Saturday, November 11, 2006
The Truman Show
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: The first time my mother watched this she said, enthusiastically, that she enjoyed it. The second time I watched it in her presence, she paid no attention to it. The third time, not too long ago, she stared at the screen in a daze but insisted on sticking with it, then announced at the end that "...it doesn't seem to have much of a point." In some ways, I consider this movie a barometer of my mother's mental acuity on the day she happens to see it.
This is, by the way, one of my favorite Weir movies.
Once again, the title for this post is linked to an alternate source.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Jim Carrey Truman Burbank Laura Linney Hannah Gill/Meryl Ed Harris Christof Noah Emmerich Louis Coltrane/Marion Natascha McElhone Sylvia/Lauren Garland Holland Taylor Truman's Mother Brian Delate Truman's Father Paul Giamatti Simeon
Here is a link to the Wikipedia article on this film.
Release Date: 1998
Directed by Peter Weir.
Labels: coming-of-age1, drama8, fantasy3, laura-linney, me-favorite2, paul-giamatti, peter-weir, popcorn-and-soda4, satire2
The Ten Commandments
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2* *3* *4* *5*
- Commentary: Although I can't remember my journal comments, I'm sure, if you're even a semi-regular reader of my journal(s) about my mother, you know that this is one of my mother's all time favorites, and I've come to enjoy it, as well. I love the opulence, the story, the acting and the sets. I am proud to say that I can quote dialog from this movie. I never get tired of my mother wanting to see this movie. Each time she decides to watch this movie, the chances always become excellent that I will drop what I'm doing and join her.
Update 2/10/18: For fun, I thought I'd link the title of this write-up to the original 1956 review of this movie in the New York Times.
Update 8/19/19: I just discovered, to my dismay, that the old title link to the original NYT review of this movie dead-ended; so, I looked up the review and attached the new link. Just in case, though, I am appending the entire November 9, 1956, review (by Bosley Crowther) below. Take note of the opening sentence, it's quite interesting. So is the later commentary on the special effects in the movie:
"AGAINST the raw news of modern conflict between Egypt and Israel—a conflict that has its preamble in the Book of Exodus—Cecil B. De Mille's "The Ten Commandments" was given its world première last night at the Criterion Theatre, and the coincidence was profound. For Mr. De Mille's latest rendering of Biblical literature in the spectacular framing and colloquial idiom of the screen tells an arresting story of Moses, the ancient Israelite who was a slave with his people in Egypt and who struggled to set them free.
"As Mr. De Mille presents it in this three-hour-and-thirty-nine-minute film, which is by far the largest and most expensive that he has ever made, it is a moving story of the spirit of freedom rising in a man, under the divine inspiration of his Maker. And, as such, it strikes a ringing note today.
"But aside from the timely arrival and contemporary context of this film, it is also a rather handsome romance in Mr. De Mille's best massive style. To the fundamental story of Moses, as told in the Old Testament and reflected in other ancient writings consulted by Mr. De Mille, he and his corps of screen playwrights have added some frank apocrypha which, while they may not be traceable in history (or even in legend), make for a robust tale.
"In this imaginative recount, Moses is raised as a prince in the palace of Egypt's Pharaoh, after being found, as the Bible tells, by the Pharaoh's daughter in the bullrushes, where he was hidden by his mother, a Hebrew slave. And as a presumed Egyptian, he is a candidate for the Pharaoh's throne and a rival for the love of a luscious princess with the Pharaoh's own son Rameses.
"As one might well imagine, the plot-minded Mr. De Mille does not pass lightly or briefly over this phase of his tale. Moses, as played by Charlton Heston, is a handsome and haughty young prince who warrants considerable attention as a heroic man of the ancient world. And Anne Baxter as the sensual princess and Yule Brynner as the rival, Rameses, are unquestionably apt and complementary to a lusty and melodramatic romance.
"But the story is brought back to contact with the Bible and with its inspirational trend when Moses discovers, acknowledges and is exiled from Egypt because of his Hebraic birth. Then Mr. De Mille, who, incidentally, acts as narrator for his film in many of its more exalted stretches, takes him into the wilderness and establishes his contact with his Maker, which leads to the Exodus and the Covenant on Mount Sinai.
"In the latter phases of the drama, wherein the impulse to set his people free from the bondage of Egypt flames in Moses, the spiritual and supernatural surge comes somewhat bluntly in the picture, and the performance of such awesome miracles as the crossing of the Red Sea and the burning of the Ten Commandments into the tablets of stone may strike the less devout viewer as a bit mechanical and abrupt.
