Login
Home
189 Lists
2424 Reviews
CollectionsA very effective silent film of a classic
Posted : 2 years, 3 months ago on 6 August 2022 02:50
(A review of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde)The story itself is classic status, with an iconic titular character that is been imitated many a time but rarely equalled and a story that still chills me to the bone every time I read it. This 1920 silent film is very effective. For my money the best Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is the 1931 film with Fredric March(I was disappointed in the 1941 film with Spencer Tracy personally). This still doesn't stop me from really liking this though. Some of it is rather slow, and not helped by some sequences that could've been shorter or excised. However, the costumes, sets and photography are wonderful and not at all dated, all the pivotal scenes are done with the correct atmosphere- true the transformation sequence is overdone slightly but it is also quite scary- and the ending doesn't disappoint either. The direction is skillful, and John Barrymore is superb and genuinely frightening especially with the eyes and the hands. Overall, very effective. 8/10 Bethany Cox
0 comments, Reply to this entry
Lavishly-designed, with wonderful music!
Posted : 2 years, 3 months ago on 6 August 2022 01:56
(A review of The Phantom of the Opera)Andrew Lloyd Webber's stage hit is given justice in this sumptuous film version, that benefits from stunning sets and extravagant costumes, making the attention to detail evident here. Joel Schummacher's direction is very good in this film, it is hard to believe that this is the same director who directed the disastrous Batman and Robin. The music is just wonderful, with dark and poignant melodies and motifs that fit the very dark story, not to mention sad. People have complained that the film has too much music, almost all of it is sung, but it is a musical, set in an opera house bear in mind. The performances are excellent, Gerard Butler quite terrifying as Phantom, and Emmy Rosum as beautiful as ever as Christine. I liked the performances of Patrick Wilson, Miranda Richardson and Minnie Driver(as Carlotta). The film does have some truly sad moments, like Christine at the grave yard and of course the heart-rending ending, though I didn't understand it when I first saw it. My only complaints are that the film is a little too long, and also in Angel of Music particularly, there were times when the lips of the actors weren't in time with the singing. Apart from these flaws, a truly beautiful film, one that is dark and sad, and one that is once seen never-forgotten. 8/10 Bethany Cox.
0 comments, Reply to this entry
A contender for THE movie of the 1920s
Posted : 2 years, 3 months ago on 6 August 2022 01:04
(A review of The Passion of Joan of Arc)As much as I did love Metropolis, The Gold Rush and Faust(1926), The Passion of Joan of Arc is a contender for the movie of the 1920s, that's how amazing it is. It is an incredibly well made film, it draws on artistic styles from the Renaissance through to the avant-garde and with all the symbolic angles, zooms, tilts and pan shoots the photography is spellbinding and captures the authentic costumes, sets and scenery wonderfully.
The Passion of Joan of Arc is also a very haunting film, as what it does have is an atmosphere that is so genuine and unsettling. It is beautifully directed by Carl Th Dreyer, and the story based on trial records is highly compelling and genuinely dramatically intense in its action. Other than the atmosphere and visuals, what makes The Passion of Joan of Arc is the lead performance. Sincere and personal, Maria Renee Falconetti is absolutely astonishing.
All in all, amazing and dare I say a milestone not only of its decade and genre but of film in general. 10/10 Bethany Cox
The Passion of Joan of Arc is also a very haunting film, as what it does have is an atmosphere that is so genuine and unsettling. It is beautifully directed by Carl Th Dreyer, and the story based on trial records is highly compelling and genuinely dramatically intense in its action. Other than the atmosphere and visuals, what makes The Passion of Joan of Arc is the lead performance. Sincere and personal, Maria Renee Falconetti is absolutely astonishing.
All in all, amazing and dare I say a milestone not only of its decade and genre but of film in general. 10/10 Bethany Cox
0 comments, Reply to this entry
10. The Alien
Posted : 2 years, 3 months ago on 6 August 2022 08:09
(A review of Xenomorphs)The Alien series (1979-2017)
When Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett wrote their treatment for Star Beast back in the mid-’70s, they can have had little idea they were creating one of the most enduring monsters in cinema. Delivered by Ridley Scott, nurtured by James Cameron and subsequently used (and abused) by countless films, comics and games over the decades, the Alien is most effectively summed up by Ian Holm’s Ash: “The perfect organism. Its structural perfection is matched only by its hostility... A survivor; unclouded by conscience, remorse, or delusions of morality.”
