disaster. Jurassic Park builds up to the carnage gradually enough that it seems more believable and therefore, more terrifying. Maybe The Lost World simply asks you to believe that all the monsters are inches away from destroying the island and not question the logic behind it. Oh well. It's still a cool movie and Jeff Goldblum is just terrific in it, but it doesn't quite live up to the original.

Schindler's List (1993)

Devastating

[10/10 · 23 October 2017]

The Holocaust is a dark and touchy subject for many. Many believed it never happened, despite meticulous records kept by the Nazis themselves. Those who lived through it were scarred forever, and even now can barely bring themselves to discuss its horrors. Despite the controversy around the event, there is one thing for certain, Steven Spielberg created a masterpiece with Schindler's List. It is a film that will find no equal in terms of bleak, crushing drama. It sets out what it intends to do marvelously and leaves the viewer emotionally drained and questioning humanity itself.

The film is in black and white, a very conscious choice by the director that makes the subject matter, already disturbing, even more so bleak and harrowing. Oskar Schindler is known for saving thousands of Jews destined for a grim fate during World War 2. The movie depicts concentration camp life is fairly dismal, with constant brutal oppression by Nazi camp guards and the sadistic Amon Goth, with a terrifying portrayal by Ralph Fiennes.

Yes, this film will not make you cheery or happy. Yes it is about a miserable and dark period in human history, but it is an important film to watch for anyone interested in this historic subject matter and also a beautiful work of art for film lovers. Truly one of Spielberg's finest works. The fact that he is Jewish himself does add a personal touch to the tragic tale, but he never tries to overdo the sympathy or antipathy towards any group in the film.

Everyone is human in this film, the Jews and the Nazis; the tragedy is that humanity itself failed during this period of history, and we will never forget.

Jurassic Park (1993)

Dinosaurs done the right way

[9/10 · 23 October 2017]

There have been a few big dinosaur movies over the years but anyone will remember this one first and for a long time. Spielberg really takes you for a ride with this one, and the animals look very real and very dangerous. It's deep, intriguing, and ultimately a classic blockbuster sci fi experience.

The premise is that a man creates an island of cloned dinosaurs as an amusement park. Things go awry however thanks to the weakness of human corruption and bad safety fence maintenance. The dinosaurs, as you may guess, are pitted against the visitors in a harrowing struggle for survival. People are killed, dinosaurs are killed, the whole mess becomes an amazing cinematic adventure.

The scale of the film is vast, reflecting the immense nature of the animals and scope of the park creator's vision. The characters are believable, and their intense experience is played well by the actors. The special effects are spectacular, and still hold up to this day. The action is harrowing and gives Spielberg more notches to add to his directing belt.

This film lives up to its expectations and then some. It is an epic sci fi adventure that puts you right in the middle of the action and creates an amazing and terrifying world. Perhaps bringing dinosaurs back to life is not the best idea in the world, and this realization quickly dawns on the characters, but it does make for some incredible cinema.

Hook (1991)

Epic adventure and fun

[8/10 · 23 October 2017]

Hook is a swashbuckling good time for everyone. The Peter Pan story is retold with a star-studded cast and amazing sets and costumes. It is visually stunning; straight out of a fairy-tale with mermaids, pirates, and flying lost boys.

Robin Williams is kind of an odd choice for Pan, but the film plays out well, and the other cast members interact with him in a charming and satisfying way. The script is lighthearted and witty and gives one the same sense of timelessness the lost boys themselves must feel.

Dustin Hoffman is particularly dastardly as Hook. No one upstages Hoffman in this film, not even Williams himself. His extravagant costume and flamboyant demeanor steals the scene every time. He is conniving, clever, and diabolical; a perfect villain. You learn to fear his approach in a scene as much as his bumbling pirate minions. Hoffman will never live this performance down.

The magic of this film is enhanced by a variety of things, namely the lively choreography and lavish sets. You will walk away from this film ready to take on the next adventure that awaits you.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

The trilogy concludes

[9/10 · 12 October 2017]

The Indiana Jones trilogy concludes with this epic face off between Indiana Jones and the Third Reich. Sean Connery gives a terrific performance as Indiana's father and really adds class to the film. The film is exciting and mystifying, dealing with highly mysterious religious mythology and artifacts.

The religious aspect of the film definitely adds to the thrill of the movie, but it's carefully not overdone. The enemy Nazis are very real and Indiana is as down to Earth as always, with refreshing and smart writing throughout the film.

The cast is brilliant, with a welcome addition of John Rhys Davies. The score is sweeping and epic. Everything seems to come together for Indiana and his crew at the end of the original trilogy. Great film all around. Great adventure for all.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

Lots of adventure.

[7/10 · 12 October 2017]

Spielberg continues the Indiana Jones journey with this excellent story. It's a little campier than Raiders with the dialogue and action, but still just as invigorating.

There are cults, child slaves, and burning pits to challenge our heroes, who are more of a motley crew than usual. It's a little unbelievable that Indiana's company actually survives the hazards in this film, but it's OK. The action is fun and the pace fast enough that you don't really care.