"Also, and with all due regard for the technical difficulties besetting Mr. De Mille, we must say his special effects department was not up to sets or costumes. The parting of the Red Sea is an obvious piece of camera trickery in which two churning walls of water frame a course as smooth and dry as a race track. And the striking off of the Ten Commandments by successive thunderbolts, while a deep voice intones their contents is disconcertingly mechanical.
"However, in its other technical aspects—in its remarkable settings and décor, including an overwhelming facade of the Egyptian city from which the Exodus begins, and in the glowing Technicolor in which the picture is filmed—Mr. De Mille has worked photographic wonders. And his large cast of characters is very good, from Sir Cedric Hardwicke as a droll and urbane Pharaoh to Edward G. Robinson as a treacherous overlord. Yvonne DeCarlo as the Midianite shepherdess to whom Moses is wed is notably good in a severe role, as is John Derek as a reckless Joshua.
"This is unquestionably a picture to which one must bring something more than a mere wish for entertainment in order to get a full effect from it. But for those to whom its fundamentalism will be entirely credible, it should be altogether thrilling and perhaps even spiritually profound."
The title link to the NYT article that ran when the movie premiered, is back, again, and appears to be generally available to all digital readers of NYT, not just subscribers. I'm not sure why, and I don't trust it, so, just in case, I'm keeping this link in reserve.
As an aside, from a Special Feature which accompanies the DVD of the movie, Charlton Heston tells viewers that he also voiced God in the movie, and gives an interesting reason: He imagined that the voice of God would come from within oneself and would, therefore, sound like oneself.
Update 6/22/2022 Regarding the voice of God: Although there is considerable confusion online about who voiced God in this movie, what finally seems apparent is that God was voiced by more than one actor. Jesse Delos Jewkes definitely voiced God in the Ten Commandments Tablet scene. [See, also, this article about Jesse Delos Jewkes.] Charlton Heston, in an interview available on my "Special Edition" copy of the movie, said that he was the voice of God; it seems apparent that, for the Burning Bush scene, he probably was (which is confirmed in the Wikipedia article about this movie). Other sources credit Cecil B. DeMille as voicing God in certain segments of the movie, but I cannot find anything authoritative to confirm this. Perhaps we will never know, for sure, how many actors voiced God in this movie and who all of them were.
Yet another link, if you can handle it. Aside from the DVD Savant review I linked in the title, he wrote another review when the blu-ray edition was released with an extra 11 minutes of footage added to the film. I think. I'm not sure. That might be an extra 11 minutes of special features. At any rate, although some of the review is repetitive, it also adds knowledge and perspective, having been written 7 years after his initial review. So, I'm including it in the immediately previous link.
My Final Commentary 8/19/19: I don't consider it true that "one must bring something more than a mere wish for entertainment in order to get a full effect" of the movie. I was not a god-believer when I initially saw the movie and have not been since. The movie's "full effect", however, subsumes me every time I watch it. In fact, after having updated this post, I'm thinking, this afternoon might be a good time for me to watch the movie, again. Just for fun, and to enjoy that subsumation experience, once again.
My Absolute Final Commentary 6/21/2022: I'm about a third of the way through a special on YouTube about the making of The Ten Commandments - 1956. Watching it reminded me of some family history surrounding this movie that I want to record. This movie is the very first DVD that Mom and I obtained. At that time, neither of us had any idea that we would build a large collection around it. One year, I'm not sure which year but it was definitely post 1997 (when she bought the house in Prescott, in which I continue to reside), MFS sent us a coupon for Blockbuster Video in celebration of some holiday or birthday or something-or-other. Mom and I initially figured we'd use it to rent movies, since we'd established a habit of doing this in Mesa and Prescott. Mom sent me to the store while she begged off by saying, "I feel a nap coming on. Get something good for tonight." When I discovered that The Ten Commandments - 1956 was on sale and fit right into the budget established by the gift certificate from MFS, I realized I had a decision to make. I knew that this was a movie that both Mom and I would want to see again and again and decided, instead of renting a few movies that we may or may not watch before they were due back, to buy this movie. I remember Mom being very excited about my choice of "rental" and even more excited when I told her I out-right bought it so we could watch it whenever we wanted. That's where, and how, our movie collection began. From that point on Mom's preference was to own, not to rent, and I had no quarrel with that decision. No, Virginia, I don't remember what our second movie purchase was. It doesn't matter, really. With this movie, alone, our collection was off and running.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Charlton Heston Moses/Voice of God Sir Cedric Hardwicke Seti I Yul Brynner Rameses II Anne Baxter Nefretiri Edward G. Robinson Dathan Yvonne De Carlo Sephora Debra Paget Lilia John Derek Joshua Nina Foch Bithiah Martha Scott Yochabel Judith Anderson Memnet Vincent Price Baka John Carradine Aaron Olive Deering Miriam Eduard Franz Jethro John Miljan The Blind One
Here is the Wikipedia article about the movie, just in case.
