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The Artist isn't a very original story, true. There are obvious traces taken from A Star is Born (which version? Take your pick), Singin' in the Rain, Modern Times, and Michel Hazanavicius' beloved Billy Wilder, not to mention the work and life of Valentino and Clara Bow.

But it's the execution is what makes it so incredible. It's a brilliant combination of vintage and modern sensibilities meshed together. I'm extremely glad that it won Best Picture, and I truly hope it brings a much-needed revival of interest for silent cinema.

Snow white and the seven dwarfs

My friend wants to see "Snowwhite and the huntsman" so I told him about this Disney-classic which he had never seen before. So we watched it together.

I am Legend

Just wanted to see this movie once. I had heard a lot of it and I was curious. I expected the ending would be rather bleak, but it was sort of happy.

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It should be a law that everyone born be required to watch Snow White at least once in their life.

Hondo (1953) Blu-ray

Among the new releases this past week on Blu-ray was this rare rarely seen least known John Wayne western from the era of 3-D movies of the early 50's.

I was very pleased how Batjac, Paramount and Warner Bros. combine their efforts to make this release as prestine and fault-free as possible.

John Wayne plays loner Hondo Lane who wanders into a farm run by Geraldine Page, who along with her son, played by Lee Aker take him in for the night. Willing to earn his keep around the farm, Wayne reshoes all the horses, and breaks one for himself. He warns Page about the uprising of the Apache tribes and tries to get her to go with him to the fort he is heading for.

This film is one of the last films that took advantage of the 3-D photographic process and according to the "Making Of" extras on the disc, it was the biggest mistake that they could ever make. Originally scheduled for a 12 week shoot in Mexico, with weather and the weight of hauling the 3-D cameras around the company was soon very far behind schedule. Far enough that the last 15 minutes of the film, including the final Apache attack on the military wagon train, were directed by John Ford, taking over from John Farrow, who had a previous obligation he had to attend to.

The supporting cast in this film reads like a who's who in Hollywood with stars like Ward Bond, James Arness, and Michael Pate included. At only 83 minutes including the Intermission, this is a very good John Wayne western and was one of his favorites.

On a scale of 1 to 5, the Junkie Meter moves to a strong 4 for this classic western.

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The only way to watch movies - Original Aspect Ratio!!!!
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Ratings based on a 5 star method.
[Blue = 1st time rating and/or viewing]

The Three Musketeers (2011) ✰✰
[^ Flashy sword fighting, flashy costumes, flashy flying machines(?!), same central storyline told poorly–"voilà!" All for clique and clique for all.]
Darling Companion (2012) ✰
[^ Didn't want to go see Mirror, Mirror with the family, so I decided to recklessly see a movie I never saw previews for and know nothing about. Big mistake. It's a boring, pointless dog story. Avoid it.]
The Three Musketeers (1993) ✰✰1/2
[^ Thought I heal from the new 3M movie with the Disney one I remember fondly. It's not much better and doesn't live up to memory.Like Charlie Sheen as Aramis wasn't as annoying when I knew nothing about him.]
Bad Blood: The Hatfields and McCoys (2012) ✰✰
[^ Ok low budget western. My rating rests mainly on substandard acting and the false lure of Redbox. We we're mislead into thinking that this was the recent History channel TV miniseries. Should've realized that a DVD was too quick in coming.]
War Horse (2011) ✰✰✰✰
[^ 2nd viewing. Wasn't as emotional this time. I think the theater's surround sound made this film 10x more powerful. ]
Red Tails (2012) ✰✰✰
[^ Historical events aside, it's a predictable war movie. My 10-year-old brother guessed right away who was gonna die. I would have rather read a book version.]

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Silly Symphony wrote:


I really like reading your capsulated reviews and really like your rating of most films you watch.

Since you have watched two renditions of Three Musketeers, I would like to recommend to you the 1973 version which is my favorite. It stars Richard Chamberlain, Oliver Reed, Michael York, Raqual Welch, and Charlton Heston. It is a lot better than either of the versions you watched, especially the Disney version which is so far away from the book, it makes me cry to think there a people who actually liked that film.