The film moves along and the adventure becomes ever more perilous. Will our hero's survive? You will have to watch and see.

Great action film, great Spielberg film, great addition to the Indiana Jones franchise.

Poltergeist (1982)

Eerie

[8/10 · 12 October 2017]

This movie was eerie to watch. Spielberg is usually about big, dramatic things and loud noises but this movie was subtle, creepy, and disturbing. He did it all very well too.

A house is haunted, and a little girl and her family are harassed by malevolent spirits. Pretty standard horror, but Spielberg adds his own style to the mix and the result is pretty good.

The family element adds a lot to the film too. In lots of horror films, it's usually just one or two people being haunted. Here it's a whole family. Maybe that does happen a lot, but Spielberg makes movies for the whole family quite a bit so maybe that's why it works well here.

Horror fans should like this. Haunted house fans too. Spielberg fans will enjoy the auteur working outside his normal range.

E.T. (1982)

Classic tale of boy befriends alien

[9/10 · 11 October 2017]

This is a truly touching film and proof that sci fi can have as much, if not more, heart than any drama in the film world.

E.T. wants to phone home. He is lost and afraid in his new world, our world. He is short, wrinkly, bug-eyed, yet somehow adorable, and easily befriends his human friend Elliot who cares about him and wants him to survive on Earth.

This beautiful story has a lot of depth to it. Elliot and E.T.'s friendship is a model for many successful relationships we desire and strive for. We all want a companion, and E.T. being an alien somehow makes us want to strive for better relationships on Earth.

The terrifying sequence involving the scientists at the end doesn't paint the most positive picture of scientific progress, and ironically makes science itself seem somewhat "evil" in a science fiction film. Poor little E.T. must run for his life from the scientists who want to do who knows what with him.

This classic sci fi story is one of Spielberg's best, and a must see for all ages, even those not initially attracted to the sci fi genre.

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

The pinnacle of adventure

[10/10 · 11 October 2017]

One of the greatest adventures of all time. Swashbuckling, thrilling, etc... this film has it all. From a heart-pounding, classic opening this film pours on the excitement all the way through.

Indiana Jones must recover the lost ark, a sacred biblical artifact before the Nazis get to it and use it for their own nefarious schemes. He encounters many obstacles along the way that hinder his progress - snakes, Hitler's troops, etc. Each scene is packed with action and excitement, with John William's invigorating score to pick up the drama along the ride.

What Spielberg does best is big plots, big action, and sweeping scores. Raiders of the Lost Ark is truly epic in all these regards and carries you along for a wild and fun ride. It does everything it sets out to do perfectly, and the result is one of the greatest adventure stories ever told on celluloid.

See it. You can come back to it endlessly. It's that good.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Spielberg does aliens well.

[8/10 · 11 October 2017]

The best monsters and strange creatures are the ones you never see, and Spielberg understands the best way to thrill an audience is with suspense and delayed reactions.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind piles the aliens on slowly and at Spielberg's own pace. Then, with an accompanying music score that crescendos along with the action of the film, you get to see what's really going on in this story. It is strange, thrilling, and dramatic.

Richard Dreyfus gives a standout performance as a man transfixed with this encounter between man and visitor. He is just as frightened and fascinated as we are with all the odd occurrences of the film and you get drawn into his inner world.

All in all, this is a great work of science fiction, and a good early film from Spielberg. Recommended for science fiction fans.

Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)

Touching.

[8/10 · 4 March 2017]

There is something very lonely about the life of a musician. He seems cursed, to wander here and there, never quite obtaining what he wants and finding nothing but hardship along the way. Such is the case with Llewyn Davis. He is a rag-tag songwriter who sets out to make it in the world with little to no help from anyone, especially those closest to him.

What I appreciated most here was the cinematography, which is very "closed in" and cozy. It overshadows most everything else. The acting is sufficient to carry the story, which isn't terribly original, but the film holds together and ends up entertaining you.

There is definitely a Bob Dylan cutout the C Bros are trying to make with Llewyn, though they make him a little more sad and lonely, with his friends and lovers treading all over him. There is also a troublesome cat that adds to his woes.

The end result of the film is sad and kind of unresolved, though maybe the life of a wandering minstrel is such. I'd recommend the film. There is good music and visuals and the C Bros always seem to know how to spin a good yarn, even when sad things are happening.

True Grit (2010)

Good Western

[7/10 · 4 March 2017]

Good western with an interesting plot, spunky characters, and lots of action down south.

Can't say I remember too much about it and I will definitely have to watch it again to get more of the plot and action.

I think the characters stand out/shine the most in the film and lead it in interesting directions, despite some awkward lines.

Still a descent Western and will probably watch it again. Coens do write some great characters and I think, like I said, that's what is in this film the most/best. The characters are definitely the most charming part of the movie.

Coens do these clever characters quite well and I think this film is an example of that. Pretty good work by them.