Release Date: 1956
Directed and Narrated by Cecil B. DeMille.
Labels: bible-movies1, charlton-heston, drama8, moses, period4, popcorn-and-soda4, religion1, shared-favorite, spectacle2
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
The World's Fastest Indian
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I rented this movie out of dim curiosity because I enjoy Anthony Hopkins' work and like to see everything in which he acts. Lo and behold, I know this man. This man is my very extraordinary Chandler nephew and this is a portrait of what he will be like when he is middle aged and old. He is in his 20's, now, and is such a natural, as well as, now, well-trained and highly skilled inventor/repairer, and such an adventurer that it could be said that he does both in his sleep. Both Mom and I were astonished at this portrait and practically fell over each other exclaiming, "That's [nephew's name] in sixty or seventy years!" That's why we own this movie. And, yes, I recommended it to the nephew in question. I figured he'd get a kick out of seeing himself in the future.
One of RogerEbert.com's Far Flungers, Omer M. Mozaffar also weighed in on this movie in 2012. Fascinating article.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Anthony Hopkins Burt Munro Jessica Cauffiel Wendy Joe Howard Otto Chris Williams Tina
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2005
Directed by Roger Donaldson.
Labels: adventure3, anthony-hopkins, biography1, docu-drama, popcorn-and-soda4, shared-favorite, sport1
United 93
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: The "mention" is so complete that it may as well be a review of how Mom and I related to this movie. No need to add anything, I think.
Aside from his formal review, linked to the title of this post, Roger Ebert.com published more than once about various aspects of this movie and the actual incident: The missing facts in 'United 93'; "United 93:" What came before "Let's roll!"; NORAD, 9/11 and United 93; 'United 93': A study in empathy; Debunking 'United 93' debunkers; Whose story is 'Flight93'?. Additionally, the film is mentioned in at least half a page of reviews about other "disaster" movies, fiction and non-fiction. I find it fascinating that a film made about the United 93 disaster so captured the imagination of film watchers and film critics. I don't have much to say about this, but I thought recording it might be, hmmm, helpful? Interesting? Not sure what word to use, here.
The cast for this film was huge, and largely actors I don't recognize, so I'm only recording the first four on the Wikipedia list in the table below. If you're curious, the link to the article, below, will take you directly to the cast list. You can peruse the rest of the article from there.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Christian Clemenson Tom Burnett Cheyenne Jackson Mark Bingham David Alan Basche Todd Beamer Peter Hermann Jeremy Glick
Although the exclusive use of little known actors to play the roles in the film is nowhere discussed (at least not that I've found), my (uneducated) guess is that the anonymity of the actors is meant to enhance the possibility of audience members identifying with the passengers and crew on the flight.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2006
Directed by Paul Greengrass.
Labels: docu-drama, historical3, political3, popcorn-and-soda4, violence3
Strictly Ballroom
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: Both Mom and I could watch this movie every day for a year, then turn around and watch to celebrate the following New Year's Day. Plus, this video includes the full length docu-video about the Kendall's School of Dance, which inspired Baz Lurhmann to write this story. This documentary, alone, is worth the price of the video...and then, you get the main feature! What a treat!
Although Paul Mercurio is a professional dancer in real life, his acting is a bit stiff. This has a negligible effect, though, because Tara Morice is as liquid an actor as she is a dancer and the two are supported by a host of excellent Australian actors.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Paul Mercurio Scott Hastings Tara Morice Fran Bill Hunter Barry Fife Pat Thomson Shirley Hastings Antonio Vargas Rico Armonia Benedito Ya Ya Barry Otto Doug Hastings Sonia Kruger Tina Sparkle
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1992
Directed by Baz Luhrmann.
Labels: 20th-century-chick-flicks1, bill-hunter, dance, drama8, popcorn-and-soda4, romance2, satire2, shared-favorite
The Star - The Bette Davis Collection
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: Both Mom and I found this movie odd, but stayed with it, almost with bated breath. I'm not sure how often we'll watch it. Davis' performance is definitely transfixing. The story of her fall from fame and grace is interesting and well-played. The romance is a little over the top, though.
