G List of Movie Reviews
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G Men (1935)
Rate:
4
Viewed:
11/07
11/07:
Tedious, slow, and mundane, G Men fails to generate excitement.
The story is run-of-the-mill and too drawn out because of many pointless subplots, especially during the first half.
James Cagney initially overacts and then improves over time. The character of Kay McCord, who's played stoically by
Margaret Lindsay, is worthless.
Considering that William Keighley directed G Men and Bullets or Ballots
which came out afterwards, both are noticeably similar, but the latter is better. The scripts were also written
by Seton Miller. Hence, I can see he borrowed the introduction from G Men to make it more jolting and entertaining
for Bullets or Ballots. One key difference between these two films in terms
of quality is acting. There's no doubt that having Edward G. Robinson and Humphrey Bogart in the same movie makes a
world of difference when James Cagney alone isn't enough.
All in all, G Men can be considered to be a dated promotional piece for the FBI.
G.I. Jane (1997)
Rate:
5
Viewed:
10/08
10/08:
G.I. Jane isn't that terrible, but it has problems.
Not trying to sound misogynistic, the film comes off as somewhat too feminist for me although the performances are
fine. As Jordan O'Neill, Demi Moore is all right herself, but it's Viggo Mortensen who kicks ass yet he doesn't
get to do it enough which is disappointing.
Most of the plot is similar to Heartbreak Ridge, and the editing can be bad at
times, most especially in the last fifteen minutes. As G.I. Jane focuses on boot camp first, shifting attention
away from it as the film crosses over to politics is disastrous.
One of the biggest problems is the lack of character development via comradeship. Thus, I don't know who Jordan O'Neill's
comrades are. It was done better in An Officer and a Gentleman. On the
other hand, I like how "teamwork" is emphasized, and Urgayle makes the most out of it.
Meanwhile, as the film progresses and makes the transition from boot camp to some random battle in Libya, there's no
noticeable transformation in the faces and bodies. I'm surprised to see some of the soldiers smoking; really, how are they
considered healthy? I doubt they'll be able to run a mile under seven minutes, let alone six minutes.
All in all, G.I. Jane is a mix of good and bad.
G.I. Wanna Go Home (1946)
Rate:
1
Viewed:
1/08
1/08:
Mommy, I wanna go home.
All in all, skip this trash.
Gabriel Over the White House (1933)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
2/21
2/21:
Yep, Gabriel Over the White House is one of the all-time great political fantasy pictures made.
It's like Dave but within the same person. What transpired in the film either has
happened or will happen. A big fan of what's a hit piece against Herbert Hoover, FDR took advantage of many elements
that would be part of his New Deal package. The warning at the end of what to expect with nuclear weapons was
demonstrated twelve years later in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Most of President Hammond's views were expressed by William Randolph Hearst, the subject of pseudo-biopic
Citizen Kane. Subtly, they smack of fascist dictatorship. Although the intentions
are well-meaning, they'll backfire because of numerous gray areas. This type of rule didn't work in Germany, Italy, and
Russia, leading to the horrible ruin of each country. Yet the message struck a chord for many people; hence, the film
was a big box-office hit in 1933.
Back to Walter Huston, he's brilliant. For years, the actor thought he was wasting his time with inferior films and
thus wanted meaty roles. He finally got his wish after being handed the script for Gabriel Over the White House,
causing his career to take off. As a result, Walter Huston earned four Oscar nominations with a single win which went
for his supporting role in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.
There are also great performances by Karen Morley and Franchot Tone. The costumes are nice, and the film moves
briskly well with plenty of food for thought. It's like the philosophical
The Day the Earth Stood Still which is about
the restoration of balance in social order by correcting the obvious ills that were borne out of corruption. The name
"Gabriel" in the title is to signify that the change in government had been approved by God.
All in all, Gabriel Over the White House will continue to stand the test of time.
Galaxy Quest (1999)
Rate:
8
Viewed:
5/16
5/16:
Galaxy Quest is an interesting sci-fi picture I've seen in a long time.
Not only it's a well-done flick, but Galaxy Quest is also a clever spoof. It's essentially
Trekkies meets Star Trek. The story works, and the inside jokes are subtle.
I like the acting, especially from Tim Allen who charms his way and is really into his character which is modeled after
William Shatner's. I wonder what Captain James T. Kirk thought of the film, and I'm sure it's all too real to him in a
Spinal Tap way.
All in all, Galaxy Quest is an impressive sci-fi spoof, enough to be rated highly as some of the Star Trek
movies.
Gallipoli (1981)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
3/25
3/25:
Gallipoli reminds me of The Deer Hunter.
People had complained about the overlong backstory. Rubbish. I've seen a lot of war pictures, and their
main problem is too much fighting. Hence, they're all the same, illustrating the oft-repeated message that war
is pointless. Gallipoli postpones it until the final fifteen minutes, and the result is a powerful ending.
However, what's shown is just a small part of the Gallipoli campaign and is rather concerned with the Battle of the
Nek on August 9, 1915, as opposed to the whole thing which lasted from February 17 to January 9 of the following
year. For reference, WWI ended in November 1918. There was no strategic value in going over the top and charging
ahead. In other words, it was a senseless waste of lives.
Mark Lee and Mel Gibson are the standouts. They carry the show effortlessly from start to finish. The former
hasn't appeared in anything noteworthy afterwards while the latter is quite young-looking. As a bonus, Russell
Boyd's cinematography makes the movie even better which was shot on location in either Australia or Egypt.
All in all, Gallipoli is much more than Mel Gibson; it's Australia history.
Gambit (1966)
Rate:
8
Viewed:
6/25
6/25:
Gambit may seem like one of many for Michael Caine, but it's actually the first.
The story is clever. Harry Dean thought he could be Alfie by simply ordering Nicole Chang around, and she would
comply in the most obedient manner without saying a word. Then, when the plan unfolds in real time, it's
anything but he had in mind. Oddly, why didn't Harry think of stealing these paintings? They'll be worth millions,
and all he had to do was remove the frames.
I had reservations prior to seeing Gambit for the first time because I thought it would be either dated
or too talky. Surprisingly, the interiors are tastefully done, and the script has been pared down, so the
characters can get to the point when they speak. Hence, the pace is brisk.
Once again, Michael Caine is at his classic best. Shirley MacLaine and Herbert Lom have done a decent job of
meeting him to make sure the material is expertly done. If you are confused about the ending, it's
the bust that was reported stolen in the newspapers which is enough to make any prospective buyer think that what
he's getting is the real deal even though it's actually safe and secure in Shahbandar's apartment.
All in all, Gambit is To Catch a Thief meets
Incognito.
The Gambler (1974)
Rate:
8
Viewed:
3/18
3/18:
James Caan has always been a terrific and underrated actor, and that much is evident in The Gambler.
What's interesting is the film feels so ordinary, gritty, and real that it can happen to anyone. James
Caan's character presents a good if inexplicable definition of what a degenerate gambler looks like: the kind who will
sell his mother for any sum of money just to make one more bet.
The story is James Toback's because he was an English lecturer at the City College of New York and had a gambling problem.
Originally, he planned to write a semi-autobiographical novel but decided to turn it into a screenplay which is the first
of his career.
