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All reviews - Movies (21) - TV Shows (3) - DVDs (1) - Books (11)

Mary Poppins review

Posted : 4 years, 10 months ago on 4 June 2019 11:57 (A review of Mary Poppins)

This is a masterpiece of a film, I absolutely love this. Julie Andrews is more than splendid as the nanny, and I absolutely love her voice. Dick Van Dyke, despite the accent, should have gotten an award for his performance for sheer energy and enthusiasm, but I liked him marginally better in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. David Tomblinson is a blast as the father, as are the children. There is solid support also from the likes of Glynnis Johns, Hermione Baddely and Elsa Lanchester. (who I believe was Charles Laughton's wife) Plus Ed Wynn in a hilarious characterisation as Uncle Albert. The songs and choreography are what makes so timeless, as well as the outstanding animated sequences. One of my favourite scenes was the one on the ceiling, with the terrible jokes, but you couldn't help laughing at the ridiculousness of it all. In contrast Mr Banks walking to his financial doom ties with Feed the Birds as the most moving scene of the film. It also teaches some nice family values as well. I highly recommend this film. 10/10, without a shadow of a doubt.


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The Bride of Frankenstein review

Posted : 4 years, 10 months ago on 4 June 2019 11:52 (A review of The Bride of Frankenstein)

Reactions to this, James Whale's ageless masterpiece, are varied; some say it just could be the Greatest Horror Film Ever Made, some think it's just an overblown tongue-in-cheek comedy sham. Probably Whale himself would have been the first to label his picture a "farce", but count me among those who think it's a brilliant piece of work, well in consideration as one of the undisputed top-tier horror classics of any decade. It qualifies as horror, but mostly plays along more like a child's twisted storybook fantasy. It's renowned as one of the few movie sequels which may be considered even better than its original (in this case, that would be James Whale's 1931 FRANKENSTEIN). While I think both films are excellent, with the first being more serious in tone than its follow-up, I'd give the hair's edge to BRIDE.


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Scarface (1932) review

Posted : 4 years, 10 months ago on 4 June 2019 11:48 (A review of Scarface (1932))

One of the best directors ever makes one of the best films ever: Howard Hawks makes "Scarface". Everything is outstanding in this masterpiece of cinema, the exciting, neatly told story of the raise and fall of Tony Camonte (Al Capone's alter-ego). Powerful script, magnificent black and white photography, excellent camera-work, an important and courageous social message, just four years after the St. Valentine's massacre.


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Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw review

Posted : 4 years, 11 months ago on 28 May 2019 12:54 (A review of Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw)

This is where Lynda Carter got her start. Prior of becoming the Amazing Amazon(Wonder Woman), she plays Bobbie Jo Baker in "Bobbie Jo and The Outlaw". In this film, she starts off as a choosy woman who wants to get away from the small town of life, and explore more than what she sees. At the car hop, she meets a man who rides a stolen muscle car, and is quick with a hand gun. His name is Lyle(Marjoe Gortner), a rebel in the making. His love for the Old West makes Bobbie Jo very interested in him. But along the way, he and his friend started to do some things that sort of cross the line. For starters, killing the security guard at a truck stop. When Effie tagged along with Bobbie Jo and Lyle, she wanted to make sure that Lyle and friends are in one piece. Unfortunately, she ended up being the casualty. The shooting is tame. Not too violent. But it is very watchable. I enjoyed it very well. 5 stars


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Wonder Woman review

Posted : 4 years, 11 months ago on 28 May 2019 12:45 (A review of Wonder Woman)

Lynda Carter seemed to hit her stride in the part as the series continued and she is often so charming and innocent that you can't help but like her. Her values and strength of character are idealistic, but they're also missing in today's female heroes, who are so dark sometimes, they lose their charm. In many ways, watching Lynda as Wonder Woman is a breath of fresh air and of course, there still doesn't seem to be a woman other than her who could wear that outfit and pull it off. When Wonder Woman first walks on the city streets in the pilot, you don't know what to think, but Lynda plays her so innocently she's fantastic.

She is the driving force, but the innocent quality of the show (good vs. bad) is unique from today's perspective. The comic book captions at the leads of scenes give it a tie to the comics. The guest stars are often interesting and have good roles and Lyle Waggoner is consistent in a rather thankless role as Steve Trevor.


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Green Grass, Running Water review

Posted : 4 years, 11 months ago on 27 May 2019 11:38 (A review of Green Grass, Running Water)

The format of this novel and the cyclical oral tradition/literary mashup that King presents us with is fantastic, interesting, and satirical of canon, as well as Western & Native cultures. The three levels of narration are intriguing and although they may complicate the story at times, they provide a certain amusement and insight that would not otherwise be possible. The characters are believable and lovable and when the novel is finished you will feel as if you have lost a close friend. The part that I most enjoyed, however, was King's humour. Witty and satirical and just out-right funny, it was a great. I highly recommend this book to all adult readers!


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The Warlock of Love review

Posted : 4 years, 11 months ago on 27 May 2019 11:27 (A review of The Warlock of Love)

Absolutely mad but beautifully so! From the man who wrote "Graceful fat Sheba, she works with a meat cleaver, sweating behind the meat counter..." comes a book of poems that play with words, twisting them, turning them, growing them into unexpected shapes and patterns and creating a deliciously crazy poetry that no-one else has ever matched!


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The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921) review

Posted : 4 years, 11 months ago on 21 May 2019 12:36 (A review of The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921))

Rudolph Valentino's breakthrough role as Julio is in some ways his best, and it's a shame that this film isn't better known to day. A large part of the film is devoted to the decline in fortunes of Madrigal's French son-in-law after he returns to France with his family, but the most memorable portions of this part of the film are Julio's wooing of Marguerite, the unhappy wife of a much older man and Julio's reluctant entry into the war. Initially he continues his wastrel life in Paris as an artist of sorts, as indifferent as Rhett Butler to the war around him, but eventually he finds himself drawn into the conflict, not because he is anymore convinced that the war is for a good cause as that, with the casualties mounting up every day, he simply feels too ashamed to continue living his soft life as a lounge lizard. The ending relies heavily on Dickensian coincidence but is devastating nonetheless.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse is one of the best films of the silent era.


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The Sheik review

Posted : 4 years, 11 months ago on 21 May 2019 12:27 (A review of The Sheik)

A significant milestone in movie history and therefore should be watched as such. It's a reasonably well produced romantic action film, which carries you along (if you let it) to the corny and contrived ending. Remember also Valentino at this time in his life, was newly and madly in love with the love of his life, Natasha and he is just radiant throughout this whole film. It's been said that he along with the rest of the cast and crew had the time of their lives romping through the desert making this film. It truly shows. There is nothing better than to see this gifted and talented man act while he is probably at his most happiest in life. I assure all that I thoroughly enjoyed The Sheik and thus recommend it.


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Cleopatra review

Posted : 4 years, 11 months ago on 6 May 2019 08:35 (A review of Cleopatra)

The presentation is first class: the sets, props, costumes, location photography, and music are all of the caliber befitting the grandiose ambition of the production. I personally found the acting by the truly all-star cast to be uniformly excellent throughout with McDowall's Octavian and Harrison's Caesar deserving special mention. Taylor deserved the million dollars she got for the title role and Burton's occasional scenery chewing didn't detract significantly from his interpretation of Mark Antony.


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