Once again, as with the Joan Crawford Collection, I've linked the second part of the title to a site that gets it done when it comes to collections (and other reviews, as well). Thank you, DVD Savant, now CineSavant! His review of this particular movie is the first review up on the page. The first part of the title is linked to another review of the film by one of the Three Movie Buffs.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Bette Davis Margaret Elliot Sterling Hayden Jim Johannsen Natalie Wood Gretchen Warner Anderson Harry Stone Minor Watson Joe Morrison June Travis Phyllis Stone Paul Frees Richard Stanley Fay Baker Margaret's sister
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1952
Directed by Stuart Heisler.
Labels: bette-davis, drama8, natalie-wood, popcorn-and-soda4, satire2
Now, Voyager - The Bette Davis Collection
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2* *3*
- Commentary: Ahhh...be still my heart! I love this movie so much it's hard for me to decide whether this or All About Eve is my favorite Bette Davis movie. First, of course, Bette Davis. What a character she plays in this! What a wonderful job she does! Second, the story. I consider the end strikingly unusual, but, I reminded myself that this movie played in 1942: Women were losing men to war, revelling in their independence and sudden ability to make a living and be both needed and wanted by the workforce...I guess I shouldn't consider it quite so striking. And then, of course, there's Claude Rains. My infatuation with this man is absolutely unreasonable. I kept wanting and expecting Davis' character to become romantically involved with his character, a psychiatrist. And, then, of course, the cigarettes. Read the mentions for information about how they went over in our household...definitely a surprise.
I can't, unfortunately, comment much about Paul Henreid's performance. For me, he was simply an object off which Davis bounced. However, there was one other performance in the movie I considered devastating: Gladys Cooper as Mrs. Vale. Not only was her character wickedly written, her performance was flawless. her portrayal was so subtle, she transformed Mrs. Vale into a quiet horror; always much better than an obvious horror.
The first part of the title is linked to an alternate review in which quite a bit of dialogue is quoted. As well, once again, as with the Joan Crawford Collection, I've linked the second part of the title to a site that gets it done when it comes to collections (and other reviews, as well). His review of this movie is the fourth down the page. Thank you, DVD Savant, now CineSavant!
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Bette Davis Charlotte Vale Paul Heinried Jeremiah Duvaux Durrance Claude Rains Dr. Jaquith Gladys Cooper Mrs. Windle Vale Bonita Granville June Vale John Loder Elliot Livingston Katharine Alexander Miss Trask Mary Wickes Dora Pickford Frank Puglia Giuseppe Ilka Chase Lisa Vale Franklin Pangborn Mr. Thompson Janis Wilson Tina Durrance
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1942
Directed by Irving Rapper.
Labels: 20th-century-chick-flicks1, bette-davis, claude-rains, drama9, mother-daughter-dynamics1, popcorn-and-soda4, romance2, shared-favorite
Dark Victory - The Bette Davis Collection
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: We watch this one more than I'd like, as it is one of my mother's favorites. I enjoy Davis' portrayal of the character but I have trouble with the quick switch from breezy, self-involved young heiress to philosophical, unselfishly doomed young matron. I've never known my mother to be an easy touch for movies about young, tragic death, but this one gets her every time. I'm not sure why. Maybe, if I would pay more attention to her as she watches it I'd discover the reason. Good idea. I know I'll have plenty of chances to do this.
Update 8/7/21: Once again, I infested the title of this post with two links. The first part is linked to a site that reviews the movie, alone. The second part of the title is linked to a site that gets it done when it comes to collections (and other reviews, as well). You'll find his review for this movie as the second review down his page. Incidentally, I have this Collection, so I'll be using this link in other posts, as well. Thank you, DVD Savant, now CineSavant!
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Bette Davis Judith Traherne George Brent Dr. Frederick Steele Humphrey Bogart Michael O'Leary Geraldine Fitzgerald Ann King Ronald Reagan Alec Hamm Henry Travers Dr. Parsons Cora Witherspoon Carrie Spottswood Doroty Peterson Miss Wainwright
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1939
Directed by Edmund Golding.
Labels: bette-davis, drama9, popcorn-and-soda4
Commander in Chief - Parts 1 & 2
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Mom initially discovered this series through her tabloids, insisted we tune in from the very first episode and was so addicted to it that she actually registered the news that it would be cancelled and was heartbroken. Thus, it was necessary, when it came up for sale, that we purchase it.
