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Reviews
Taxi Driver (1976)
Impressive but not amazing
When diving into this movie you may think this is about living in the city, or about New York City itself. It reality its more than just about that, its showing how the city can tear down someones soul so quickly. Director Scorsese does a great job making you understand that concept. This movie actually surprised me. It wasn't my favorite out of all the other ones I've seen but the actual concept and process of going through the plot was well thought out. The perceptive of the main character is shown really well-showing how he's slightly lost his mind due to the war but still being down to Earth wanting to help people. The scenery shown of NYC is pretty impressive and shows you a different side of it.
Annie Hall (1977)
Woody Allen isn't my favorite actor
I understand that Woody Allen has a huge reputation in the movie industry, but I couldn't find myself to like his work or his style. I'm not saying what he did in this movie was terrible, it was actually wonderful. The angle shots were on point, the camera panning in and out, and going from one scene to another was also pretty impressive. Even the dialogue that he shared between his co-star was witty and face paced to keep you entertained. I just couldn't get myself to like Woody Allen's character. It didn't interest me, and it didn't make me laugh. Finding it hard to like his character made it hard for me to appreciate this movie. The movie was well thought out though. The plot was interesting, the characters had their own personality, and you could feel that spark that lied between the two main characters. This just wasn't the movie for me.
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Very cool to see
This is one of those movies where no matter how well you explain how awesome it is, they will actually just have to see the movie them self. This interesting movie is a complete mix of different time periods combined. The mood and style is so engaging in this movie, and makes you really pay attention to what is actually happening. This movie isn't afraid to bend the rules, and they show that they definitely aren't. The ways the actors work together is impressive. They add on to each of their characters giving each other more life and making themselves pop at the same time. The way the camera and lighting is set up adds on to the effects and mood of the movie, while enhancing it.
Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
Best couple out there
Since I was a small child I can remember my dad singing me the song of Bonnie and Clyde. Being able to see this movie reminded me of the song that my dad used to sing to me. I enjoyed this movie, I thought that the actors were brilliant. They brought the characters to life that I used to be told about when I was a small child. They were everything I thought they were going to be and more. The director showed the scenes with awesome camera angles. It made you feel like you were in the movie with the actors being apart of it all. The movie lived up to my expectations and never disappointing me. It was scripted extremely well and I wouldn't have changed anything about it.
The Graduate (1967)
"Mrs.Robinson, you're trying to seduce me."
This is the funniest movie I have seen in awhile. You may have your own opinion on the graduate, but I think this was honestly a knock out. Dustin Hoffman was truly the star of the show. From his quirky huffs and puffs when things started getting weird, to his reactions to different situations and being a slight odd ball I don't think this movie would be as popular without him. The relationship that his character shares with Mrs.Robinson is funny and keeps you interested because the way they react with each other is down right hilarious. Even the camera angles are perfect in this movie, such as when he gets the scuba gear on and they show his perceptive of being in it and going into the water. This movie is truly amazing, and the lighting is near to perfect. Other than the same song playing continuously and nearly driving me crazy there isn't anything that should have been changed to make this movie better.
In the Heat of the Night (1967)
Intense from beginning to end
For being a person that isn't all that into mysteries I actually loved this movie. The beginning scene draws you in and makes you wonder what is going to be happening for the rest of the plot. The director uses the camera angles and lighting of the street lights and on the actors and actresses faces just right to intensify everything. The plot is thought out very well, and you get frustrated for the main character on the struggle he has to deal with in this racist town. The actors portray their parts well, and know how to make everything seem so intense and keep you pulled in the story. It gives you a good sense of what it was like to live back in this time period and what African Americans had to deal with, even if they were of good standing and had outstanding jobs. The actors make you feel like you're in the story and facing what they have to face and take you step by step on how they solve this mystery.
The Killing (1956)
Good, but not my kind of movie
If you're watching the killing and looking for a more mature movie, you've come to the right place. This is Kubrick's first serious film and he does a great job of capturing that tone. For me though, I felt that it was boring because I don't usually like the serious toned movies. That doesn't make it a bad movie in my opinion though because i'm not a fan of the genre. He captures the actors beautifully and his lighting is magnificent. The actors banter between each other is on point and they add on to each others acting. The adventure in itself that the characters go on is pretty exciting on its own. There are twists and turns that keeping you guessing what is going to happen until the very last scene.
The Naked Kiss (1964)
An exhilarating movie
This movie truly breaks the movie barrier that was previously known. There are so many twists and plot turns it kept me so interested. The director for this movie took a lot of risks and they paid off in the long run. He uses really extreme topics to draw the viewer in and drag you into dark matter that is happening in the world. It is truly an odd movie but it is done very well. The acting in my opinion could have been done a little better. I don't think the characters clicked together as well as I've seen in other movies for this time period. Down to the camera and lighting I think that was well done as well. It captured the scenes perfectly and added a depth to it to give it a better tone.