Both Three Musketeers and its sequel Four Musketeers are available on DVD in the form of "The Complete Musketeer Collection" and can be easily found at Amazon.com or usually at Costco for a pretty low price. If you haven't seen these two movies you are missing some really great entertainment, and all the extras on the DVD's are very insightful.

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The only way to watch movies - Original Aspect Ratio!!!!
I LOVE my Blu-Ray Disc Player!

It's funny that I mentioned A Star is Born the other day, because in lieu of Judy Garland's 90th birthday yesterday and my own boredom, I decided to watch her version on TCM. I've seen it before, 2 years ago, and thought it was mediocre. Although I'm still not and will never really be a fan of Garland, I enjoyed it a lot more this time.

It's a really good mix between drama and musical spectacular, and although I think Garland overreached too much in her projection, she was quite good here. And James Mason has never done a bad performance, IMO, so of course I liked him in here as well.

Longford (2006)

Made for tv drama by HBO, about the idealist Longford, a British Lord who campaigned tirelessly for rehabilitation of inmates who had committed severe crimes. He firmly believed everybody should get a second chance. In this film, we see him befriending a woman who was complicit in the killing of several young children. Against the backlash of the public, the media and the government, Longford remains true to his ideals. For the longest time, it remains a big question whether or not the woman has indeed reformed and repented or that she is playing a naive Longford. She movie swings back and forth between those two opposite points of view, which keep it interesting up until the end. 7/10

Disney's Rapunzel (2010)

For the... 7th time? I lost count. I still love everything about this film. Though for the first time, it annoyed me a bit that 90% of the action takes place all within a few square acres of forest. Seems silly, but I miss the amazing backgrounds and surrounding of films like Aladdin and The Little Mermaid. Seemed like the 'scope' of the movie is a bit too small. Or is that the 3D backgrounds that I'm comparing to handdrawn ones unfavorably? Anyway, a minor point that can't change the fact that I still love the story, the songs, the humor, and most of all the characters of Rapunzel and Flyn and their chemistry. One of the best Disney has done in a very long time. 8.5/10

The Usual Suspects (1995)

A modern classic that I've seen more time than I care to remember. Although the thing that made it famous and beloved is the surprise twist at the end (one that you'll guaranteed to never forget), everything building up to it is a delight to watch. The five thieving and scheming protagonists are all colorful and lively; the dialogue is sharp and even hilarious at times; and the writing is intelligent. Even the soundtrack and editing deserve special mentioning for their ability to stand out from the forgettable fare we usually hear and see. If for nothing else, watch it for Kevin Spacey's performance. 9/10

Capote (2005)

Seldomly have I seen such an uninteresting film. Yet I kept watching and watching, waiting until it would get interesting... which it never did. I don't doubt that Philip Seymour Hofmann nailed the real Capote perfectly, but dman! was he annoying. I wanted to slap him everytime he opened his mouth. Makes it tough top sit through the entire film. The subject in and of itself was interesting enough, but the execution left too much to be desired. 5/10

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American Psycho - It was, um, interesting, I guess. Christian Bale was great, but I didn't entirely understand why he was killing all these people (maybe I missed it). And then I was confused about the ending; were the killings real, or was it all in Patrick's head? I don't really know. I guess it wasn't a total waste of my time. Maybe I should try watching it again and see if I like it more with another viewing.

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Thanks. I haven't had much time to write, recently due to exams and whatnot but I managed to squeeze one in.

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Fountain of Thought - My views on cinema past and present

The Sting (1973) Blu-ray 5/5

The most 'perfect' motion picture ever made. Winner of 7 Oscars, including Best Picture, it is probably the most fun you will have watching a movie.

Directed by George Roy Hill and starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, this is the story of a second-class grifter in the early 1930s, whose inability to hold on to money gets him in a lot of trouble. This one time in the film results in the death of Johnny Hooker's (Robert Redford) mentor Luther Coleman (Robert Earl Jones) and he is off to meet a con artist by the name of Henry Gondorf (Paul Newman). The almost perfect script just takes hold of you and never lets go until the final credits are run.