I can watch it, and often do, with her. It's more interesting to me than some series: For me, a cut above, for instance, Murder, She Wrote. I am not, though, generally, a fan of Bellisario series; they all have a fawning quality that bothers me. As well, I am not nearly as fascinated with the idea of a woman U.S. president as my mother is; just surprised, continually, that we haven't yet had one. I think my mother forgets that, in the history of the world, female rulers are not an anomaly, though certainly not as frequent as men. She also tends to think that just the fact that a ruler is a woman somehow means that ruler will be "better". I do not nurse similar sentiments. All that being said, it's entirely possible that this series, without thinking, was aimed at my mother's generation (and, maybe, one generation beyond), because it may have been conceived by still active executives who are of my mother's generation (or one generation beyond).
Please note, reader, that I've linked the title of this post to the first of two meticulous reviews of each of the seasons of this series. The review for the second season is here.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Geena Davis U. S. Pres Mackenzie Allen Donald Sutherland Nathan Templeton Harry Lennix Jim Gardner Kyle Secor Rod Calloway Ever Carradine Kelly Ludlow Mark-Paul Gosselaar Richard McDonald Polly Bergen The President's Mother Peter Coyote U. S. Vice Pres Warren Keaton
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2005-2006
Episodes directed by various directors, none female, which seems particularly pertinent, considering the subject matter.
Labels: donald-sutherland, drama9, geena-davis, mom-favorite1, political4, popcorn-and-soda4, presidential, TV2
The Birdcage
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I think Mom considers this a type of gender bender movie. It's one of her favorites, one of those that, when ever it played on television previous to us buying it, I'd cue it, knowing that Mom would love it, yet again. I like it. There are certain scenes, in this movie, like the dance direction scene, the initial diva-trauma scene and the reminscing dance scene between Val's mother and father that I never get tired of watching. I saw the original La Cage aux Folles many, many years ago, enjoyed that movie, and have no problem with the existence of both, although I tend to consider them different movies. For some reason, though, certain scenes in this movie grate on me and, when Mom wants to watch it, I find it a good time to catch up on chores or my journals.
Update 2/6/18: Thought I should mention, in tribute, although my Chandler sister has not visited for a few years, almost every time she comes she insists on watching this movie. I think it may be one of her favorites, if not her absolute favorite. Come to think of it, I haven't watched it since one of her last visits and, now, I can't remember which of the scenes grates on me. Perhaps I should watch it again.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Robin Williams Armand Goldman Nathan Lane Albert Goldman Christine Baranski Katharine Archer Dan Futterman Val Goldman Hank Azaria Agador Spartacus Calista Flockhart Barbara Keeley Gene Hackman Sen. Kevin Keeley Dianne Wiest Louise Keeley
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1996
Directed by Mike Nichols.
Labels: comedy1, gender-bender, mom-favorite2, popcorn-and-soda4, robin-williams
Friday, February 10, 2006
The Sound of Music
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I actually asked Mom, when I noticed the 40th anniversary edition of this movie at Costco, if she wanted me to purchase a copy. Silly question. Although most of the songs are too catchy to be believed and I have good-but-not-quite-reverent memories of this movie, if she'd said "No" I would have heeded her request. Some years ago, when one of my nieces was much younger, this movie was her absolute favorite, always playing at her family's house to the point where I entered "The Sound of Music" overload and have yet to exit that state. I have to say, though, "watching" the movie while doing chores and tending to my mother is pleasant and my mother is thoroughly entertained, singing along, rocker-dancing, etc. As well, this edition includes the Biography channel program about the real Von Trapp family, which is enormously interesting, so much so that we found ourselves searching through movie scenes afterwards to compare fact with fiction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Julie Andrews Maria Christopher Plummer Cpt. von Trapp Eleanor Parker Elsa von Schraeder Richard Haydn Max Detweiler Peggy Wood Mother Abbess Charmian Carr Liesl von Trapp Daniel Truhitte Rolf Gruber Nicholas Hammond Friedrich von Trapp Angela Cartwright Brigitta von Trapp Marni Nixon Sister Sophia Anna Lee Sister Margaretta Portia Nelson Sister Berthe
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1965
Directed by Robert Wise.
