My children love this story. Given how truly subversive, or just plain awful, kids entertainment is these days, the old Disney classics are great to have around.

One thing that strikes me watching the movie as an adult is that the actors are the bad guys in the story. As they explain in the film, an actor’s life is one of selfish irresponsibility and is essentially hollow and meaningless. I like that. I like that a great deal.

If you have children, this is a safe, harmless ditty. Be mindful that Pinocchio does smoke a cigar and drink beer which may upset some parents. But those parents probably need to settle down. It is okay by me; my boys have a running shot of seeing me with a cigar and beer. As long as they don't partake until they are men, we're fine.




My long-suffering wife has just interjected that my children are also prone to seeing me turn into a jackass. That doesn't make being a jerk acceptable. Point taken.


Related Reviews:
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The Incredibles (2004)
Bambi (1942)


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Labels: animated, classic, Disney, film, movie review

Short Review: If there is a thing as a chick flick for guys, this would be it.


If this film doesn’t make you smile and set your mind to fond dreams you’re beyond help. This movie is beautiful on many levels and satisfying on each one. From the lush scenery of Ireland to the well-crafted to script to the well-crafted Maureen O’Hara, this is a movie for every man’s softer side.

John Wayne is portrays Sean Thornton, an American boxer who returns to Ireland to find peace and a new life. What he finds is spitfire Mary Kate Danaher (O’ Hara) and her brutish brother 'Red' Will Danaher (Victor McLaglen). Sean and Mary Kate build a relationship, albeit a contentious one. This central relationship is the true selling point of the film. Wayne and O'Hara have a real chemistry that I believe produces one of the strongest on-screen pairings ever.

Wayne’s usual stoic and slightly belligerent posture is toned down as he shows that his iconic presence is not some Hollywood creatio,n but a result of his natural charisma. If you know someone who dismisses Wayne as a hack, show them this film. John Wayne nails his role and gives O’Hara enough space to flower in hers. O’Hara’s performance is very seductive and organic. She almost steals the show. Think about it, she manages to upstage John Wayne in a John Ford film. This is no small task.

The cinematography by Winton Hoch (Joan of Arc, She Wore A Yellow Ribbon) is breathtaking and worth the price of the rental. The richness of the images on screen are rarely seen in film either back then or today. This film proves without equivocation that the effects of nature’s beauty are more special than any effects George Lucas or Spielberg can muster. Ireland is a stunning place and this movie may be its best travel brochure.

The film as a whole has a dream like quality. The world presented in the film is like Eden lined with pubs. I can’t think of a finer place to visit.


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The Horse Soldiers (1959)


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Labels: classic, film, John Ford, John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, movie review

Short Review: A classic of the silent era which reminds us that film should be an art form, not just a mode of entertainment.


This beautiful and haunting film is one of the great works of cinematic art. A French silent era gem, this movie is still potent nearly ninety years later. The imagery and editing are striking in their maturity given the freshness of the medium and can match much of what is being produced on a daily basis today. This revived film shows that today’s special effects and clever plot twists fail to compete with the artistry and intelligence of the master works.

We follow the trial of Joan of Arc from her time in front of the sneering court, through to her horrid death sentence - she is burned alive. Maria Falconetti’s portrayal of Joan of Arc is disturbing and powerful. Her vacant eyes express a woman who has seen the goodness of God and the evil of man. From the film’s cold opening to the brutal end, Falconetti offers one of the silent era great performances.

The film itself has a strange history. After releasing the film, director Carl Theodor Dreyer found his work of genius censored and reedited by The Catholic Church and French authorities. After the editing, the master print was destroyed. In other words, the original film was lost and all that remained was the edited copy that was forced upon the director. This meant that Dreyer was left patching his film together with previously rejected shots and scenes. Over the course of time the original negatives to the film were destroyed as were the remaining theatrical released reels. The film had been thought lost until a print master, of good quality, was discovered in an Oslo mental institution in 1981. What the heck a print of this film was doing there, I have no idea. After four years of studious reediting, the film was released once again in 1985.

Thankfully, this work of genius has survived and available for us to witness. To see this film now is actually troubling. This film reminds us that we have allowed film to become only a tool of entertainment. Film has the ability to be something more. Film is an art form that has the ability to transform and to offer us a window to the meaning in our lives. Films such as The Passion of Joan of Arc are a reminder of what the medium is capable of and calls for filmmakers to take their craft to a higher level.