It's easy for anyone to like James Caan as the gambler, but I want to smack the back of his head in the hopes of him
waking up to common sense. Yet he never does, so his fast spiral to the bottom is unbelievable and mostly avoidable.
Somewhere along the way, look for the very young James Woods with James Caan giving him hell. Paul Sorvino of
Goodfellas fame also stars.
All in all, as the title suggests, The Gambler is what gambling addiction looks like.
The Game (1997)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
4/16
4/16:
Here's another interesting film from David Fincher: The Game.
Although the story reminds me too much of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, this one has a lot of twists and turns, but
the title is a dead giveaway because I've kept reminding myself that it's just a game. So, the ending isn't a surprise. Maybe
they should've changed it to something else like Real or...Not?
Looking back, I've been thinking about which moments were so impossible that the game wouldn't have worked out. The two
that come to my mind the most are: the bullets flying through Nicholas van Orton and the perfect leap into the glass ceiling
at the end. The former can be easily done with squibs, but really...all the time? The latter, it's not possible. Conrad
would've been seriously injured or dead by the effect of the fall. Landing on the wrong spot can't be discounted, too.
For his character, Michael Douglas recaptures the same, although it's subdued, personality that created
an unforgettable icon through Gordon Gecko. Either way, he's as good as ever, and his performance makes the film work.
All in all, it's hard for me to say The Game is perfect because the plot feels contrived; nevertheless, it's a
great, fun movie.
Gandhi (1982)
Rate:
4
Viewed:
1/08
1/08:
Gandhi is an overrated film that lacks power.
The sagacious lines Gandhi spouts has the same effect of what John "Big Words, Small Balls" Kerry would come up with.
Worse, the film has nothing interesting to say or for me to be awed of. In fact, most of the formula is similar to
Lawrence of Arabia.
Director Richard Attenborough makes things worse by including Martin Sheen, Candice Bergen, and John Ratzenberger.
Had the American thespians been removed, the film might recover some credibility. Ben Kingsley is full of himself as
Gandhi. The only positive thing I can say about his performance is the makeup.
On the other hand, Gandhi is too long, clocking for more than three hours which is expected for an epic, and
therefore leaves me for dead. Granted, the first hour is well-done, but the rest doesn't hold up. The main character
is hardly developed which is Richard Attenborough's fault. Just because Mohandas Gandhi was an extraordinary leader doesn't
mean the biopic should be automatically labeled as extraordinary. Furthermore, it does a good job of distorting
the truth and omitting the ugly side of Gandhi.
It's a fact that, although under the yoke of the British Empire, India was a well-run country. After Gandhi took over to
help India declare independence, the country became worse for it. Also, Gandhi was a true racist, not believing in
equality for all people of different races and social classes. He forced a lot of women, especially his relatives, to
sleep naked with him. There are many more negatives, but the list is too long to go through. In other words, Gandhi wasn't a
saint, so it's best to read an unbiased biography about him.
There's one nice gem, and it's when the young-looking Daniel Day-Lewis made a cameo appearance before hitting big later.
Well known as Eric Liddell in Chariots of Fire, Ian Charleston can be spotted
walking alongside Ben Kingsley during the South Africa segment before bumping into Daniel Day-Lewis.
All in all, filled with historical inaccuracies, Gandhi needs to be shorter.
Gangster No. 1 (2000)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
11/19
11/19:
Gangster No. 1 was shaping up to be an excellent British gangster picture until the foot was taken off
the pedal with thirty minutes left, allowing it to go waste.
For starters, I'm impressed with the 60's-70's look, and I can tell by the thin, ugly appearance of the females.
It's one thing the filmmakers got correct. Another is the demeanor of many actors, most especially Paul Bettany (who can
pass for a young Malcolm McDowell) and David Thewlis which is nothing flashy but straightforward acting. It's
almost Get Carter all over again.
Everything was working out so well until Gangster 55 was done with torturing Lennie Taylor. Prior to it is the heavy-handed
narration of what he's doing every step of the way. It's when the movie started to lose me. Then, everybody feels
the need to be lazy by opting for a rush job to wrap things up in thirty minutes by skipping decades so quickly until Malcolm
McDowell, as Gangster 55, has his chance to scream at Freddie Mays which borders between absurd and cartoonish. Um,
Sexy Beast all over again?
Given what happened, I get the point: Gangster 55 hates what he has become before killing himself because he's been eaten
alive by his anger. Freddie Mays, by comparison, is more well-dressed and polished in manners, looks respectable, and is in
control, winning the game at the end. There are probably a lot of repressed homosexual feelings within Gangster 55 which
aren't explored enough. Yet why did the filmmakers have to throw away a fine movie to make such a simple point?
All in all, Gangster No. 1 is a weak '7' picture that deserves a better director to finish on a high note.
The Garbage Pail Kids Movie (1987)
Rate:
2
Viewed:
12/13
12/13:
What irks me, whether it's through cinema or television, is anyone thinking he can just make a lot of money by being an
independent fashion designer out of the blue because it never happens in real life.
In The Garbage Pail Kids Movie, I notice the spectators wear better-looking clothes than the runway models.
Anyway...well, how do I say this delicately? The movie sucks. It seems the filmmakers expect me to believe all of
the characters can fit in a small garbage pail. So, I guess the movie is meant to attract idiots.
All in all, there's no reason to watch The Garbage Pail Kids Movie unless you collected the cards during the 80's.
The Garment Jungle (1957)
Rate:
10
Viewed:
10/24
10/24:
Lee J. Cobb may have played the same role once too many times, but he was perfectly cast as Walter Mitchell in
The Garment Jungle.
Not many are familiar with labor issues back then, so it's best to read
A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn. People, including children, worked over sixty hours
per week for pennies, usually seven days a week in dangerous conditions that resulted in death. They had no
breaks, health benefits, vacations, or any kind of rights. Temperature was often too high or too low, and there
was never any proper ventilation.
That began to change when unions and special interest groups entered the picture. It's understandable this sort
of thing is totally forgotten today, but it currently exists in third world countries which are fostered by
companies like Nike, Apple, Adidas, Abercrombie & Fitch, Samsung, and Sony, among others.
The Garment Jungle captures them very well. It's a true film noir picture with tons of corruption
in the background. Alan Mitchell, an idealist, is shocked to find out about it and begins to realize his
father may not be a principled guy after all. Then again, he didn't want his son involved in the first place
because he knew it's a tough, uncompromising occupation with high level of stress.
Armed with a strong script, the acting is terrific all the way through with a bunch of unsavory characters. I
must say it's Lee J. Cobb's finest hour even though he was in
On the Waterfront, 12 Angry Men,
and so on. It's nice to see the young-looking Robert Loggia. Who knew he would be a terrific character actor later
on? Gia Scala merits a special mention as his wife, and it's tough to beat Richard Boone's villainy.
By the way, the credits may mention Vincent Sherman as the director. But really, Robert Aldrich did most of the
work. Because the material was deemed too tough for the audience, studio mogul Harry Cohn had him fired and
replaced with Vincent Sherman to soften it up. Well, the plan didn't work...the film is still hard-hitting
and highly accurate in terms of what it's like to work in a sweatshop.
All in all, The Garment Jungle belongs in the list of greatest films noirs ever made.
Gaslight (1940)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
5/05, 5/16
5/05:
Slow, tedious, and predictable, Gaslight lacks a good deal of suspense and has many false endings.
