The Good the Bad and the Ugly film review

9/10
 The Good the Bad and the Ugly, has been one of my favorite films for a long time, and to watch it again was more than enjoyable. Everything from the characters to the directing, I have always found incredibly interesting and entertaining. This is one of those films, along with Apocalypse Now, and Dr. Strangelove, that I like to see at least once a year, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys film.

 Of course, the crown jewel of this film is the directing by Sergio Leone, king of spaghetti westerns, and it's safe to say that he gets his point across more than effectively. Every moment of the film has this cool, but bitter sarcasm to it, and this tone is, in many ways, what makes the movie. His mockery of certain aspects of American life is played out very well, where it's not in any way subtle, but isn't completely in your face at the same time. Throughout the film, he tastefully executes everything as it should be as he both pays homage to the classic action western, and mocks it.

 In conclusion, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is something I would undoubtedly recommend to any movie goer. For its tense, dramatic scenes, its memorable characters, and its great directing, this movie will be forever timeless. No matter how great CGI gets in the future, this can always be remembered as one of the greatest action movies of all time. I give this film a nine out of ten.

List of favorite film studies movies

11. V for Vendetta
10. Cinema Paradiso
9. Ben Hur
8. Citizen Kane
7.The Simpsons Movies
6. Gone with the Wind
5.Psycho
4. The Great Debaters
3.Shawshank Redemption
Tie: Good, Bad, and Ugly/ The Graduate

Shawshank Redemption film review

8/10
 When watching the Shawshank Redemption, I couldn't help but feel like I was watching an American classic. It felt like I was just part of a new generation, in a long line of generations, that got to sit down and appreciate this movie. There were quite a few things going for this movie, but it's no masterpiece by any means.

 Probably the big thing that people will talk about, when they talk about this movie, are the performances of Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, and I must say they were convincing. The two actors together delivered two very memorable performances, which in turn, created some very memorable scenes. I never felt for a second like I was watching actors acting in a movie fom "I didn't think much of Andy Dufraine, when I first met him," to the very end.

 The directing, was on, but that's all I can really say about it. The director didn't do a bad job, not by any means, but there wasn't anything special, or really amazing about the way this film was shot. All I can say is that they got the job done, and that the lack of an amazing director, didn't take away too much from the film.

 Along with the acting, the writing is strong, producing some very memorable scenes. It starts strong and ends strong, seeming to truly peak throughout both the second and third act. Despite this film's length, little of it seemed uneccessary, and I would be very surprised if someone were to say they weren't entertained by this movie.

 In conclusion, this film, is a border-line must see. The story is immensely entertaining, and the acting is superb, with Tim Robbins giving, what is probably, the best of his performances. Though the film has it's flaws, some more obvious than others, I still think very highly of this film and recommend it to most. I give this film an 8/10.

V for Vendetta film review

5 out of 10

 While watching the film, "V for Vendetta", I found it very easy to criticise this dystopian action film. Though this movie does have some redeeming qualities, and I did not find myself totally regretting watching the film, I think the highest I could possibly praise this film, is mediocre, at best.

 While the the majority of the concept, with all of the Guy Fawkes revolutionary "Remember, remember the fifth of November," definitely had the potential to become something memorable and, even possibly, meaningful, the film fell short and didn't really work over all. The film seemed to have two major problems with it, 1: it was based on the writings of a closeminded anarchist, and 2: It was directed by the Wachowski brothers, two directors that rely too much on action scenes and shallow entertainment. Now these two problems alone will definitely harm a films quality, but these two problems combined create a mismatched totally unbalanced film, that, as said before, doesn't really work. While watching, I found that, what was supposed to be a dystopian drama, very quickly turned into an overblown action movie that took itself far too seriously.

As I said earlier, this film does have some, emphasis on some, redeeming qualities. One being the well done performance of John Hurt as the chancellor. I couldn't help but wonder if the inclusion of Hurt in the film was just supposed to be a nod to the far superior dystopia tale 1984, that starred Hurt as the protagonist. No matter what the reason, I found Hurt's performance to be one of the high points of the film, and found myself waiting for the next scene that he would be included in. Some of the other performances were also decent, but were in no way memorable, which could be especially said about Portman's performance as Evie.

 In conclusion this film was pretty much an overdone romp through a hastily designed dystopian England, and though some of the concepts were cool, and the film was somewhat entertaining, I found this film totally mediocre and am very glad that I didn't have to pay to see it. I give V for Vendetta a 5 out of 10.

The Great Debaters Film Review

7 out of 10
 While watching The Great Debaters, I couldn't help but feel a little intelectually bored. The Film is directed by Denzel Wahington, who also stars, and because of the fact that it was directed by an actor, causes what could have been one of the great movies of the modern age, to suffer greatly.