[Link removed - login to see] [Link removed - login to see] [Link removed - login to see]
When Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett wrote their treatment for Star Beast back in the mid-’70s, they can have had little idea they were creating one of the most enduring monsters in cinema. Delivered by Ridley Scott, nurtured by James Cameron and subsequently used (and abused) by countless films, comics and games over the decades, the Alien is most effectively summed up by Ian Holm’s Ash: “The perfect organism. Its structural perfection is matched only by its hostility... A survivor; unclouded by conscience, remorse, or delusions of morality.”
[Link removed - login to see] [Link removed - login to see] [Link removed - login to see]
0 comments, Reply to this entry
Nostalgia that roars
Posted : 2 years, 3 months ago on 5 August 2022 10:56
(A review of The Roaring Twenties (1939))1939 was such a classic, milestone year for film cinema. So many great films, 'The Wizard of Oz' and 'Gone With the Wind' even being masterpieces. 'The Roaring Twenties' had a lot of talent involved, James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart both had career full of great and more performances and Raoul Walsh (in a different film for him at this stage of his career) sure could direct. Also like the genre 'The Roaring Twenties' fits under.
'The Roaring Twenties' did not disappoint. While it is quite rightly highly regarded today, considered by quite a number of people a genre classic and great representations of both Cagney and Bogart, it is a shame that it was over-shadowed by a lot of other films that year and doesn't get as much attention. 'The Roaring Twenties' may not quite be a film milestone in the way that the best films from such a great year are, but it is a great film in my view and deserves the high praise it gets.
It is not quite perfect, with it being a bit of a slow starter and a film that didn't grab my attention straightaway.
Luckily, 'The Roaring Twenties' got going very quickly. And when it did get going, boy did it blister. The photography is atmospheric and very stylish, the noir-ish lighting also adding to the impact. Was amazed at how evocative the Prohibition setting was. The music is appropriately moody without getting bombastic or syrupy and Walsh's direction is remarkably skillful in how vividly the deceptively gleaming yet very ominous at times setting is portrayed. As well in generating suspense.
Something that 'The Roaring Twenties' does incredibly well in. The script has a sharp wit and tight tautness, with some quite hard to forget quotes. Cagney's last line, one of his greatest, really stands out, the very last line of the whole film likewise. Also really loved the hard boiled edge exchanges of dialogue between Eddie and George, delivering on the entertainment value too. The story is both entertaining and suspenseful, especially in the exciting final third. Cagney's exit is one of his greatest.
Characters are well written, personally found George and especially Eddie (very meaty) very well defined. The acting is just right, Cagney is just terrific in a role that is so perfect for him and one that he played extremely well and better than most in that type of role. Bogart has great laconic intensity and steel, giving one of his best pre-'Casablanca' performances.
Altogether, great. 9/10
'The Roaring Twenties' did not disappoint. While it is quite rightly highly regarded today, considered by quite a number of people a genre classic and great representations of both Cagney and Bogart, it is a shame that it was over-shadowed by a lot of other films that year and doesn't get as much attention. 'The Roaring Twenties' may not quite be a film milestone in the way that the best films from such a great year are, but it is a great film in my view and deserves the high praise it gets.
It is not quite perfect, with it being a bit of a slow starter and a film that didn't grab my attention straightaway.
Luckily, 'The Roaring Twenties' got going very quickly. And when it did get going, boy did it blister. The photography is atmospheric and very stylish, the noir-ish lighting also adding to the impact. Was amazed at how evocative the Prohibition setting was. The music is appropriately moody without getting bombastic or syrupy and Walsh's direction is remarkably skillful in how vividly the deceptively gleaming yet very ominous at times setting is portrayed. As well in generating suspense.
Something that 'The Roaring Twenties' does incredibly well in. The script has a sharp wit and tight tautness, with some quite hard to forget quotes. Cagney's last line, one of his greatest, really stands out, the very last line of the whole film likewise. Also really loved the hard boiled edge exchanges of dialogue between Eddie and George, delivering on the entertainment value too. The story is both entertaining and suspenseful, especially in the exciting final third. Cagney's exit is one of his greatest.
Characters are well written, personally found George and especially Eddie (very meaty) very well defined. The acting is just right, Cagney is just terrific in a role that is so perfect for him and one that he played extremely well and better than most in that type of role. Bogart has great laconic intensity and steel, giving one of his best pre-'Casablanca' performances.
Altogether, great. 9/10
0 comments, Reply to this entry
Good and bad
Posted : 2 years, 3 months ago on 5 August 2022 10:02
(A review of Angels with Dirty Faces)Had a lot of high hopes for 'Angels With Dirty Faces'. There are many great gangster films out there, some cinematic milestones, and when one talks about actors that excelled in this type of film James Cagney is somewhere near the top of the list. Really like to love a lot of Michael Curtiz's, a great and very versatile director, films, especially 'Casablanca', 'The Adventures of Robin Hood' and 'Mildred Pierce' and even lesser efforts are watchable.