The acting, most especially from Diana Wynyard as Bella Mallen, is weak. Also, the film is marred by poor script and
silly characters. There's an eerie hybrid between Orson Welles and Robert Donat in Anton Walbrook who plays a character
that's equally repulsive and odious.
All in all, with better editing, Gaslight can be completed in an hour yet achieve the same result.
5/16:
One good thing about the 1940 version of Gaslight is it's shorter than the remake.
However, Charles Boyer's performance is memorable enough to give the original a run for its money. He's masterful.
Anton Walbrook does a good job and is almost as convincing. At least, his character's relationship with the maid is just
because it's what I thought during the remake.
If there's anything I hate about the 1944 version, it's Ingrid Bergman's overrated performance. As ordinary as she
was, Diana Wynyard created the character, and Ingrid Bergman only copied it. What I like about the original is the
buildup of suspense in Victorian style. I could feel it. Hence, the cinematography is perfectly executed, and
it's a lot grittier than the remake.
All in all, I give the slight edge to the 1940 version of Gaslight over the 1944 remake.
Gaslight (1944)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
3/16
3/16:
I decided to watch the 1944 version of Gaslight for Ingrid Bergman's sake
because she won the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
But it turns out to be overrated to the point of overacting. Ultimately, it's Charles Boyer's virtuosic performance that won
me over. He's perfect as the master manipulator, using every psychology trick in the book to control his wife, hence the word
"gaslighting."
Charles Boyer is effective from start to finish. However, every time he said something such as "You
forgot your watch" or "You took down the painting," I was like, "Big fucking deal." So, the film is rather dated
for this way as the technique is oft-repeated throughout.
As for the story, it's predictable with the mystery being figured out early due to the discovery of the
damning letter and Gregory's subsequent reaction to it. The rest of the way becomes a question of when, not if, because of
many dropped clues. If that's how the movie is going to be, then it should've been shorter in running length.
Of the cast, Angela Lansbury's slutty eyes is probably the reason for receiving an Oscar nomination in her screen debut,
regardless of the fact that she's nothing special. Angela and Gregory Anton seem perfect together, suggesting
something more which never materialized.
May Whitty's talkative character is unbearably annoying and is thankfully put out of the way for a while to allow me endure
the film for as long as possible. In regard to Joseph Cotten's character, it's not clear to me what exactly he does do for a
living. Is he a detective or a mere interested admirer?
All in all, Charles Boyer is the reason to watch the otherwise predictable remake version of
Gaslight.
The Gate (1987)
Rate:
3
Viewed:
3/12
3/12:
Oy vey!
Talk about dumb. The Gate certainly has it all. M'kay...Glen randomly decides to launch the mini-rocket from inside
his home to save the world? Now, I don't know where he got the idea from, and I fail to see how it ties in with the story.
The demons are far too lenient with the kids. If they see them, the best course of action will be getting the fuck
out of the house. Speaking of annoying, how about the female children? How is it possible they survived?
All in all, avoid The Gate like the plague.
Gattaca (1997)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
12/15, 12/17, 12/20
12/15:
I knew about Gattaca in 1997 but avoided watching it for years because I didn't like the idea of a possibly weird
sci-fi movie.
It's good thing that I did because Gattaca is an undisputable, thought-provoking masterpiece about the future, and
the wait has been well worth it. Born to play the role of Vincent Anton Freeman, Ethan Hawke gives a terrific performance
and makes the most of his thespic potential. His co-star Jude Law gives him a nice supporting hand and is as equally
impressive.
Uma Thurman matches Ethan Hawke's brilliance scene for scene and shows why she was a talented actress during the 90's.
Xander Berkeley has a few classic moments that add more to the film's specialness along with a smart script at the hands of
New Zealander Andrew Niccol. It's always nice to see Alan Arkin in anything.
Buoyed by Ethan Hawke's performance, the story is what makes Gattaca so interesting to watch that it almost
transcends the sci-fi genre and steps into the "human spirit" territory. The feel is less of sci-fi but more of
neo-noir, taking advantage of some of the most appetizing yet minimalist in/exteriors, with a surprise twist at
the end.
All in all, Ethan Hawke has been chronically an underwhelming performer, but in Gattaca, he's beyond brilliant whose
character overcomes long odds to achieve his goals, hence the tagline: "There is no gene for the human spirit."
12/17:
Gattaca holds up well, and it's still a brilliant sci-fi picture.
The attention to details is breathtaking, and the cinematography is sumptuous. There's nothing flashy about anything. Even
better is the gripping story which makes it easy for me to get into the film. The plot twist is unexpected yet is a nice
treat.
Ethan Hawke is perfect as the lead character. Uma Thurman and Jude Law complement him perfectly. Alan Arkin and Xander
Berkeley are the more the merrier. It's true that "there is no gene for the human spirit." It's what Gattaca is about.
All in all, Gattaca is a top ten must-see sci-fi picture.
12/20:
One of the best sci-fi pictures, Gattaca is brilliantly made that embodies the human spirit.
Ethan Hawke was born for the role of Vincent Anton Freeman. Uma Thurman and Jude Law are nothing short of magnificent just
like the cinematography. Xander Berkeley finds a way to be special for a few minutes.
The story is absorbing to follow which is the film's drawing power. After it's over, I look at the tagline of the poster,
and it all makes sense: "There's no gene for the human spirit." Hence, even people with imperfections can still make most of
their lives despite the availiability of genetic engineering to create a seemingly perfect race. That's why many with special
needs manage to do well in life, regardless of their disabilities. Eugenics was tried in Nazi Germany, and it didn't work,
depriving the country of brainpower when the intelligentsia fled to the United States, making it the envy of the world.
All in all, Gattaca continues to be overlooked by many and deserves recognition as one of the best films in
the sci-fi genre.
The Gauntlet (1977)
Rate:
8
Viewed:
10/05
10/05:
The Gauntlet is a through and through cult flick because it's different, tacky, and unusual.
Once again, Clint Eastwood directs a winner by giving it a unique style that made the
Dirty Harry franchise
enormously popular. Anyone can make The Gauntlet, but there's nobody who can pull it off as well as he.
Sure, there are several moments that defy logic, but by ignoring them, it's been an enjoyable ride from start to finish.
There are some scenes that are plain crazy including shooting so many bullets to destroy a house and also a bus, Ben
Shockley taking on the Hells Angels by himself, and the helicopter chasing a motorcycle.
Also, it has great lines such as "We'll fake it," "Nag, nag, nag," and "Open your fucking eyes!" Some viewers may construe
The Gauntlet as misogynistic, but I think Shockley treated everybody the same, regardless of their gender.
All in all, I love Clint Eastwood's movies, and The Gauntlet is one of them.
The General (1926)
Rate:
2
Viewed:
9/15
9/15:
For reasons that are incomprehensible to me, The General has been voted as one of the best films made.
Advertised as a comedy, it has left me bored to tears. Mmm, am I hearing the baa-baa sounds from the public to make sure
nobody says otherwise? Well, I'm not going to be one of them. In fact, The General was a box-office failure when it
first came out, and everybody found the picture unbelievably tedious.
It would be another four years before the war masterpiece,
All Quiet on the Western Front, was released.
The difference in quality of filmmaking between these two is wide and deep. Although The General is a silent picture,
I knew what to expect before seeing it, and my expectations were met.