 I personally hate it when actors think that they can direct. Nine out of ten times an actor directs a film, it doesn't really work, and this film is no exception. During a few particular scenes, I couldn't help thinking to myself: 'Why did they settle for such an amateur  director', as I watched a series of complex camera angles, that were totally unnecessarry, and took away from the film. Along with the self indulgent camera work, is the pretty much complete lack of any symbolism throughout the entire movie. During all of the time I spent watching this movie, I sat there wondering why this director was even chosen for a film that had the potential to be great. It wasn't until I saw the ending credits that it was all explained to me. Directors don't try to act (other than Woody Allen), why do actors insist on trying to direct?

 Though I've spent the entire article complaining about the directing, so far, there are still some definitely redeeming qualities in this film. Where Washington's directing flops, his acting is spot on, along with the rest of the cast including Forest Whitaker, and his son Denzel Whitaker. With the spot on cast is a great script, based on a very interesting and entertaining story about a African American debate team from the deep South during the days of the Jim Crowe laws. A majority of the subject matter is obviously racism in the South, and I found the handling of it very well done. This movie could have very easily gotten preachy about the evils of the white man, but it didn't and I definitely give it points for that.

 This film is incredibly flawed, but along with many weaknesses are also many strengths. Where the directing suffers, the writing and acting are great, and the story definitely kept me entertained while I was sitting there wondering why the director was so amateurish. I give this film a 7 out of 10.

Simpsons Movie

Irony: "For once the rich white man is in control"
           "We're going to have a great life in Alaska, and we're never going to America again"
           "This Book doesn't have any answers"-referring to Bible
           "If you can't believe in me, believe in america"-as this is being said several bilboards in foreign languages are shown
            As the Simpsons' home is being destroyed, a sign saying "bless this house" is shown.
         
Puns: Trappuccino
          Dome sweet Dome
          Nome Sweet Nome
          Dome Depot
          Grand Theft Walrus

Top 5 quotes: 1"For once, the rich white man is in control"
                       2"I am the mascot of an evil Corperation"-Reffering to Mickey Mouse
                      3 "The government actually found someone they were looking for"
                      4 "From here you can see the four states that border Illinois: Nevada, Ohio, Montana, and Kentucky."
                      5 "Of course I'm going mad with power. Have you ever tried going mad without power? It's boring"

Parody: Grand Theft Walrus-Grand Theft Auto
             Spider Pig- Spiderman
             Harry Plopper- Harry Potter
             Sex scene in Alaska- Snow White
             Homer hitting a large rock and a bar entitled Hard Place- Old stuck between rock and hard place proverb
             Dome Depot-Home Depot

Satire: "The Government actually found someone they were looking for"
           "I am the mascot of an evil cooperation"-referring to Mickey Mouse
           "Who could be so evil,"-"The United States government"
           "There are two things they don't teach you in Harvard law school, how to cope with defeat, and how to handle a shotgun."
           "Here in Alaska, we pay our residents, so we can ravage our states natural beauty."
           Fox: "Yeah, we advertise in movies now
           
                      
         

Cinema Paradiso

The Graduate Film Review

9/10

  Since the first time I saw The Graduate I instantly loved it for the humour and performances, which includes Dustin Hoffman in his first major role, and possible his greatest. Along with the spot on acting and writing, is the great directoral performance by Mike Nichols, who takes you on a ride through changing of the times in the late 60's.

  The first thing the film truly throws at you is its score (composed by Simon & Garfunkel directly for this film), and I think it's safe to say that you will be remembering these songs long after the credits roll. Songs such as Sounds of Silence and Canticle (Scarborough Fair) are still American Folk-Rock classics today, and are as catchy as they are intimate. After the first the rendition of Sounds of Silence is heard, you are almost immediately having various symbols and metaphors shown to you in a very non-discreet fashion, making it easy for casual movie goers to fully understand what this film stands for and what Nichols was trying to say.

  A major part of the film, along with the score and the message, is the awkward humour that is present throughout the film. No jokes here, just humorous interactions between the characters, which are very entertaining to watch. If you completely missed the whole, "youth in revolt" thing, I think you would still immensley enjoy this movie. I don't think there are many that have watched this and not had a good laugh as a result.

  I give this film a nine out of ten, which is a score that I think many would agree is well deserved. This film is just one of those few entities that has something for everybody. If you're into music, this movie is the reason for two of Simon & Garfunkels biggest songs. If you like the idea of a generation breaking away from the ways of its predeccesor, that is, in many ways, the movie. Even if you don't care about any of that, there's still the wildly entertaining part of the film that is the humour, that you'd have to be immensely prude not to enjoy. In any case this movie is worth your time, and I think you'd have to be a fool to pass it by, if you enjoy film.

Psycho Film Review

7.5/10

  While watching this Hitchcock classic, or any Hitchcock film for that matter, you can't help but notice a very distinct presence that is constantly evident throughout each and every one of his films. For lack of a better word, I will regard this distinct presence with the phrase "cool," because that's truly what it is. This Hitchcock thriller is "cool" for lack of a better word. I honestly can't see how someone can't, at the very least, be entertained by this film, let alone greatly dislike it. Granted this isn't, and never will be, one of my favorites, I wouldn't be able to blame someone for putting this film in that role.