'Angels With Dirty Faces' blew me away. It is up there with the best gangster films of all time to me and many others, which is evident from how massively influential it is and how often it's imitated. 'Angels With Dirty Faces' is also one of Curtiz's best films, well certainly among my favourites of his as of now anyway, one of Cagney's finest hours and has an ending (justifiably near-universally lauded) that left a huge impression on me emotionally.
It is a wonderful looking film, Curtiz's films were always well made and his visual style was actually pretty unique at the time. While the production design is atmospheric and the lighting very artistic and moody, it was the cinematography that left me spellbound. Not just the stunning composition and how much it enhanced the atmosphere but also the use of camera angles, very varied kinds without being gimmicky and it is always fluid and ambitious.
Max Steiner's score swells sumptuously and thrillingly and is very haunting and effectively dramatic. Without being intrusive or strident. Curtiz's direction is exemplary, the classy stylishness and boldness evident throughout. It shines especially at the end, well pretty much everything shines at this point. The script is gritty and lean yet also sophisticated and sincere. Some of it is quotable too.
The story has so much great with it too. It is fast paced and appropriately tough as nails, while also having emotional impact. The chemistry between Cagney and Pat O'Brien and Cagney and Humphrey Bogart have sincerity and hard boiled tension and the moral, one still having a lot of truth now, makes its point without beating one around the head. The shoot out is thrilling and suspensefully staged, and the Dead End Kids' moments have heart and levity, but the highlight dramatically is the ending. Can't begin to tell you how powerful it is, my gut was practically wrenched watching it and after my heart was ripped into two. The characters are interesting, even though Rocky was very flawed it was hard to hate him.
Cagney is magnificent and shows why his reputation as an icon in gangster films is richly deserved. It is an intense and bold yet oddly likeable performance and one of his best, his acting at the end is some of the best he ever did. O'Brien is sincere and a powerful contrast while Bogart plays a weasel of a character pretty chillingly. The Dead End Kids add a lot too.
Altogether, brilliant. 10/10
'Angels With Dirty Faces' blew me away. It is up there with the best gangster films of all time to me and many others, which is evident from how massively influential it is and how often it's imitated. 'Angels With Dirty Faces' is also one of Curtiz's best films, well certainly among my favourites of his as of now anyway, one of Cagney's finest hours and has an ending (justifiably near-universally lauded) that left a huge impression on me emotionally.
It is a wonderful looking film, Curtiz's films were always well made and his visual style was actually pretty unique at the time. While the production design is atmospheric and the lighting very artistic and moody, it was the cinematography that left me spellbound. Not just the stunning composition and how much it enhanced the atmosphere but also the use of camera angles, very varied kinds without being gimmicky and it is always fluid and ambitious.
Max Steiner's score swells sumptuously and thrillingly and is very haunting and effectively dramatic. Without being intrusive or strident. Curtiz's direction is exemplary, the classy stylishness and boldness evident throughout. It shines especially at the end, well pretty much everything shines at this point. The script is gritty and lean yet also sophisticated and sincere. Some of it is quotable too.
The story has so much great with it too. It is fast paced and appropriately tough as nails, while also having emotional impact. The chemistry between Cagney and Pat O'Brien and Cagney and Humphrey Bogart have sincerity and hard boiled tension and the moral, one still having a lot of truth now, makes its point without beating one around the head. The shoot out is thrilling and suspensefully staged, and the Dead End Kids' moments have heart and levity, but the highlight dramatically is the ending. Can't begin to tell you how powerful it is, my gut was practically wrenched watching it and after my heart was ripped into two. The characters are interesting, even though Rocky was very flawed it was hard to hate him.
Cagney is magnificent and shows why his reputation as an icon in gangster films is richly deserved. It is an intense and bold yet oddly likeable performance and one of his best, his acting at the end is some of the best he ever did. O'Brien is sincere and a powerful contrast while Bogart plays a weasel of a character pretty chillingly. The Dead End Kids add a lot too.