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M (1931)
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Labels: classic, film, movie review, silent film

Along with Bambi, this film is the foundation of the entire Disney empire and for good reason. This is an intricate film that stands as one of the great pieces of animation. The script captures the perfect tone and paces the story marvelously. Like Sleeping Beauty, Snow White’s villain the Queen/Witch is a notable nemesis. Her motivation is easy to understand keeping her cruel plotting in clear context. When she arrives at Snow White’s doorstep with the poisoned apple, there is actual tension, which is remarkable for a decades old children’s movie.

If you know a kid who hasn’t seen this movie, you know a kid who isn’t being raised right. This is one of maybe three family movies I consider a must-see.


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Labels: animated, classic, Disney, film, movie review

This is a second (or third) tier Disney movie for a reason. The story of King Arthur gets some sight gags and animated animals. The animation is uninspired, the story lags and the characterization are flat. Imagine the tale of King Arthur and Arthur is a bore.

Children will probably find the physical jokes a hoot. The evil wolf and others are constantly falling down, spilling things over and bumping into things. All of these gags are shoehorned into distract from the lacking story.

There are far superior kids movies available, including many Disney films. Why waste your time with second (or third) rate material?


Related Reviews:
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Robots (2005)
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Labels: animated, classic, Disney, film, movie review

While not the best, it is one of Disney’s more memorable films. This is a case where the villain outshines the hero. The villain Maleficent is a fully conceived, potent nasty who overwhelms the precious heroine Princess Aurora. Aurora is a wisp of a girl who has little going on other than her relationship with Prince Phillip.

The film is well structured and still entertains even in this age of hyperactive, screaming animated flicks. For a break from the breakfast cereal commercials with plots that comprise a bulk of the animated films released these days, this calm, intricately created classic is well worth your consideration.


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Labels: animated, classic, Disney, film, movie review

It may seem like ludicrous pulp cinema to most people but in reality it is one of the more influential Hollywood movies of all time. This redesigned the action film template and gave the genre a well needed shot in the arm.

The story is a lesson in simplicity, haggard cop John McClane goes to visit his estranged wife in a downtown skyscraper. Just after he enters the building it is taken over by a gang of international terrorists. McClane, trapped inside must fight the terrorists in order to save his wife who has been taken hostage. The script by Jeb Stuart and Steven E. de Souza is almost perfect in its execution. It is a taut, clean script and is a must read for anyone looking to write their own screenplay.

Bruce Willis was a household name by this time in his career thanks to his work on the show Moonlighting. This film cut him as an action hero and formed the rest of his career. His snide reading of the role gave the film the sarcastic personality that kept the movie from being taken too seriously.

Even if you've seen this before, it's worth pulling out and watching again. It has dated surprisingly well.


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Labels: Alan Rickman, Bruce Willis, classic, film, movie review

James Stewart stars in this film about a former soldier who becomes an ambassador to the Cochise Apaches at the tail end of a decade of war. The topics of revenge, racism and war are on full display as Jeffords attempts to balance his loyalty to his people while also opening up to the Native Americans. The film is a manipulative and does suffer from some forced scenes. Overall, this is a very strong film that discusses some pretty weighty issues throughout. Stewart was the most approachable, likable actor to grace the screen. His Westerns also showed a darker side to the man, full of cynicism. His portrayal of Jeffords, a man who is weary of war and impulsive hatred is an often overlooked performance. He is quite good in this film, and this performance is one of his better offerings.


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Labels: classic, film, Jimmy Stewart, movie review

Stanley Kubrick’s first released film is not a great piece of cinema but it is a notable debut. The film stars Vincent Rapallo as a failed prize fighter who gets wrapped up in the messy life of a private dancer (Irene Kane). The young Kubrick reveals his potential but fails to keep his film from being dragged down by his own clunky screenplay. Kubrick’s unique, dry style has been formulated yet and this feels like a film made by someone mimicking the master. For film geeks this is a must-see since it shows the opening effort of one of the great filmmakers. For the average audience member, I don’t imagine this will hold much interest. The pacing is a little plodding and despite some memorable sequences, the film as a whole doesn’t rise to the level of being worth hunting down.


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Labels: classic, film, movie review, Stanley Kubrick

Eeek! Flying monkeys!

Labels: classic, film, Judy Garland, movie trailer

Great movie, possibly one of the most annoying trailers ever put to film. Nice editing, I started having a petit mal just watching it.