  As Norman Bates, Anthony Perkins gives, possibly, one of the most memorable performances in the history of film, and the same can undoubtedly be said about Hitchcock's practically trademark directing. The plot twists and turns at the right moments, as should every thriller, and definitley has alot going for it as it progresses, though the film follows a very odd story structure that is not often seen in popular film. I am not particularly familiar with the Thriller film genre, as I do not especially like Thrillers, so I am not sure if the plot structure is more common in the Thriller genre, and cannot, therefore, give a great critical view on the matter, but despite that, I can definitley say that the plot is entertaining, but only contributes partly to what the film has going for it.

  Psycho will no doubt go down as one of the great Thrillers in film, and will do doubt be continually viewed by generations to come due to the masterful Hitchcockian directing, but I still have various problems with the film. For instance, the characters are very two-dimensional, which is incredibly odd, considering that one of them is supposed to be mentally and emotionally disturbed. The character arc of Marion is mundane, at best, but I suppose that's to be expected from a Thriller. I personally prefer much more developed characters, which is why I'm giving Psycho a 7.5/10. I admit it's probably not fair to judge a Thriller based on character development, but I can't help what I personally prefer.

My top ten movies

10. Pulp Fiction
9. Chinatown
8. The Shining
7. Rushmore
6. This is Spinal Tap
5. Almost Famous
4. Apocalypse Now
3. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
2. Easy Rider
1. Dr. Strangelove

Citizen Kane Film Review

8.5 out of 10

  Although I will never fully agree with the AFI's claim that Citizen Kane is the greatest film of all time, I do agree that this drama, or almost noire film is a work of art, and is no doubt a contender for at least a place in the top thirty. The acting is 100% spot on, Orson Welles direction is at it's finest (comparible only to Touch of Evil), and the writing is very fantastic, producing a very memorable plot. The only reason the score isn't higher, is that, although the film is fantastic, my personal oppinion and liking of it does not grant a 9 or 10.

 Citizen Kane is the story of a man who realizes that money cannot buy happiness (though he is tremendously wealthy) only after spending his life trying trying to achieve a wealthy status. It's the story of a man who discovers that money isn't everything and that the last time he was ever truly happy was directly before he was off on his conquest to become "successful". Overall it has a relatively entertaining plot, and I personally was never bored with it.

  In general concept, from "Rosebud," to the fires at Xanadu, this film is an over exageration of the American dream. Hence: Citizen Kane. I personally belief that this film is a much see, and is an important piece of American film, and art in general, which is why I am giving this movie a 8.5 out of 10.

 

Gone with the Wind review

8 out of 10

  When I watch movies, I always try to watch from multiple points of view. I try to watch from the perspective of a critic, an artist, a general consumer, and from my own perspective. I try to develope oppinions of films  based on these points of view, and then decide whether or not it was "good". In the case of "Gone with the Wind" I did find it exceptional, and in this review I will share with you why.

  In this Epic, directed by Victor Flemming, Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable play two narcissistic high society Southerners, whose lives are affected by the Civil War. The majority of the film shows Scarlett (Leigh) doing anything and everything in her power to get what she wants, uninterested in how it affects those around her (It's safe to say the Leigh's performance was spot on, because I never had a hard time disliking her). The character works very well and proves effective throughout the film, as does Gable's, whose character I disliked when it was time to dislike, and pitied when it was time to pity. The only problem I found with the character interaction was the lack of Rhett (Gable) in a few decently large chunks of the second act, which looking back on it just feels odd, considering his character is the one whose side you're supposed to be on towards the end of the film.

  Despite a few minor descrepencies, from the point of view of a critic there was a lot of greatness in Gone with the Wind, but the problems I had with it are more from the perspective of a member of the general public. I had no problem with the length of the film, and though it was quite long, the plot never really slowed down, and I found myself entertained from the beginning to when Gable utters the famous line, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." My problems with the film are more pointed towards some of the choices the director made. For example, there were certain portions of the film that were very strongly anti-war. Normally I would have no problem with that, but in this case the director is more than likely reffering to the U.S.'s entrance into WW II, a war that if we hadn't entered, Europe would now be under the control of a Nazi regime, or at least would have been until the Soviets had managed to do something about it, but who knows how long that would've taken. I know that the director couldn't have known the outcome of the war, but I still couldn't help but have a slight distaste for some of what was done in the film.

  In conclusion, Gone with the Wind is an exceptional film with a great cast and a plot that works incredibly well considering the nearly four hour run time. The characters are memorable and well developed and, the film is overall very entertaining. Despite some problems I had with some of the subject matter, I still found it very enjoyable and give it a high score of 8 out of 10.