Altogether, brilliant. 10/10
0 comments, Reply to this entry
Entertaining and fun to watch, if not exceptional
Posted : 2 years, 3 months ago on 5 August 2022 09:26
(A review of Kung Fu Panda)Overall, I did enjoy Kung Fu Panda, but I don't put it up there with Dreamworks' best. Apart from Po and Shifu(and possibly the film's villain, splendidly voiced by Ian McShane) the film is lacking in its character development, while the story while well constructed, original and fresh has its predictable parts and the message is a little over-familiar. However, when it comes to the visuals, there is nothing to fault, the whole film with its gorgeous colours and backgrounds looks wonderful. The score is excellent as well, and I can see that there was care to make it sound authentic. The script is witty, funny and smart, the pace is bright and breezy and the voice acting is solid across the board- Dustin Hoffmann is perfectly cast while Jack Black does a great job voicing one of his more likable characters. In conclusion, very entertaining film, but it didn't wow me completely. 7/10 Bethany Cox
0 comments, Reply to this entry
Small time in the Big Easy
Posted : 2 years, 3 months ago on 5 August 2022 08:54
(A review of Little Caesar (1931))'Little Caesar' had many interest points. Edward G. Robinson was a fine actor, who dominated when in lead roles and stole scenes in support. Mervyn LeRoy, in one of his earliest films here, went on to do a lot of solid and more films. Douglas Fairbanks Jr was good in the right roles and Glenda Farrell also had a knack for scene stealing. Also highly appreciate gangster pictures and have done so for some time now, ever since seeing 'The Godfather' for the first time ten years ago.
Is 'Little Caesar' one of the best gangster films? Definitely not, others have held up much better. Regardless of what one's opinion of the film though (and it is an easy target for criticism as well as praise), it is hard to deny that it was ground-breaking and important to the development and history of the gangster film. 'Little Caesar' was also the film that propelled Robinson to stardom and put him on the map, one can completely see why judging from his performance here. It is also one of overall LeRoy's better early films, though he did do a lot better since.
Robinson is absolutely terrific in 'Little Caesar'. Tough as nails, smart and deeply charismatic, he dominates every scene effortlessly without getting over hammy. Although the rest of the acting was on the most part not very good, Fairbanks is suitably carefree in an amiable way and Farrell is wonderfully scathing despite her role being thankless. LeRoy's direction has a nice style and verve.
The film also looks good, with some noir-ish lighting and inventive enough photography to stop things from looking static. Some atmospheric set design too, and some nice use of sound. The script is generally taut and has the right amount of grit and bite. The final line is unforgettable. The story has the bold tough as nails approach with some nice suspense. The ending is also memorable.
Despite Robinson being so great and Fairbanks and Farrell being more than game too, it is a shame that the rest of the acting is really not too good. Being either over the top or wooden, one of the worst offenders being Thomas E. Jackson.
Generally the characters are cliched ciphers with next to no development, even Rico himself could have done with more depth. The editing occasionally could have done with more fluidity.
On the whole, good and important but better was to come of this type of film. 7/10
Is 'Little Caesar' one of the best gangster films? Definitely not, others have held up much better. Regardless of what one's opinion of the film though (and it is an easy target for criticism as well as praise), it is hard to deny that it was ground-breaking and important to the development and history of the gangster film. 'Little Caesar' was also the film that propelled Robinson to stardom and put him on the map, one can completely see why judging from his performance here. It is also one of overall LeRoy's better early films, though he did do a lot better since.
Robinson is absolutely terrific in 'Little Caesar'. Tough as nails, smart and deeply charismatic, he dominates every scene effortlessly without getting over hammy. Although the rest of the acting was on the most part not very good, Fairbanks is suitably carefree in an amiable way and Farrell is wonderfully scathing despite her role being thankless. LeRoy's direction has a nice style and verve.
The film also looks good, with some noir-ish lighting and inventive enough photography to stop things from looking static. Some atmospheric set design too, and some nice use of sound. The script is generally taut and has the right amount of grit and bite. The final line is unforgettable. The story has the bold tough as nails approach with some nice suspense. The ending is also memorable.
Despite Robinson being so great and Fairbanks and Farrell being more than game too, it is a shame that the rest of the acting is really not too good. Being either over the top or wooden, one of the worst offenders being Thomas E. Jackson.
Generally the characters are cliched ciphers with next to no development, even Rico himself could have done with more depth. The editing occasionally could have done with more fluidity.
On the whole, good and important but better was to come of this type of film. 7/10
0 comments, Reply to this entry
Tough enemy
Posted : 2 years, 3 months ago on 5 August 2022 08:31
(A review of The Public Enemy)There was no real doubt that 'The Public Enemy' would be great. There were many great gangster films at the time that far from played it safe and were actually remarkably bold. William A Wellman was always great at taking difficult and quite heavy stories and giving them a sensitive yet packing a big punch while not pulling back in any way. Have for a while really liked James Cagney and it was interesting to see him in the film that shed the image that he had before taking on tougher roles.