It moves too slow, and hardly anything happens. Every scene takes twenty minutes when one suffices. In fact, it should've been
a ten-minute picture. There's no story whatsoever: just a bunch of random stuff that happens to take place on the railroad.
It repeats ad nauseam to the point that I'm all railroaded out. Also, the film does a great disservice to the soldiers who
fought in the Civil War.
All in all, don't believe the hype about The General because it's anything but.
The General (1998)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
6/20
6/20:
Based on Paul Williams' eponymous biography, The General tells a true story about Martin Cahill,
the leader of an Irish gang that pulled off two big-time heists with cunningness and intelligence.
I've never heard of the guy before, and it's interesting to find out who he was while watching the film. That's
a very good performance by Brendan Gleeson who obviously should've nominated for Best Actor Oscar.
The same goes for Seamus Deasy's black-and-white photography and John Boorman's direction.
Forget the fact that Jon Voight is billed second for the movie; he isn't shown that much and doesn't play a big role.
This is Brendan Gleeson's show. There are also good performances from his Irish co-stars such as Adrian Dunbar,
Maria Doyle Kennedy, Angeline Ball, and Sean McGinley.
There's a scene that actually happened to director John Boorman when his house was burglarized by Martin Cahill.
He stole a watch from the wrist of a sleeping woman and a record which was later broken on purpose when he realized
it wasn't made of real gold. Well, that one is the score for John Boorman's most famous movie
Deliverance.
All in all, The General is a mesmerizing true crime picture.
Gentleman's Agreement (1947)
Rate:
6
Viewed:
7/17
7/17:
I won't go so far as to say that Gentleman's Agreement, which is one of the first two films to deal with
anti-semitism with the other being Crossfire, is an overrated Best Picture Oscar
winner because it's not.
But to think of it as Best Picture material is laughable. It's just not a great movie. Part of the reason why is how
poorly structured the plot is. I was ready to give it a '3' after sitting through the first hour of soapy, dated melodrama.
For a good deal of time, Phil Green was telling some people about his plan and then asked them all to keep it under wraps.
Therefore, the open secret became the film's running joke. I got lost when trying to figure out which role Green was
supposed to take on. Then, things completely changed when John Garfield finally showed up. From there on, the movie wasn't
the same anymore, and the second half is one of the most moving stuff I've felt in a while. I was being reminded of the themes
touched on in The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter and
Easy Rider. In short, it's powerful stuff.
Four thespians were Oscar-nominated for their performances, but none of them was named John Garfield! What a shock. A true
force of nature, he's the single biggest reason why the message works. He's authentic and plays an
authentic character. It's what he went through in real life. Everybody else is fake. Hence, John Garfield should've been
Oscar-nominated.
Whenever John Garfield appears, everybody, most notably Gregory Peck who wasn't mature enough to handle this kind of role,
pales in comparison to him. They're two or three levels below where he's at. It's overall a bad mismatch. Only
Celeste Holm stands out and gives a timeless performance, but her role doesn't have much to do with the main theme.
Mostly pointless, she plays a freewheeling, gay character.
The focus should've been on the writer's determination to get to the truth. Unfortunately, the wrecked plot structure
hinders Gregory Peck's progress as he was taking so long to get there and wasn't making much headway until John Garfield's
character showed up. When he did, the purpose finally became crystal clear.
In the meantime, the whole thing between Phil Green and his new girlfriend, Kathy Lacy, is a filler, wasting a
lot of my time. I've lost interest in their talks, lovemaking sessions, and going back-and-forth about their feelings.
Eventually, I couldn't care about their relationship, but when it felt important, I was earnestly rooting for Phil
to go for Celeste Holm's character because Kathy was a hypocrite who lived in a bubble.
Anyway, the real reason why I picked up Gentleman's Agreement is that I read a nonfiction book which mentioned
Darien, Connecticut, and that it was a notorious sundown town, having kept out African American and Jewish families for
decades. Nothing about it has changed to this day. On the other hand, it's a strange movie for entirely different reasons.
Elia Kazan metaphorically talks about facing issues head-on by not being silent about them when pressed. Yet, in 1952,
he gave the names of eight actors to the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). Two years later, Kazan directed
On the Waterfront as a veiled way to justify his decision. Basically, his
career was built on the ruin of other people's careers, yet he remained an influential director, paving the way for
future Method actors.
As for John Garfield, the whole HUAC matter stressed him out so much that he was fatally struck by a heart attack at
the age of 39 the night before he was scheduled to appear in the hearing for the second time after being placed in the
blacklist for one year. What a sad loss of a fine actor who had so much more to give. Anne Revere was also forced to
appear before the HUAC but refused to and was therefore blacklisted, effectively ending her career.
Notice when Dave Goldberg was narrating a story, he finished it off with "Somebody said, 'Give me a hand with this sheeny.'
Those were the last words he ever heard." "Sheeny" is a vulgar word for Jew. While watching Gentleman's Agreement,
I was looking for Dean Stockwell but didn't spot him. So, I was like, "Where the heck is he?" and went on the internet.
It turns out he's the boy after all. Call me stupid, but I never realized Dean Stockwell started out as a child star.
Amazing.
All in all, I wish Elia Kazan did a better job with the plot structure for Gentleman's Agreement to make it more
even-keeled.
The George McKenna Story (1986)
Rate:
5
Viewed:
9/05
9/05:
Three films about inner-city high school principals were made during the 80's.
One of them is The George McKenna Story, which is also known as Hard Lessons, with Denzel Washington.
The other two are Lean on Me and
The Principal with Morgan Freeman and James Belushi, respectively.
It's an okay but not solid picture. Denzel Washington gives a sublime effort by
playing a principal with good intentions, but ultimately, it's the failure of the director for not doing
enough to create a strong effect which is why Lean on Me worked. By the
way, the real George McKenna looks absolutely nothing like Denzel Washington. In fact, he's white. Yeah, I
kid you not.
All in all, The George McKenna Story makes for a good viewing if you want to see young Denzel Washington
at work before transforming himself into a superstar.
George Wallace (1997)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
5/17, 5/23
5/17:
Recently, I drove through Alabama on a long-distance trip, and wanting to get out of there ASAP, I immediately
said to myself, "Yep, this is George Wallace's country."
That's how bad Alabama's legacy is which begins with racism. Often ranked among the worst in many categories,
its state motto should be: "Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever."
Alabama was already terrible during the 60's, but when George Wallace became the governor, he did enough damage
in race relations that set the state back by a hundred of years. Since then, the image hasn't recovered much, and
hence, to get over it is to focus on Alabama Crimson Tide football *roll my eyes*.
George Wallace called the 1964 Civil Rights Act "a fraud, a sham, and a hoax." Once, he lost a gubernatorial
election and vowed to win next time by saying, "I was outniggered by John Patterson. And I'll tell you here and
now: I will never be outniggered again." On May 15, 1972, George Wallace, while on a campaign in Maryland during
the 1972 Democratic primaries, was nearly assassinated, being shot five times. He was therefore paralyzed from
waist down. From that moment forward, George Wallace became a born-again Christian, having seen the errors of
his ways, and begged for forgiveness from everybody, black and white alike.