Labels: biography2, christopher-plummer, julie-andrews, musical1, period4, popcorn-and-soda4, romance2, spectacle2
Planet of the Apes
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2* *3* *4* *5* *6* *7* *8* *9* *10*
- Commentary: Although normally I'd say that all the comments would suffice as a review, this time I can say even more. Mom's favorite of the series is the first. Mine is Conquest of, although Battle for is a close runner up. We both much enjoyed the documentary on the making of the series, Behind the. The truth is, there is much that makes this series outstanding for its time and, thus, worth viewing. It set a couple of standards for science fiction movies, involving make-up and respecting the viewer's need for detail that grants plausibility, as well as respectable gaps that aren't too hard for the viewer to fill in, that puts it in the category of "must haves" for any science fiction movie maven. Even though the documentary clearly outlines a story of trying to milk an idea for all it was worth, its truthfulness lends even more respectability to the series. My mother, of course, is much more of a fan than I, and this is saying a lot, as I can imagine that I will eagerly watch all these films again with her.
Update 2/9/18: As I was updating the links in this site I noticed this link connected to a wonderful site about all the Apes movies. It insinuates that it will not remain up forever, having become an "archived" site, then talks a bit about its history. I don't know when this announcement was posted. I hope it remains at least until my own Mom & Me Journals sites are retired; frankly, I can't even imagine that possibility. Blogspot, as far as I can tell, keeps sites up forever and a day, even if they become "ghost" sites.
Below is a list of all the movies in the sextilogy, the director of each and their corresponding links to their Wikipedia articles.
- Planet of the Apes
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Charlton Heston George Taylor Roddy McDowell Dr. Cornelius Kim Hunter Dr. Zira Maurice Evans Dr. Zaius James Whitmore Assembly President James Daly Dr. Honorious Linda Harrison Nova Robert Gunner Landon
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1968
Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner.
- Beneath the Planet of the Apes
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role James Franciscus Brent Kim Hunter Zira Maurice Evans Dr. Zaius Linda Harrison Nova Paul Richards Mendez James Gregory General Ursus Gregory Sierra Verger Charlton Heston Taylor
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1970
Directed by Ted Post.
- Escape from the Planet of the Apes
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Roddy McDowall Dr. Cornelius Kim Hunter Dr. Zira Bradford Dillman Dr. Lewis Dixon Natalie Trundy Dr. Stephanie Branton Eric Braeden Dr. Otto Hasslein William Windom U.S. President Sal Mineo Dr. Milo Ricardo Montalbán Armando
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1971
Directed by Don Taylor.
- Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Roddy McDowall Caesar Don Murray Governor Breck Ricardo Montalban Armando Natalie Trundy Lisa Hari Rhodes Role Name Severn Darden Kolp John Randolph Commission Chairman David Chow Aldo
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1972
Directed by J. Lee Thompson.
- Battle for the Planet of the Apes
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Roddy McDowall Caesar Claude Akins Aldo Natalie Trundy Lisa Severn Darden Kolp Lew Ayres Mandemus John Huston The Lawgiver Richard Eastham Mutant Captain France Nuyen Alma
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1973
Directed by J. Lee Thompson.
- Behind the Planet of the Apes - Documentary
Very interesting, if you're a died-in-the-wool fan of these movies. My mom was, and she loved it. Although, frankly, I'm not sure if she thought she was watching a documentary or another Apes movie.
Hosted and Narrated by Roddy McDowell
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1998
Directed by Kevin Burns & David Comtois.
Labels: apocalyptic, charlton-heston, mom-favorite2, nuclear, popcorn-and-soda4, science-fiction1
Notting Hill
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This came with About a Boy. If it hadn't, I probably would never have viewed this one, certainly wouldn't have bought it. It's definitely another frippery, but not exactly my style, although Mom liked it very much, so much that when I asked her, after our viewing, if we should keep it or trade it in, she looked at me as though I was crazy and said, "Keep it! Of course!". So, we're keeping it. I have to say, I very much enjoy the roommate. There are parts of the movie, though, that are distinct rip offs of Four Weddings and a Funeral. I enjoy those parts much more in FWAAF than I do here. As well, in FWAAF Hugh Grant is fresh. In this movie he seems to be leaning on past performances, to the detriment of this movie. He tends to be one note, anyway. Although I like his note, I prefer it well played.