Labels: classic, film, movie trailer, Stanley Kubrick

One of the best films ever to see the light of day. Produced by George Lucas and directed by Steven Spielberg, this film highlights the pair's best qualities and avoids their flaws. Forget the Happy Meal sequels and savor this great work for all it's worth. C'mon, Spielberg is as good as everyone claims he is only when he's killing Nazis* and there's plenty of Nazis that get mowed down here.

Sporting what may be the greatest intro shots of a hero put to film, this film delivers from the first frame. Like Star Wars, The Godfather, Casablanca and Citizen Kane, from the opening scenes this film gives an epic feel of a movie that is larger than life - larger than cinema. This is a film that will outlive us and be enjoyed by generations to come.

Other than some notable logic issues (how does a guy ride on the outside of a submarine across the globe - doesn't the sub have to submerge at some point?) this film is nearly flawless in its delivery. Harrison Ford is perfectly cast as the intrepid archaeologist/professor/adventurer Indiana Jones. The role custom fits Ford because it calls for lots of gritty charisma and the ability to express simply emotions without much dialog - Ford's specialty. Combined with the incredible script by Lawrence Kasdan (Body Heat), Ford is able to create a character that became an icon before he finished his first run in theaters.

I can't imagine too many people haven't seen this film. If you haven't seen this yet, you have a serious problem with your choice in movies. You really need to crawl out from under that rock you call a roof and see this film.


* - Except Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind ( and I'm not going to argue too hard if you demand that Close Encounters isn't any good), Spielberg stinks unless he has a Nazi to kick around - have you seen Always, The Terminal or Hook? Puuleese!


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Labels: classic, film, George Lucas, Harrison Ford, movie review, Steven Spielberg

A great piece of science fiction and probably the best example of a Christ figure put to film. Robert Wise's (The Sound of Music) movie about an alien who arrives at Earth to deliver the ultimatum from the rest of the universe "stop the international bickering or we will destroy you all" has aged well. Sure, there are some elements that feel a tad dated but as a whole the story still works and will most likely satisfy most audiences, provided they can work their way past the moral equivalence the film makes between Communist Russia and the United States.


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Labels: apocalypse, classic, film, movie review, science fiction

Some audience members may have trouble with this film since it has a white actors portraying Chinese characters. The overall film overcomes this racial distraction. Based on the novel by Pearl S. Buck, the film Follows the life of a simple farmer Wang (Paul Muni - who couldn't look less Chinese) who sees his fortunes rise and fall along with his dutiful wife O'Lan (Luise Rainer). While long, the run time is over two hours, the film is well constructed and expertly delivered.


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Labels: classic, film, movie review, Paul Muni

Labels: classic, film, film noir, Joseph Cotton, movie review, Orson Welles

I consider this to be one of the films everyone should see once before they die. It is darn near flawless. Jimmy Stewart gives one of his best performances as Jefferson Smith, a simple man who is appointed to the U.S. Senate by local bosses. The idealistic Smith runs into the cynicism and cruelty of American politics and sets out to do the right thing in the face of overwhelming opposition. Supporting Stewart, Jean Arthur and Thomas Mitchell shine in their roles as Washington insiders who are amazed and concerned for the naive Smith.

Frank Capra was a national treasure and his films remind us of how wonderful film can be when handled properly.


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Labels: classic, film, Frank Capra, Jimmy Stewart, movie review

David Lean is one of the best directors of all time, here's the proof. This film so defined the POW film that every one since then has been a derivative of it. Apart from Stalag 17, probably the most influential POW movie of all time.

Labels: Alec Guinness, classic, David Lean, film, Jack Hawkins, movie trailer, William Holden

Screenwriter: Karl Tunberg (The 7th Dawn)
Director: William Wyler (Roman Holiday)
Actors: Charlton Heston (Soylent Green), Jack Hawkins (Lawrence of Arabia), Haya Haraeet (The Secret Partner), and Stephen Boyd (Fantastic Voyage)

Labels: Charlton Heston, classic, Jesus Christ, movie trailer

This film is a classic for a reason. Fred MacMurray is perfectly cast as a scheming insurance salesman who regrets getting roped into murdering a femme fatale’s rich husband. Opposite MacMurray is Barbara Stanwyck as the femme fatale. Combining her stumbling performance with a thinly written character leads to some leaden interactions. Writer/Director Billy Wilder’s handing of the tight plot covers for Stanwyck’s missteps. Look for a great scene stealing performance by Edward G. Robinson. Overall, this is a fantastic suspense film that is still fun after all of this time.


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Labels: Barbara Stanwyck, Billy Wilder, classic, Edward G Robinson, femme fatale, film, film noir, Fred MacMurray, movie review