All of them are richly captured in George Wallace, a fine John Frankenheimer docudrama starring Gary Sinise
who gives one of the best performances of his career. He would make a cameo appearance as George Wallace in
Frankenheimer's final film Path to War which was released in 2002. However,
it has a couple of flaws. One, the movie is too drawn out. They should either cut down some of the scenes or add
more substance. Two, it's impossible to take Angelina Jolie seriously as Cornelia Wallace.
When I saw her, all I could focus on was her thick lips. Like I've said before, once a slut, always a slut.
All in all, George Wallace is a good history lesson and captures a lot of the highlights that made the man
quite infamous.
5/23:
There are only two infamous governors in U.S. history: Huey Long and George Wallace.
Both resulted in a movie: All the King's Men and George Wallace,
respectively. Of course, this is Alabama in a nutshell: stupid, backwards, and irrelevant. That's why we give
them football to play with. Many highlights of George Wallace's political career are captured well yet with
historical distortions, but the use of Clarence Williams III as Archie Weathers isn't effective.
Apparently, a Golden Globe was awarded to Angelina Jolie because the voters loved her playing a cockteaser; it's
the only aspect of the entire film that's impossible to believe. What happened at the end, when George Wallace
entered Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, never occurred in real life. He was in cahoots with the Klan and, more
importantly, the White Citizens Council all the way through, often approving their methods to maintain white
supremacy. Also, George Wallace abandoned Jim Folsom (who never asked him for an increase in his pension) long
before then. When he famously stood in the schoolhouse door, there were no two black students waiting to enter;
they had been registered and were well underway in the system.
All in all, thanks to George Wallace, Alabama is a joke.
Get Carter (1971)
Rate:
10
Viewed:
3/14, 8/15, 4/17, 5/19, 3/22
3/14:
For a long while, I didn't hold Michael Caine in high esteem probably because I had seen too many of his dull pictures from
the 80's and 90's.
Recently, I took up the initiative to see Sleuth, Alfie, and Get Carter, and now, my opinion has been
changed: Michael Caine's place among great actors is assuredly secure.
Get Carter is a brutal British masterpiece. It's that good and clever. The reason why is that when the characters
are introduced at the beginning of the film, little do I know that they'll play an important role in the murder mystery.
It's just that the plot takes time to thicken and...oh, how it thickens.
The brutally violent murder spree after the revelation was finally made to Jack Carter is what takes the film to another
level. Everybody had it coming to him including the leading star which is justified anyway. Although it may appear hypocritical of Jack
Carter, his actions should be viewed as cathartic for realizing the hypocrisy of his profession.
Not to be missed is the wonderful avant-garde editing by John Trumper. It moves the picture along at a brisk pace. Mike Hodges
is the director and should get a lot of credit for making Get Carter as it is. Sometimes, there are scenes that are
either ironic or plain amusing. The most important of them all is Michael Caine's reaction, which is a brilliant stroke
of genius, when his character finally discovers the truth before going on the warpath, taking out unsavory characters who had
been misleading him the entire time. The script, I admit, is simple and straightforward, but I like it. Also, there are plenty
of vintage lines including:
"You're a big man, but you're in bad shape. With me, it's a full time job. Now, behave yourself."
"Do you know? I'd almost forgotten what your eyes look like. They're still the same. Piss-holes in the snow."
"Do you want to be dead, Albert?"
All in all, Get Carter is a cinematic gem that's among Michael Caine's greatest hits.
8/15:
Get Carter is a brutal British masterpiece.
All in all, Michael Caine has never been this good the last three decades.
4/17:
This is Michael Caine at his absolute best.
All in all, Get Carter is simply the best British gangster picture made.
5/19:
Not just a great British gangster picture, Get Carter is Michael Caine brilliant.
"Do you want to be dead, Albert?" Game, set, match. Jack Carter unleashes his fury on everybody who hath his brethren kilt.
All in all, Get Carter continues to be better every time I see it.
3/22:
It's too bad about Jack Carter at the end because he was a likeable guy.
Get Carter is still a brilliant movie with many realistic elements concerning the British criminal underworld of
Newcastle. The editing by John Trumper is strong, especially the title sequence which actually shows the assassin
who'll take out Jack Carter at the end. Michael Caine gives a top five performance of his career. The bearded guy who plays
Kinnear is John Osborne, the playwright of Look Back in Anger that's a cinema equivalent of the British kitchen
sink genre.
All in all, Get Carter is the best British gangster movie made, period.
Get Carter (2000)
Rate:
3
Viewed:
7/14, 5/22
7/14:
"The Truth Hurts" is the tagline for the 2000 version of Get Carter.
Hm...okay, then. I shall follow that advice. A prime candidate for Worst Film of the Year, Get Carter has
nothing on the original. It's not so much of a rip-off but a complete remake and a bad one at that. Two classic lines are
ripped-off from the British masterpiece: the color of the eyes and what Carter does for full time.
Sylvester Stallone is so atrocious that his ever-paralyzed face is incapable of displaying human emotion. In fact, I still haven't gotten over
the sight of his nasty veins in The Specialist. Once again, he shows them to my displeasure. So, it's safe to say
Stallone's thespic abilities have been long dead. He hasn't turned in a good performance since 1997 when he did
Cop Land.
With the exception of the bored-looking Mickey Rourke, it appears everybody, especially John C. McGinley, is speedballing.
The direction, the camera work, the editing, the acting, and the script are chaotic and frenzied. What the 1971 brutal British
masterpiece had the remake doesn't have is subtlety. One particular scene in the original, which is a stroke of genius, is
when Michael Caine's Jack Carter witnessed something that would be instantly crystal clear. Yet when the same moment
was replicated in the remake, it's obviously and blatantly done in a forced way. Stallone meeting up with Caine to
settle matters is awful, too.
Meanwhile, it's painful to hear the lines uttered by the characters. They all sound stupid and corny. What plot? There
isn't any. Finally, shame on Michael Caine for agreeing to star in the remake. In the name of Joseph N. Welch, has he
left no sense of decency? Does he have any shred of integrity?
All in all, the remake of Get Carter shouldn't have been green-lit in the first place.
5/22:
Why did Get Carter have to be remade?
The British original was already a masterpiece. Hence, they should've left it alone. At least, to my satisfaction, the
remake grossed $19 million against a budget of $64 million. Michael Caine's decision to appear proves to be as equally bad as
taking on Jaws: The Revenge to collect a paycheck. I honestly can see him reprising the role of Jack Carter, even if
he's old-looking despite coming back from the dead. Meanwhile, I don't see how Michael Caine, as Brumby, fits
into the plot.
Well, well, well...Sylvester Stallone certainly looks finished. There are two famous lines lifted from the classic, and when
he says them, I can only cringe. To be outdone in the bad acting department is Rachael Leigh Cook. Who cares about her? And
stop chain smoking for once! She doesn't look cool doing it. I should say the same thing for John C. McGinley, but he's been
acting like a jackass for a long time anyway. Mickey Rourke is terrible, too. The only question I have is: why are he and
Stallone so leather-looking?
All in all, when Sylvester Stallone agreed to do the remake, his Victory co-star Michael Caine should've asked him
point-blank: "Do you want to be dead, Sly?"
Get Over It (2001)
Rate:
3
Viewed:
5/24
5/24:
Sheesh...now, I know why I had never heard of Get Over It in the past.