Update 7/31/21: Just a self-actualizing note here. I chucked FWAAF to the library and kept this! Have I watched it since I got rid of FWAAF? No. So, the next time I thin my collection, perhaps you should expect this movie's title to be changed to garish yellow. I'll watch it first, though, just to make sure. Maybe there's something about it I'll like that I didn't like, or, at least, couldn't handle, through another watching of FWAAF. We'll see.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Julia Roberts Anna Scott Hugh Grant William Thacker Hugh Bonneville Bernie Emma Chambers Honey Thacker James Dreyfus Martin Rhys Ifans Spike Tim McInnerny Max Emily Mortimer Perfect Girl
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1999
Directed by Roger Michell.
Labels: 20th-century-chick-flicks1, emily-mortimer, julia-roberts, popcorn-and-soda4, romance2
Ghost
- Who's watched: M & G, several times
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This is one of those movies that's guaranteed to please, in one way or another, both of us. Since we watch parts of it every time it appears on television, when I noticed a cheap, widescreen copy of it for sale I snatched it. We watched it that night. Much better to have constant favorites on DVD, since it's easy enough to pause them or watch only the parts we happen to be thinking about at any time.
The truth is, I'm not a fan of the after-death philosophy behind the movie, although it's pretty enough and certainly makes for a unique thriller. The famous love scene is nice but give me Diane Lane's first fuck with her extra-marital lover in Unfaithful over wet pottery clay and "Unchained Melody" any day. I especially love, though, Whoopi Goldberg's performance as Oda Mae (this character deserves mention in some tome of memorable, perfectly played movie characters) and Tony Goldwyn's performance as Carl Bruner. I read someplace that Tony Goldwyn's preference is not for acting, which is too bad. I've seen him in lots of bit parts and his performances are always memorable and enlightening.
Just for fun, I thought I'd include Roger Ebert's critical review of this movie. In a way, it's a send-up of all ghost movies.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Patrick Swayze Sam Wheat Demi Moore Molly Jensen Whoopi Goldberg Oda Mae Brown Tony Goldwyn Carl Bruner Rick Aviles Willie Lopez Vincent Schiavelli Subway Ghost Gail Boggs Louise Brown Armelia McQueen Clara Brown
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1990
Directed by Jerry Zucker.
Labels: dramedy2, fantasy3, mystery2, popcorn-and-soda4, suspense2, whoopi-goldberg
Forrest Gump
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I'm not surprised this movie hasn't been mentioned in my journals. When I bought it I thought I remembered that Mom liked it. She may have, but had little patience for it this time around. I thought I had found it interesting. I did, but immediately after watching it for the first time in a long time, I decided it would be one I'd never enter in here and would sell back as soon as I had a few other movies to turn in. Watching it made me uncomfortable. For myself. For the United States. Then, I found myself going back to the movie, replaying particular scenes, looking forward to the well planned music score, watching Gary Sinese closely...and decided, hmmm, I'd better keep this one. It does remain one of the strangest crafted-to-be-a-box-office-hit movies ever made. Being a movie maven, this is a good enough reason for me to keep it. Who knows. The next time I play it "in front of" Mom, she might like it again.
Update 8/12/21: Along with the review, above, linked to the title, and, in light of it, I want to present another few reviews published to commemorate the 25th anniversary of this movie. 'Forrest Gump,' 25 Years Later, by Eric Cohn perfectly expresses my unease with this film. Because of my ambivalence about this film, I was always surprised that Roger Ebert seemed to swallow it hook, line and sinker. Perhaps he was a Republican. Perhaps he simply enjoyed live-action that is cartoonish. I don't know. What I do know is continued occasional viewings of this film, for me, make me grateful that I remain capable of finding this movie off-putting, regardless of how much I enjoy individual scenes or pieces of actor performance.
About a year after the review immediately above came out, another, in video format, by Renegade Cut, was published. It deserves a close viewing if you find yourself uncomfortable with this movie.
Finally, a two video review was published by the website The Take in commemoration of the same anniversary: here are the first and the second. Lighter in tone than the reviews cited above, these two videos also have more clips from the movie and have a kinder, gentler interpretation of the movie's overall presentation of the United States' character and history.
It's interesting to watch this movie 25 years after its release and recontemplate it in view of the variety of quarter century anniversary videos. It's quite striking how more loquacious citizens of the United States interpret the movie and its impact on a variety of aspects of United States life, now, and citizens of this country.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Tom Hanks Forrest Gump Robin Wright Jennie Curran Gary Sinise Lt. Dan Taylor Mykelti Williamson Bubba Blue Sally Field Mrs. Gump Haley Joel Osment Forrest Gump Jr. Sam Anderson Principal Hancock Siobhan Fallon Hogan School Bus Driver
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1994
Directed by Robert Zemeckis.