West Side Story (1961)
A Modern Romeo and Juliet
This is the classic story of Romeo and Juliet with modern twist thrown into the plot and a musical plot thrown on top of it. Giving it a more modern edge and updating the lingo from Shakespearean time makes it a lot easier to relate to the characters and story line. Even watching the movie now in 2014 it still reflects upon issues that still matter today, such as immigration. The musical numbers are dramatic and get the point across. There's so much that goes into them it keeps you involved and are exciting to view. The choreograph seems very original and unique. There's no wonder why this movie received 10 Oscars for its production and how amazing it was.
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
A must watch-Even if you're not a musical person!
I didn't think that I would like singing in the rain due to the fact that I am not a musical person. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the movie. For being a person who doesn't normally like musicals I wasn't overwhelmed by the amount of singing that they placed throughout the movie. It was elegantly placed in the movie and was strategically placed so it flowed beautifully into the scene. Scenes with the music were also very dramatic and well thought out, such as the well known "rain scene". The only complaint that I would have about this movie is that the end scene tends to drag out a lot longer than it needed to. It felt like it took forever for them to get to the main point for the ending.
Mildred Pierce (1945)
I loved this movie!
I was interested from the very moment the person left the murder scene in the very beginning of the movie. The use of lighting on the faces of the actors that are talking, and how they make the scenes look give it a great dramatic affect that make you wonder what is going to happen next. The actors put on a amazing production for this movie and really shine in their parts. The flow of the movie is flawless and it goes from scene to scene without a hitch. It goes from one moment to the next and keeps you interested and there never is a dull moment. You have an idea of who the murder is but seeing them going through everyone's back story and why things happened how they did makes you learn more about each character and the director did a great job of showing you that.
Out of the Past (1947)
Out of the past review
Out of the past is an interesting movie that is a perfect textbook example of film noir. The reason why this film noir works better than any of the other ones that were out at the time was that you couldn't tell that this was made on the cheap, and has better actors and screenplay. The angle shifts and lighting in this movie make you feel like there is some kind of disturbance throughout this movie. The director really knows how to play with your emotions through lighting and angles of the camera. They even have a type of mood that grows throughout the movie that further the setting and keeps you involved in the movie. The actors are quite snappy and witty with their acting and make the movie extremely enjoyable.
Citizen Kane (1941)
Citizen Kane is a knock-out!
This can easily be one of the best pictures ever made. An amazing use of lights and shadows along with the graphic forms haven't been seen since the silent movie era. This movie is truly a work of art on how it was produced and how the actors brought these characters and scenes to life. Welles knew exactly what he was doing and is a movie mastermind. He knows how to work the business and make it so you get pulled into his art. His style is very creative and inventive. He makes the story exciting while making the graphics work beautifully along with it. When watching this movie you can tell this was a high point in movie history and I would recommend it to anyone. It may be a longer movie but it is worth every minute to watch it.
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
Exciting to say the least
This movie shows a classic detective at his best. This film became a classic for Warner Brothers and you can tell immediately why it became so famous. The dialog between the characters is snappy and intelligent and keeps you interested. There are even a couple fight scenes that are menacing and keep you on your toes. You get sucked into what you are watching and makes you want more. The acting in this movie is flawless and the actors have just the right expressions and deliver the lines perfectly to get their point across. Emotions are flying and it keeps you on your toes to find out who actually stole the priceless statuette. I recommend anyone seeing this who likes a good mystery.
Casablanca (1942)
"Round up the unusual suspects"
Casablanca is a beautifully written movie. Anyone watching this can relate to the characters due to the fact that its about a man and a woman in love, and forfeit their love for a greater purpose. The cast, the plot, and the direction of this movie make it one of a kind and all around brilliant. Bogart and Bergman create a love that keeps you on your toes and makes you feel like you're experience what they're experiencing with them. The way they talk to each other and the expressions they give towards each other makes you feel like these characters truly are in love with each other. With the tight budget that they were placed under for this movie they did an excellent job with the production of it.
Stagecoach (1939)
A western to be seen
It's no wonder why Ford had such an eye on John Wayne and you can see why in this film. He holds his role and makes you want to watch more of him. This movie really tells a story, and isn't just full of action and violence. The director really went into detail and great effort to give you an actual story to follow. The characters he puts into the movie each have their own story that makes you want to invest your time in getting to know them. Each person in the stage coach gets an even amount of screen time and amount of effort thrown into their characters. The actors give an incredible show and put a lot of emphasis on how their character should act and be shown. It may not feel like this movie is original compared to all the later westerns that have been put out there but this truly was the start of many westerns to come and influence the other westerns that we come to know and love. This movie is incredible and I would recommend this to anyone who likes a good western.
The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
Trying to live the dream
The Grapes of Wrath is an extremely intense movie. It kept an serious tone throughout the entire movie and it honestly never got uplifting. There was no good outcome from anything that they did. There is probably one of the most mature films I have seen come from movies of the 1940's. The story is during the time of the dust bowl where no jobs are available. The actors are truly inspiring at how they display emotions on their face. The actors take this into their own hands and make it extremely believable. The director make a powerful movie at displaying the depression and how it was to be poor. If you can handle a serious movie I highly recommend this to anyone.