Everybody should be embarrassed. Kirsten Dunst is too far talented for this rubbish that's meant for teenagers who
have a chance doing well in popularity contests. The next two films she'll do are
Crazy/Beautiful and The Cat's Meow,
making her an even better actress. Afterwards, Kirsten Dunst's career took off.
Ben Foster may seem like a good actor, but he's been full of crap and always plays himself.
Then, there's Martin Short. I have to say, "Wow." He wasn't a bad sort when he played off-beat kooks in various
films like Innerspace, Pure Luck (I'm
pretty sure the accident-prone tanned female is based on his character from this film), and
Captain Ron. But in Get Over It, he plays the biggest asshole who ever
worked in high school when the role was supposed to go to an extremely unlikeable person like David Spade or
Christopher McDonald. That being said, I'll never see Martin Short the same way again.
As for the film, the whole thing sucks so bad that it keeps getting shallower and shallower. Nothing is funny.
What's with the dog humping things? Even there's image of him doing the same thing to the film title in the movie
poster. Why do I have to see that? What are the filmmakers trying to do...be gross on purpose because they think
it's a cool thing to do? Ditto for a lot of ribald sexual stuff that have no place in high school setting.
All in all, the high school genre was done to death during the 80's with plenty of success, so why did anyone
behind Get Over It think it would reinvent the wheel?
Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2005)
Rate:
5
Viewed:
11/08
11/08:
Get Rich or Die Tryin' is just off from the line of many from-rags-to-riches rapper pictures, but this one is
better than most of the predecessors.
There are good performances from the cast, but it's Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, who resembles Mike Tyson, that hurts the
picture the most with his superficial acting. Throughout the film, I've kept feeling of needing more out of him.
Jim Sheridan, who directed My Left Foot, brings respectability to the table, but it's hampered by amateurish
editing at times. A good example is the transition between two scenes when Marcus' girlfriend approached
him in wallowed condition before leaving him with her son and then the next shot was them having sex.
There isn't a central message in play. Nor is there a hint of a moral, either. In short, it's a
whole lot of nothing. Yet I've enjoyed it to some extent because of the skillful directing, sincere performances,
and all-around honest effort.
Terrence Howard isn't so bad himself who surprised me with his willingness to be fully nude. However, he's repeating the
same schtick from Hustle & Flow and Crash. Majestic looked familiar until I realized it's
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje aka Simon Adebisi from Oz. He should do more films because it's
clear that he can act. Joy Bryant, who plays Charlene, is a familiar face from
Antwone Fisher. She's a good actress but needs to try harder in
shedding off her one-dimensional personality.
All in all, Get Rich or Die Tryin' works in some ways but needs more polish.
Get Shorty (1995)
Rate:
6
Viewed:
8/03, 10/13, 6/23
10/13:
In Get Shorty, John Travolta radiates an amazing amount of energy as he gives a flawless performance as Chili Palmer.
Everybody else isn't bad, but really, it's been all John Travolta. Without him, the film wouldn't have worked. I must mention
the wonderful supporting performance by Danny DeVito. It's quite good. As much as I like Dennis Farina, his face looks like
a mess. Although I don't know why, Get Shorty is hilarious. Perhaps it's either the writing or the plot.
All in all, John Travolta is still the King of Cool.
6/23:
Get Shorty is now dated, but John Travolta is perfect as Chili Palmer.
The story isn't interesting this time around although I like the cast. Having Danny DeVito on board helps, too.
He's funny as a famous actor pretending to be a famous actor. The rumor is his character was based on Dustin Hoffman. Now, I
can see Danny as Napoleon Bonaparte. Wrapping up everything at the end, the only subplot that wasn't resolved is the
Escobar dilemma, especially when it comes to the search of his nephew Yayo.
All in all, the only reason to see Get Shorty is John Travolta.
Get Well Soon (2001)
Rate:
6
Viewed:
1/24
1/24:
Is Get Well Soon unique?
I'll have to say no given The Larry Sanders Show had already been run
from 1992 to 1998, but it's a catchy movie. At least, Hank Kingsley gets promoted to Artie's position. Unfortunately, the
always-funny Jeffrey Tambor is too far past his prime to be effective. The make-up job looks awful on him.
Vincent Gallo as a late-night TV host? Um...no. He doesn't have an appealing personality which is why dark films are a better
vehicle for him. For the most part, Gallo is fine as Bobby Bishop. If you loved Tate Donovan in Love Potion No. 9,
well...prepare yourself to be mightily embarrassed by the sight of him. Playing Keith Charles, Reg Rogers is too much
while Elina Löwensohn is worse as Lily's friend.
All in all, Get Well Soon can only be recommended for the die-hard fans of Vincent Gallo's work.
The Getaway (1972)
Rate:
3
Viewed:
4/06
4/06:
I hate The Getaway which is devoid of style, emotion, and depth and doesn't feel like a vintage Peckinpah picture.
Steve McQueen and Ali MacGraw are both terrible. They were probably too busy to get into their characters by fucking their
brains out which led to their marriage. Showing no chemistry whatsoever in the film, Steve and Ali would be predictably
divorced in five years.
While I have seen better performances from Steve McQueen, Ali MacGraw proves she's one of the worst actresses during
the 70's. No wonder why her career fizzled right after The Getaway was released. Ali's divorce from producer Robert Evans
has to be the number one reason why she landed on the Hollywood's blacklist.
Comparing the original to the 1994 version, there's almost no difference. Basically, everything is the same except for
Michael Madsen who may be the only highlight of either film. This one takes too long for anything to happen. Worse is
the lack of Peckinpah's trademarks.
All in all, The Getaway is a surprisingly mediocre picture given Steve McQueen and Sam Peckinpah.
Getting Out (1994)
Rate:
8
Viewed:
5/15
5/15:
Getting Out is a familiar telefilm that I saw in 1994.
Watching it again, I remember how good Rebecca De Mornay was. She makes most of her character who's trapped by
an unfortunate set of circumstances. I love how Arlene wears her heart on her sleeve as she's straightforward and frank.
But to be honest with you, I can't support Arlene's position of wanting to see her son because she had given him up and thus
signed away her legal rights. Although I understand the reality of being an ex-felon and the adversity she's going through,
I don't have sympathy for Arlene because she committed crimes.
Having been molested by the father is one of the common triggers, leading the victim to the path of destruction which comes
from the unresolved internal frustration that causes the daughter to act out, often in a criminal manner. Hence,
therapy would've been beneficial for Arlene at young age. I also love how realistic people react to Arlene's
situation. They display an appropriate level of coldness toward her. Also, there's a nice reminder of the rules that
exist in the real world.
There are two outstanding supporting performances at hand from Ellen Burstyn and Carol Mitchell-Leon. They're
both excellent and give more to the story. Ellen Burstyn as the mother, especially with her glasses, is creepy, and how
Arlene works out the conflict with her is the most fascinating part.
All in all, Getting Out is a thought-provoking film that touches a lot of issues which are still relevant to this day.
Gettysburg (1993)
Rate:
8
Viewed:
7/14
7/14:
It's not that I mind the length of Gettysburg, but the movie should've been an hour shorter.
That's why it's not a surprise it was a box-office failure in 1993 although I did see it on television a year
later and thought it was a telefilm. Still...yes, Gettysburg is worth watching. However, it feels
incomplete and sometimes formulaic as in "good talk, men."