Featuring a cast of who's who in Hollywood, led by Robert Shaw as Doyle Lonnegan, the mobster who arranged to have Luther killed, Eileen Brennan as Gondorf's girlfriend, Billie, Charles Durning, Charles Napier, Sally Kirkland, and many, many more, this movie does not ever let up on what is happening with this tight con game. Redford and Newman are so good on the screen together, and watching the all-new Extras on the Blu-ray edition released last week, you learn about how little ad-libbing was done in this film.

If you haven't seen The Sting, I suggest you add it to your Netflix Queue and enjoy one of the best two hours you will ever seen in the movies.

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The only way to watch movies - Original Aspect Ratio!!!!
I LOVE my Blu-Ray Disc Player!

Snow-white and the Huntsman

Clearly an adaptation of the familiar fairy-tale with "Lord of the Ring"- like ambitions.The visuals are beautiful and Charlize Theron is quite memorable as the evil queen. I like the scene in which she consults the mirror and how she takes a milk-bath and rises out f it all covered in milk. The special effects are top-notch, very convincing. I really would like to know how they made normal-sized actors like Bob Hoskins look like a dwarf, not merely in height but in proportion too.
There is not so much in this film that reminds me of the Disney classic animated version of 1937: there are new twists in the tale, Snow-white is less naive and she is a lot like Joan of Arc, and the dwarfs are much rougher men. The director said he consciously avoided watching the Disney classic as a reference but I still see an echo of it when Snow white escapes and runs into the dark, frightening forest. And yes, she is also friends with the animals.

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See my growing collection of Disney movie-banners at:
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Oh man, yes! Yes! Yes!

Same here (although I have added another review to my blog fairly recently).

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http://onethousandandonemovienights.blogspot.com/

I don't remember when I first saw the film but the audio commentary explains almost everything pretty well. As does the documentary, where critic Amy Taubin guesses that the reason Patrick became a killer was because he felt too privilaged. The commentary and the comments by the director - Mary Harron - especially mention that the film is not a psychological portrait. So, it doesn't exactly matter if it never makes sense.

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4 Disney Atmosphere Images

Thanks, that's actually really helpful. I DVR'd it on Cinemax (I had it free this weekend), but I never really knew anything about it except that Christian Bale's in it. Maybe I'll see if my library has it so I can listen to the commentary.

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The Magnificent Seven (1960)

Still entertaining from beginning to end in this third viewing. I need only to see the first shot and hear the epic score by Elmer Bernstein to put me in the right mood. From there on, it's one big thrilling ride, without even one dull moment. I love everything about this movie: the characters, the outstanding all-star cast, the aforementioned perfect musical score, the suspense and the humor; it's all just perfect. Upon seeing the Making-Of, I recently bought Seven Samurai on dvd, the inspiration for this western. I'm very curious to see it, but it has to be awfully good if it wants to match this favorite of mine. 9/10

12 Angry Men (1957)

Another third viewing. I never get tired of this film. In fact, even after having recently seen it, just by thinking of it, I want to watch it again right now. It still impresses me how Sidney Lumet managed to make twelve men arguing in one single room for an hour and a half this captivating. He also deserves compliment for the perfect way he captured the heat and the tensed atmosphere. Whenever I watch this film, I can literally feel what it feels like on a hot summer afternoon. He would repeat this with equal succes in Dog Day Afternoon, another one of my favorites. It still intrigues me how Henry Fonda slowly convinces his fellow jurors one by one, detail by detail. Cleverly written and well acted all throughout. 9/10

The Big Sleep (1946)

Not as good as its reputation would have you believe, but interesting and intruiging nonetheless. Well acted, well told, well directed, but if you ask me what the film was all about... I couldn't tell you even if my life depended on it. I just remember it as a good film noir. 7.5/10

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The thing about The Big Sleep is that you can't explain what it's about- no one can. Not even Raymond Chandler, the author of the original book!

It's actually one of my favorite novels, and while I'm not big on the film as an adaptation, Bogie and Bacall's chemistry is irresistible, the rest of it is gloriously acted, and it's still a fun experience. I'd recommend it as a beginning noir, but I wouldn't rank it too high on the all-time greats.

The Amazing Bulk.

What... the... fuck... did I watched?

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Sounds like porn.

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