When I think of THE WIZARD OF OZ, I remember how incredibly YELLOW the Yellow Brick Road was. Now, when I think of THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, I will think of how GREEN his tights were. This film is just fantastic, full of ridiculous swashbuckling and with a saturated technicolor palette that just exudes fantasy and fun. Now I know where MEN IN TIGHTS gets its inspiration...it is from Errol Flynn's performance as Robin Hood. I just ate this movie up, with some great stunt work, production design that looks like a very ornate Rennaissance festival, and some well placed humor throughout. I mentioned THE WIZARD OF OZ before, well I believe this film is in the same league. Great Fun!!!
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It is hard to find a more Iconic character in the history of cinema than that of Bela Lugosi's Count Dracula. For the first time, I have seen the original 1931 version of Bram Stoker's novel and I have to say...the man is INCREDIBLY suited for the role. When Renfield first showed up to Castle Dracula at the start of the film, I was astonished by the production design in this film, especially for something made in the mid 30s. But as the story moved into London, it started to drag and become less and less magical. Lugosi never wavers in his performance, but Dracula lurking around a London bedroom is not quite as mesmerizing as Dracula lurking around his own castle. Renfield does constantly steal the show with his lunacy.
Watching THE BIRTH OF A NATION was quite an experience. Never before have I been so impressed by what a film accomplished TECHNICALLY for the history of cinema whule simultaneously being shocked by how abhorrent the subject matter is. This movie is so blatantly racist, I couldn't believe my eyes. The KKK are basically portrayed as the saviours of the United States and giving the blacks any sort of freedom of power was the worst thing this country ever did. Even though it was disgusting in this respect, it was oddly entertaining to see how bigoted DW Griffith would go with the whole thing. It is truly a film relic that changed the way movies are made. People learned to use the technical merits of the film and stay the HELL away from the political message.
If there was ever a movie to scare someone out of EVER doing drugs, REQUIEM FOR A DREAM is it. This movie is truly like watching a nightmare, as we follow different addicts spiral down toward oblivion because of their addictions. Ellen Burstyn is truly a marvel as the elderly lady who starts on diet pills and gets worse, and worse, and WORSE. I also enjoyed how Marlon Wayans wasn't a complete psychotic idiot like he usually is in comedies. Darren Aronofsky is one weird, but talented filmmaker.
Simply incredible in its size and scope for a 1920s Sci-Fi film, but ultimately too random, overacted, and disjointed to be a REALLY good film. Most people rank this as one of the best Science Fiction films ever. Even though I agree it was trend-setting, the whole film is not much more than a labor dispute. The fact that a lot of the film was lost and the missing pieces are replaced by screens EXPLAINING what is going on really hurts the whole thing. Regardless...probably the most entertaining silent film I have seen so far, even if just for how over the top the acting is.
Not quite my favorite of Allen's films, and I certainly don't understand the ridiculous amount of attention the Oscars gave it. I can buy both Michael Caine and Dianne Weist getting Supporting Actor/Actress wins...but Best Pic, Best Director, Best ART DIRECTION noms? Not quite. I generally enjoy Allen's films in which he stars, but he seems imported from another film in this one. Regardless...it is a lot of fun and entertaining. But it's no ANNIE HALL.
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These are Kevin's viewings out of the above Steven Jay Schneider tome Archives
May 2012
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