1925 Review Blog
Battleship Potemkin
Grade: B 08/26/2009
Unlike other silent films I have seen, this film wasn't filled with hokey acting and unimpressive, jerky camerawork, and it gets a bunch of props for that. The Odessa Massacre that occurs in this film is quite suprisingly bloody and exciting, and has been homaged many times in later cinematic history. It still has that major hump to get over of making my enjoy a silent film from the 20s, but it gets further over the hump than most...even if the film does come across as incredible communist propaganda. But then again, I guess that is why it is famous.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
Grade: B 08/26/2009
Unlike other silent films I have seen, this film wasn't filled with hokey acting and unimpressive, jerky camerawork, and it gets a bunch of props for that. The Odessa Massacre that occurs in this film is quite suprisingly bloody and exciting, and has been homaged many times in later cinematic history. It still has that major hump to get over of making my enjoy a silent film from the 20s, but it gets further over the hump than most...even if the film does come across as incredible communist propaganda. But then again, I guess that is why it is famous.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
The Phantom of the Opera
Grade: B 09/24/2009
On par with Bela Lugosi's DRACULA, and infinitely better than Boris Karloff's FRANKENSTEIN, Lon Chaney's Phantom is a truly frightening character. This silent film never fails to entertain, and the locations of the Paris opera house and the dungeons beneath, are superb. I was astonished during the masquerade ball when everything turned to technicolor...I thought it was unheard of back when this movie was made. We all know the story, and it is almost impossible to watch without expecting to hear some Andrew Lloyd Weber music...but this is a classic monster movie.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
Grade: B 09/24/2009
On par with Bela Lugosi's DRACULA, and infinitely better than Boris Karloff's FRANKENSTEIN, Lon Chaney's Phantom is a truly frightening character. This silent film never fails to entertain, and the locations of the Paris opera house and the dungeons beneath, are superb. I was astonished during the masquerade ball when everything turned to technicolor...I thought it was unheard of back when this movie was made. We all know the story, and it is almost impossible to watch without expecting to hear some Andrew Lloyd Weber music...but this is a classic monster movie.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
Seven Chances
Grade: C 04/17/2012
I'm knocking out these Buster Keaton comedies pretty efficiently, but this one pales in comparison to the earlier efforts. The story about a man who needs to be married in the next 24hrs or lose out on a huge inheritance is so boring and contrived. I know it may have been novel in 1925, but that doesn't make it interesting now. The final 10 minutes or so is a Buster Keaton classic-style chase from innumerable brides, and that is of course fun and exciting as Keaton risks his life for his stunts...but overall it is just a simpler film in comparison to his other films.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die
Grade: C 04/17/2012
I'm knocking out these Buster Keaton comedies pretty efficiently, but this one pales in comparison to the earlier efforts. The story about a man who needs to be married in the next 24hrs or lose out on a huge inheritance is so boring and contrived. I know it may have been novel in 1925, but that doesn't make it interesting now. The final 10 minutes or so is a Buster Keaton classic-style chase from innumerable brides, and that is of course fun and exciting as Keaton risks his life for his stunts...but overall it is just a simpler film in comparison to his other films.
1001 Movie to See Before You Die