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leniecolacino
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The Producers (1967)
On e of the All Time Greats!
Amazing! I'm always amused to read the "Hated it!" reviews first to see if any of them have any valid points. What I observed were many folks saying they preferred the musical (2005) version over this one. That's like saying you prefer a third rate Beatles tribute band to the real thing! Zero Mostel gives one of the greatest comedic performances of all time as a desperate Max Bialystock. He is a walking example of at least five of the deadly sins, yet he manages to be endearing, even lovable. Gene Wilder is his perfect foil; nebbishy, smart, impressionable, and longing for the life that Max promises. In brief, if you don't find this movie hilarious go to a doctor and see if they can find your sense of humor, which I can only assume has been surgically removed.
Dark Shadows (2012)
Used to Love Burton and Depp....Now......
This collaboration has worked very well in the past (see Sleepy Hollow) but there is little to like in their latest movie; Dark Shadows. I never watched the original TV series but I was forewarned that the movie bore little or no resemblance. No matter, if not for the loud, sound effect laden soundtrack this film would make an excellent, non-narcotic cure for insomnia. Others have noted and let me echo their complaints that this movie was neither comedy or drama. Although it tried to be both it achieved neither. Fine performances notwithstanding there was no reason to make this movie and no reason to see it. A few technical things that bothered me; If Depp is a vampire, how is it he walks about in daylight protected only by heavy clothing, sunglasses and an umbrella? And if Depp is from Liverpool why does he speak in a generic, London type accent? That's like believing that folks from Boston and Memphis sound alike because they're from the same country. Depp's penchant for chameleon makeup and foreign accents is wearing very thin. What happened to the guy in Donnie Brasco or Gilbert Grape? You know, an American guy!
Yang chi (1974)
Hot Chicks in Underwear Kicking Ass...What's Not To Love?
I discovered this film by accident in the summer of 1978 in New York City, roaming Manhattan with some time to kill and a few dollars in my pocket. In those days the 42nd St district was alive with adult entertainment unlike today's sanitized, Disney-ized fare. In a lot of ways this film was the grand-daddy of female exploitation. The original title was "The Virgins of the Seven Seas" or "Enter The Seven Virgins" (take that, Bruce Lee!). Hot western (German) girls are kidnapped into slavery in order to please their eventual owners but wait!!! They secretly train in martial (not marital) arts to defeat the male pigs who would own them. Of course they do this in the most humiliating and degrading way while clad in their colorful and scanty underwear. Tarantino surely must have seen this film in his youth and turned it into Kill Bill. The bad dubbing, obvious wigs but credible (and sexy) fight scenes only added to my enjoyment of this over-the-top action comedy. I only wish it was available in some format these days so that I could own a copy. Still, I'll never forget how much fun this movie was.
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Lucas Thinks We're Stupid......AND HE'S CORRECT!!!
It was bad enough when Lucas shoved the completely unbelievable notion that Luke was Darth Vader's son in "The Empire Strikes Back" down our throats (Hey, when did Darth realize this? A little after trying to kill him in the original movie?). But when he so clumsily tries to tie every loose end together in this horrible film I found myself shaking my head repeatedly in disbelief. Others here have detailed the litany of bad writing, bad acting, leaps of logic and bad direction and I agree. One other element that really bugged me here was the notion of space being incredibly crowded and noisy. See Kubrick's 2001 for a credible notion of the vastness of outer space. In this turkey it's more crowded and noisy that Time's Square at rush hour. Lucas shows no regard for any fan who had paid attention to any of the plot developments from the first three films and it shows. Of the many stupid things that Lucas expects us to swallow is that C3P0 AND R2D2 knew all the main characters generations ago, had superior abilities (apps?), and were not relegated to the scrap heap after a few years use. Hey, my cellphone becomes obsolete after a few months! I could go on and on but others here have done a fine job exposing Lucas' lack of respect for his fan base. But Lucas has laughed to the bank. In fact he may own the bank. We're all suckers for sure. How else can one justify the 7.7 rating?
Hard Candy (2005)
Hey, Make Me Root For The Pedophile!
Despite the strong performances of the two protagonists this movie is completely unsavory and has no redeeming qualities whatsoever. I mean how entertaining and dramatic is it to sit through an interminable castration scene? Not very! What is the point to this movie? Someone please tell me. Is it that no matter what side of the fence you are on, sexual abuse is bad? Ellen Page's character is completely unbelievable as many have noted here (does she ever shut up?). She is a 14 year old girl with the intellect of a super criminal and the physical strength of the Incredible Hulk, overpowering her adult male enemy several times during the film despite her age and double digit weight. How does she know to have her taser in hand at the ready in the ridiculous shower sequence? I could go on but I don't want to spend another word on this piece of garbage masquerading as a serious film other than to warn my fellow readers and lovers of the cinema to avoid this film at all cost!!
My Favorite Year (1982)
"Dying is easy.......Comedy is hard!"
So says Alan Swann and he is so right. Peter O'Toole shows that there is a great actor inside of a great comedic performance. His remarkable portrayal of Swann stands out among all his other performances because Swann, in so many ways, is a thinly veiled O'Toole. His timing, physical grace and delivery rival the all time greats including Chaplin, Laurel, and Gleason. The pacing, casting and plot are expertly woven by director Richard Benjamin to create an inside look at early T. V. production and a crazy Jewish family. The scene of Swan attending dinner in Brooklyn with staff writer Benjy Stone's family is one of the funniest in screen history due in equal parts to the fantastic performances of O'Toole, Lou Jacobi (as a scene-stealing "Uncle Mortie") and Lainie Kazan as the mother of all Jewish mothers. As Swann, O'Toole manages to be loathsome, endearing, infuriating, charming and vulnerable. Kudos to Bill Macy as Benjy's crass boss and Joseph Bologna as the hot-tempered but indomitable King Kaiser. My Favorite Year never disappoints in delivering laughs and perhaps a sentimental tear as well.