His Girl Friday (1940)
Not my favorite
His girl Friday did not catch my attention right away. This movie took me awhile to get into the plot and it still wasn't my favorite. At times I felt like it was hard to understand what the actors and actresses were saying. I also thought the story was going to be more interesting but I found it quite dull. The actors and actresses in the story didn't entertain me as much as some of the other screwball comedies I've seen from this time period. Their punch lines weren't delivered very well and weren't effective. I wouldn't recommend other people go out of there way to see this movie. There are definitely better movies from the 30's or 40's than this one.
My Man Godfrey (1936)
I wish Godfrey worked for me!
This beautifully written story sucked me in the minute they offered Godfrey $5 to come along with them. The way that the characters interact with each other works well with throwing around punch lines and putting the story together. The story is fast paced gets you from scene to scene. It doesn't miss a beat and you feel like you're the one that just found Godfrey. The actors in this movie are spot on with their emotions and facial expressions and jump right into the punch line. They're all hysterical and have you laughing every minute. I would recommend this movie to anyone who likes a good comedy. It's one of the best screwball comedies of its time.
White Zombie (1932)
The Dead Walk Among Us
Seeing the White zombie brought me back to a perceptive rather than what kind of zombie I normally see. In this day in age I am used to seeing a decaying monster that craves for brains and attacks the living. This movie tastefully shows you that there was a time where it was different.
There were moments during the movie I really enjoyed, such as when you could see different characters being watched and they would just show you they eyes of someone. It gave it a real sense of terror and I think it was very interesting. I also liked how the zombies were put into costume and how their makeup was done. It wasn't over the top and they didn't come off as comical but more of a creepiness came off of them. They also put in different creak noises and crows cawing during some scenes of the movie and i think it added to the ambiance
Overall I felt like it was tastefully done and it kept my attention. The actors did a wonderful job.
Frankenstein (1931)
It's Alive!
This movie gives you the real deal of watching the monster in action. Frankenstein really gives you a good sense of what good movies from the 1930's were. I felt like the action of this movie flew by and the actors really gave you a sense of feeling like you could have been standing next to them. The use of lighting and how they zoomed up into the actors faces really gave you a sense of how dramatic things were getting. How they dressed the actors was quite tasteful in my opinion and gave it a good feel for the movie. Overall this movie kept me entertained and gave me a real sense of who the original "Frankenstein" and monster really were.
Scarface (1932)
Gangsters Disappoint
Trying to watch this movie from beginning to end was a struggle. I felt as if the idea of the plot was a good one, but the actors didn't carry it out and bring it alive. I found myself having to rewind what I was watching because the accents and slurred speech of all the actors made it hard for me to understand them. There wording was jumbled and it made me loose interest in what they were saying or what was going on very quickly. The other problem I had with this movie is the scenes where someone would get shot. They would show the gun fire, and the person falling down but they would show no injuries to the body or even show any fake blood. I know this is probably early for this type of movie, but I feel as if they could have done something low budget or even throw fake blood on a actor to show that a person got hurt. In conclusion not being able to understand the actors really deterred me from watching the rest of the movie. Would not recommend to others.
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)
Keeps you on your toes!
Being thrown into the story of I am a fugitive from a chain gang keeps you on your toes for the ride that the main character James Allen is thrown into. The different plot twists and turns it takes throughout the story keeps you interested and into what may happen next. The use of keeping time is well show from the use of calendars throughout the movie. The characters show excellent acting skills and the use of cars show in the movie and how its moving seems realistic for that time. The only thing I didn't like was that all the actresses looked the same and it was extremely hard to figure out who was who. Other than that the story kept me interested and I would recommend it to anyone!
Sherlock Jr. (1924)
Buster is a bore!
To get myself prepared on watching this movie, I read up on Buster Keaton so I had an idea of what I was getting myself into. I read great things about his acting skills and how well he has done. Once I actually watched the movie I was not as impressed. He acting skills were mediocre compared to watching other actors of his time. When it came down to a joke or a punch line I was not impressed. The story also went too quickly and I felt it was hard to keep up with the story line. I would have to go back to catch what was happening and ask myself what was happening. The story line was not my favorite either. It doesn't seem like they brought the story to life. Even though I was not impressed by busters acting skills I was impressed with the scenery they used. The background was pretty impressive and where they chose to shoot really helped with the story line.
The Circus (1928)
Left me in tears!
I've never watched a silent film before, but this sure was a good introduction movie to start with. Charles Chaplin is a riot in this film. He plays a "tramp" that gets accused of stealing money at a fair. He gets chased by the police and causes a riot in the middle of the circus, but to everyone's surprise he is the star of the show. On command Charles character isn't funny, but is hysterical by just being himself. He ends up falling for the ringleaders daughter and you just have to watch to find out what happens between Charles and the ringleaders daughter. Charles brings a presence on stage that makes you keep your eyes glued to the screen. His facial expressions and reactions to situations are on point and knows how to bring out a punch line with just his body tone and facial expressions. I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone, and plan on watching more Charles Chaplin movies in the future.