Luckily, 'The Public Enemy' did not disappoint. Wellman did a lot of fine films in the 30s and 'The Public Enemy' is absolutely one of them, one of the best. It is a great representation of Cagney, who shows perfectly why these sort of roles suited him so well, and of gangster films at the time. Showing that they were as gritty and bold back in the 30s as the more deliberate but still enthralling ones still being made 30+ years later, prime examples being the first two 'The Godfather' films and 'Goodfellas'.
My only complaint is that it is agreed that the undergoing of the brother's personality was on the far-fetched side.
Everything else though works absolutely brilliantly. The photography is continually clever and stylish with lots of atmosphere in how it's lit. The dialogue really crackles in sharp wit, tautness and intensity. There is nothing sentimental about the story, it is still as tough as nails and actually think that the daring edge has not been lost and it doesn't feel tame. It is suspenseful and is fast moving, racing along pretty much, without being too hasty and nothing feels confused.
Particularly unforgettable is the justifiably famous grapefruit scene, a scene that one is shocked that it was filmed in the first place and made it in. Wellman successfully keeps the suspense going and as ever his pulling no punches approach to bold material is admirable.
Characterisation is interesting, with one heck of a meaty lead character. Actually thought that the supporting cast were good, but Cagney, in a breakout role that transformed him from song and dance man to ruthless tough guy, is in a completely different league in a staggeringly powerful performance.
On the whole, great and would even go as far to say that it's a near-classic. 9/10
Luckily, 'The Public Enemy' did not disappoint. Wellman did a lot of fine films in the 30s and 'The Public Enemy' is absolutely one of them, one of the best. It is a great representation of Cagney, who shows perfectly why these sort of roles suited him so well, and of gangster films at the time. Showing that they were as gritty and bold back in the 30s as the more deliberate but still enthralling ones still being made 30+ years later, prime examples being the first two 'The Godfather' films and 'Goodfellas'.
My only complaint is that it is agreed that the undergoing of the brother's personality was on the far-fetched side.
Everything else though works absolutely brilliantly. The photography is continually clever and stylish with lots of atmosphere in how it's lit. The dialogue really crackles in sharp wit, tautness and intensity. There is nothing sentimental about the story, it is still as tough as nails and actually think that the daring edge has not been lost and it doesn't feel tame. It is suspenseful and is fast moving, racing along pretty much, without being too hasty and nothing feels confused.
Particularly unforgettable is the justifiably famous grapefruit scene, a scene that one is shocked that it was filmed in the first place and made it in. Wellman successfully keeps the suspense going and as ever his pulling no punches approach to bold material is admirable.
Characterisation is interesting, with one heck of a meaty lead character. Actually thought that the supporting cast were good, but Cagney, in a breakout role that transformed him from song and dance man to ruthless tough guy, is in a completely different league in a staggeringly powerful performance.
On the whole, great and would even go as far to say that it's a near-classic. 9/10
0 comments, Reply to this entry
Brilliant and ahead of its time
Posted : 2 years, 3 months ago on 5 August 2022 08:02
(A review of Scarface (1932))Scarface doesn't make my favourite movies list, but it is a brilliant film. While people may say the 1983 remake is better, I'd say this is better by quite a significant margin. The film does look good, the cinematography is skillful and the costumes and sets are top-drawer. The script is excellent, and the story draws you in and never lets go.
The film also moves very briskly, without feeling too rushed, and while the film is quite short, if I had a slight criticism it could have been a tad longer, a lot of other factors make it not matter that much. The direction from Howard Hawks is also superb, while the violence and innuendos was and is shocking for its time(this is what I and other people mean by it being ahead of its time). The acting is fine, Paul Muni is quite brilliant, Ann Dvorak is sexy and surprisingly good in her acting and Boris Karloff is also very good. It does helps that the characters are credible at least.
So all in all, this is a brilliant film and definitely worth seeing. 9/10 Bethany Cox
The film also moves very briskly, without feeling too rushed, and while the film is quite short, if I had a slight criticism it could have been a tad longer, a lot of other factors make it not matter that much. The direction from Howard Hawks is also superb, while the violence and innuendos was and is shocking for its time(this is what I and other people mean by it being ahead of its time). The acting is fine, Paul Muni is quite brilliant, Ann Dvorak is sexy and surprisingly good in her acting and Boris Karloff is also very good. It does helps that the characters are credible at least.
So all in all, this is a brilliant film and definitely worth seeing. 9/10 Bethany Cox
0 comments, Reply to this entry