So, basically, what I've learned is Robert E. Lee was crazy and threw his men under the bus for morale. If that's what
happened, then shame on him. Countless lives were lost during the battle on both sides as it's often described as the biggest
and bloodiest ever fought on American soil. Other than that, there's not much going for Gettysburg.
Of the cast, Jeff Daniels is the standout and gives the best performance of his career. That being said, he should've gotten
an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He really dug deep. The rest of everybody else is mostly good.
Although Joseph Fuqua who plays Jeb Stuart gives him a run for his money, Tom Berenger sports the most fake beard
I've ever seen. With all the hair around him, he looks like he's being suffocated. The final hour is the best part:
5,000 extras marching in battle formations in the face of artillery bombardment. It'll never happen again.
All in all, I like Gettysburg, but I wish it was more fulfilling.
Ghost (1990)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
9/03, 10/19
10/19:
Many actors have at most one signature film, but it's been four for Patrick Swayze:
Dirty Dancing, Road House,
Point Break, and Ghost.
A veteran producer-director of screwball comedies such as
Airplane!, Jerry Zucker never saw Patrick Swayze as
Sam Wheat, but Patrick, despite his already massive fame, wanted the role so much that he had to audition for it. Today,
it's hard to believe given Patrick Swayze had made Dirty Dancing possible which won the hearts of many women all over the
world.
After Patrick Swayze was cast, he refused to do the film until Whoopi Goldberg was given the role
of Oda Mae Brown. Nobody saw her this way. As a result, she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Honestly, who
could've done it better than Whoopi? She took Ghost to another level with her presence and comic relief.
The first twenty minutes isn't that good, but as soon as Sam Wheat is killed, the movie simply takes off. Patrick Swayze and
Demi Moore have no chemistry and reportedly had none off-screen, either. When he's transformed into a supernatural character
with the halo light around him, it saves Demi Moore from being a liability since all she had to do
was cry on cue. Otherwise, things wouldn't have worked out. Simply put, the afterlife is the best part of Ghost.
There are famous movie villains, and there are some actors who will never recover afterwards after playing them. Tony
Goldwyn and Rick Aviles are these two. I recently saw a film that starred the former and said, "Watch out, he's a bad dude,"
which proved me correct.
I've often read Ghost, the number one moneymaker of 1990 worldwide, is among top twenty romantic films made. Yet I'm
not sure if I agree with the assessment. The real question is: is it really the romance or the supernatural that did it?
I have to say it's been the latter the whole time.
Strange but true, Ghost is what I call a racist movie. Why does Willy have to be played by an ugly Puerto Rican? Why
does Oda Mae Brown, a crackpot psychic, have to be a black woman? Why do all the bad shit have to appear on the colored side
yet everything looks great on the white side of New York City? Why do I see white people as the only employees of a bank
and they're viewed as trustful? Why is Carl Bruner, a white dude, the least likely to be suspected of Sam's murder? During
the scene of body transformation, why not show Sam Wheat as Oda Mae Brown the entire time? Oh, I'm sorry, we can't be offending
people with heavy scenes of interracial, lesbian touching.
A well-known character is played by Vincent Schiavelli as the Subway Ghost. He exclaimed, after
kicking into the window of a cigarette machine, "Oh, I'd give anything for a drag! Just one drag!" Well, guess what? He died
in 2004 of lung cancer at 57 which is the same age as Patrick Swayze's when he passed away from pancreatic cancer five years
later.
All in all, thanks to Ghost, interest in pottery making shot up by over 10,000% in 1990.
The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
8/04, 10/19
10/19:
Compelling stories make great movies, and that's the case with The Ghost and the Darkness.
Val Kilmer is an underappreciated actor, and when given a difficult role, he manages to rise to the occasion. It
doesn't hurt him any to have terrific-looking hair. All the kidding aside, Val carries The Ghost and the Darkness
very well despite having been recently beleaguered during the filming of
The Island of Dr. Moreau which is impressive if I think about it.
Michael Douglas, showing up late to the party, is a treat, and I'm surprised to see his character be killed near the end.
Speaking of death, the sequence involving Patterson's wife is a perfect example of using a dream to highlight fear.
For almost two hours, The Ghost and the Darkness, that's mostly shot on location at Songimvelo Game Reserve in
South Africa, does feel twice as long because of the myriad trials and tribulations which are excellent, mirroring
what people face in real life. There's no display of superhero behaviors or anything that can be considered
as extraordinary. When the second lion finally appear for the last battle, the ensuing action is unexpected by not turning
it into huge duel, resulting in an ordinary kill which is impressive enough.
After the narrator declared the story positively true, I had to look it up on the internet to see for myself. The events
actually took place, only that Remington didn't exist and John Henry Patterson wasn't an engineer but an overseer of the
railway construction. It took months for him to kill the lions, finally bagging the first one on December 9, 1898, and the
next one twenty days later. He claimed in his book the lions killed up to 140 people, but in reality, it was between 25 and 30.
The pair of dead man-eating Tsavo lions, which were first used as rugs at his house for 25 years, are now in display at the
Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois.
All in all, The Ghost and the Darkness has everything anyone can want in a rousing cinematic adventure that
takes place in Africa.
Ghost Dog: The Way
of the Samurai (1999)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
3/18, 6/20
3/18:
Finally, Jim Jarmusch directs something that's more than halfway decent.
This time, it's called Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai which is one of the most innovative movies I've seen in a
long time because it combines hip-hop, black ghetto, the mafia, indie cinema, animals, and the samurai code of conduct.
Incredible.
Forest Whitaker is perfect for the role, knowing he's a cool badass guy. Nobody would've done better than him.
Forest Whitaker has always been a very underrated actor, finally winning an Oscar in 2007, and it's a perfect material
for him to be involved with.
Sure, there are many similarities between the film and Le Samouraï and between
Ghost Dog and Jef Costello with a couple of ripped-off elements from
On the Waterfront. However, I like Jim Jarmusch's
picture much more than Jean-Pierre Melville's by having more substance, a better storyline, and more interesting incidentals.
All in all, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai is worth watching because it's quirky and has great acting and a unique plot.
6/20:
Seeing Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai again, it's still a unique picture with the most complete directorial effort
by Jim Jarmusch.
I love the hip-hop urban cross between Le Samouraï and
The Limey while taking advantage of the different codes
that people live and die by. The editing is mind-blowing, hence the uniqueness. Of course, not everything makes total sense,
but somehow, it's sensible in a mystic way.
Tailor-made for the role, Forest Whitaker is perfect; it's probably the best performance of
his career. If I have to pick one great Forest Whitaker film, it's Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai by a mile,
even over Bird. The cast is excellent with plenty of standouts such as John Tormey, Isaach de
Bankolé, and Camille Winbush. The guy in army fatigues who walked past Ghost Dog at the end is RZA of the band
Wu-Tang Clan whose music is fitting for the film.
All in all, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai is one of the all-time great cult pictures.
Ghost Ship (2002)
Rate:
3
Viewed:
5/22
5/22:
I didn't "sea" evil but bad filmmaking in Ghost Ship.
The more the story went on, the more I felt James Cameron's distinctive style was being ripped off when it came
to creating a tale on the ocean. My instincts were proven correct because the director, Steve Beck, used to
assist in visual effects for The Abyss. He only did two films (this one and
Thirteen Ghosts) that turned out to be semi box-office disasters and
therefore never worked in Hollywood again.