Labels: biography2, dramedy2, fantasy3, period4, popcorn-and-soda4, satire2, tom-hanks
Cocoon
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: This is not an often watched movie of ours. Sometimes my mother can stand it, sometimes she can't. Same with me. We both have a little bit of a problem with the dancing couple, although they add outrageous comic relief. We both agree there are a few offensively clichéd depictions of the elderly but, overall it's clean. Mom's favorite relationship is the one between the couple whose wife has advanced dementia. Mine is the relationship between Jessica Tandy's and Hume Cronyn's characters.
Update 5/14/2020: It is interesting to note, here, that, throughout our companionship, which lasted for 15 years, my mother never thought she had dementia and acted as though she didn't. Maybe this is partly because she was only mildly demented, if you want to classify her condition (and, while she was alive and we were companions, I never did) and partly because I never treated her as though she had dementia. I mean, never. If she had some difficulty that might have been chalked up to dementia, I treated it as though it was simply a human difficulty, not a demented-human difficulty. I mean, brass tacks here: All the difficulties, all of them that manifest, sometimes profusely, when someone is demented also manifest, in lesser degrees, sometimes much lesser to non-existent degrees, in people who aren't classified as demented. And that's the truth [imagine a loud raspberry, here]!
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Don Ameche Art Selwyn Gwen Verdon Bess McCarthy Wilford Brimley Ben Luckett Maureen Stapleton Mary Luckett Hume Cronyn Joe Finley Jessica Tandy Alma Finley Jack Gilford Bernie Lefkowitz Herta Ware Rose Lefkowitz Brian Dennehy Walter Steve Guttenberg Jack Bonner Tahnee Welch Kitty Linda Harrison Susan
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1985
Directed by Ron Howard.
Labels: aliens, dramedy2, fantasy3, hume-cronyn, popcorn-and-soda4, science-fiction2
Monday, November 14, 2005
Shōgun
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: I got this as a nod to Mom (see mention) but, lo and behold, I enjoy it, too. It's not even a guilty pleasure for me. It's got some great actors in it, I enjoy the fact that the Japanese is not subtitled in English because it keeps the viewer in the same position as Anjin-San and, well, it's an involving production. Mom could probably watch this 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
The interesting thing about this series and the book upon which it is based is that there is much historical background upon which they are based. Check out the Wikipedia article, linked below, and cruise through the actor list with its historical equivalents.
Update 2/9/18: I recently rewatched this series over a few nights, mainly to see if I wanted to donate it to the library. I vaguely noticed some "dating", but was still swept up. It will be remaining in my collection, for awhile, at least.
Update 5/13/2022: You may think that, by now, this series is close to the donate-to-the-library box. Not so! I've actually watched the entire series, over a weekend, about four months ago, in the depth of winter. I know its structure as a mini-series is dated but I continue to find it engaging, worthy of a winter weekend, and, perhaps, even a mid-summer weekend when there's nothing to do but, well, watch a mini-series!
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Richard Chamberlain John Blackthorne Toshirô Mifune Yoshi Toranaga Yoko Shimada Lady Toda Mariko Frankie Sakai Kashigi Yabu Alan Badel Father Dell'Aqua Michael Hordern Friar Domingo Damien Thomas Father Martin Alvito John Rhys-Davies Vasco Rodrigues
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1980
Directed by Jerry London.
Labels: action3, adventure3, dramaA, mom-favorite2, period5, political4, popcorn-and-soda4, spectacle2, toshirô-mifune, TV2
Saturday Night Fever
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I have, for a long time, been shy about mentioning my adoration for this movie. Something about the way it's put together from the beginning. Something about its nonmusical musical quality. Something about its datedness, which was dated when it was made and thus makes it a period piece. Something about the coarse vulnerability of the characters. Something about the title song. Mom likes watching it because it's a dance movie. That's good enough for me.
Update 2/6/18: Roger Ebert wrote two interesting reviews of this movie: one about his own feelings toward the movie and one about Gene Siskel's veneration of this movie in one of his "Great Movie" reviews. I've included both. Sadly, I was unable to find a complete review of this movie by Gene Siskel. There are bits and pieces all over the internet, mostly of his October 1999 review of the movie.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role John Travolta Anthony Manero Karen Lynn Gorney Stephanie Mangano Barry Miller Bobby C. Donna Pescow Annette
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1977
Directed by John Badham
Labels: coming-of-age2, dramaA, john-travolta, me-favorite3, musical1, period5, popcorn-and-soda4