Ghost Ship has a terrible intro because of the lame editing. Who does title design for a horror film with
pink lettering that's meant for chick flicks? That's absurd. To make matters worse is the inferior acting. I admit
that Gabriel Byrne did sustain my interest, but they've made a big mistake by killing his character off midway
through. Once he's gone, there goes the film.
The concept as presented early on is actually interesting: a ghost ship with no living crew or passengers aboard.
But it doesn't have to be silly or gory. Just treat it as a mystery thriller by providing a lot of artifacts and
newspaper clippings. That way, it'll be like The Changeling or
Cold Creek Manor. Instead, Steve Beck opts for the clichéd route that's
been done to death a hundred times before. What I said was the original intention of the screenplay, but it got
radically changed without the cast's knowledge until everybody arrived in Australia for the principal shooting.
By the way, there's no way the standard gold bar is that light.
All in all, Ghost Ship sounds promising, but the execution falls flat.
The Ghost Talks (1949)
Rate:
5
Viewed:
12/07
12/07:
The Ghost Talks is funny and can be sometimes uproariously hysterical.
But the comedy isn't consistent enough. It often vacillates between funny and boring.
All in all, The Ghost Talks is just okay.
Ghost World (2001)
Rate:
3
Viewed:
6/04, 6/08
6/08:
Ghost World is the kind of film that doesn't hold up well after second viewing.
The first time I saw it, I thought Steve Buscemi gave the performance of his career. Now, he's just ordinary although he
shows personality traits that are reminiscent of Robert Crumb which isn't a surprise because director Terry Zwigoff
did a biopic of his life.
The biggest problem is the two female lead characters. They're impossible to like and make it
hard for me to relate to. All they do is mock people, roll their eyes at them, make snide remarks, and walk
around in tight clothes, showing off their skin and semi-massive boobs as much as possible. That, my friends, ruins the film.
Thora Birch is somewhat ugly because whenever I focus on her forehead, she looks plain. Her co-star Scarlett Johansson
has showed me again that she can't act worth a damn. It's nice to see Illeana Douglas, and she plays well as always.
The lack of direction, especially when it comes to sending a message, doesn't help matters any, either. It's been a
compilation of random scenes that have nothing to do with each other. Although some of them are funny, they often happen
whenever the two female leads are absent.
All in all, Ghost World tries to be hip and cool, but it's been pointless.
Ghostbusters (1984)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
6/07
6/07:
Released in 1984, it's incredible how well the special effects in Ghostbusters have held up to this day.
Although the comedy is alive and vibrant, what's with Bill Murray hogging all of the attention? Showing off his massive ego,
he's funny most of the time but doesn't allow others to develop their characters fully. Ernie Hudson is on screen for like
two minutes and never fits in.
If Bill Murray's screen time can be reduced, Ghostbusters might be a masterpiece because it has a wonderful mix of
characters, chemistry, comedy, story, intrigue, and special effects. Sigourney Weaver gives a great performance which reminds
me of the parody in Daffy Duck's Quackbusters, especially when she does the levitation trick while lying down on the
bed. Rick Moranis probably gives the best performance of his career and has never been this good in other films.
Although Ghostbusters isn't going to rival The Exorcist in special effects, it looks amazing. Of course,
creativity is all over the place. One thing I don't understand is why it's important to trap ghosts if they aren't
harming anyone. I love how intelligence, especially when it's in relation to the academic world, is used during the first
half hour. It's also a rare film because the characters have fun and are easygoing and lighthearted. In contrast, cinema
nowadays often shows serious-looking people with frowns on their faces as they go about with business. That's boring.
All in all, Ghostbusters is a delightful comedy flick.
Ghostbusters II (1989)
Rate:
4
Viewed:
6/07
6/07:
Widely considered a disappointing sequel that's more of a cult flick than a comedy picture, Ghostbusters II is plagued with
an incomprehensible story and foolish logic although the special effects are still outstanding as ever.
It elicits laughs from me, but they aren't as strong as the original. The last twenty minutes is tedious to get through
which left me asleep. Bill Murray is less of an attention hog this time around, but he's still too much. It gets tiring
to see him act like a weasel more than a Good Samaritan.
The transition between the two parts isn't smooth as there are many plot holes in the sequel to explain how, why, and what
happened thereafter. For example, I wasn't informed of why the Ghostbusters team fizzled out after five years yet there
might be ghosts running amok in not just New York City but the United States. Also, if somebody got slimed, would it be
hazardous to his or her health?
Once again, there's no theory proffered to the existence of ghosts. Worse, everybody acts like as if they didn't exist in the
original film. The video evidence of the huge 100-foot Marshmallow Man will do. Watching the pride of New York City swell
like a big fat balloon during the celebration of the Ghostbusters team is nauseating. I mean, how am I supposed to relate
to it if I'm not a resident?
Meanwhile, the villain shows potential yet is stuck behind a painting. He can be much more than that. Speaking of the
painting, what's the point of the deification of the guys holding the baby? It goes without saying that logic is
way down along with many undeveloped characters. Hence, the special effects only serves as eye candy to mask the problems.
All in all, Ghostbusters II is a poorly made sequel.
Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)
Rate:
8
Viewed:
5/16
5/16:
Ghosts of Mississippi is the story of justice for the assassinated civil rights activist Medgar Evers and is a great
history lesson.
When I say the last part, Rob Reiner actually followed the events as they happened. So, kudos to him for doing it, a rarity
in Hollywood films. Although the movie is pretty straightforward, going from point A to point B to point C and so on all the
way to the end, I've enjoyed the performances.
Alec Baldwin's stands out the most for me. He's a good actor, but many times, he had never found the right material to
make most of his thespic talent. In Ghosts of Mississippi, he shines, reaching his potential. Hence, I'm
happy to have seen a good Alec Baldwin performance.
James Woods was Oscar-nominated for Best Supporting Actor. I like him, but his screen time is too short.
However, he's effective, milking his character for all it's worth, thanks to the makeup department that did all
of the work. It's convincing. As a result, Matthew Mungle and Deborah La Mia Denaver were rewarded with an Oscar nomination.
All in all, Ghosts of Mississippi is recommended for anyone who's interested in knowing about the assassination of Medgar
Evers and the aftermath.
Gia (1998)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
1/06
1/06:
Gia is a film about a tomboy who happens to have the looks of a supermodel but with an attitude.
Although superficial at times, style is incorporated throughout the chaotic biopic about Gia Carangi who was addicted to
heroin and therefore died of AIDS-related complications at the age of 26.
It's Angelina Jolie who gives the best acting performance of her overrated career. The transformation of her character from
start to finish is impressive. Mercedes Ruehl is also solid in supporting role.
All in all, Gia is worth watching, but who cares about the spoiled, useless model?
Giant (1956)
Rate:
10
Viewed:
7/12, 1/17
7/12:
Giant should be aptly retitled Texas because it's what the film is all about: the exaltation and
embracement of Texan values which can be off-putting for some viewers.
However, it's a subtly made picture that's blown up to an epic, hence the title. Many will see it just for
James Dean's final performance. But his role is so small that he's overshadowed by the magnitude of the film.
Hence, East of Eden remains the best work of James Dean's short but brilliant Hollywood career. I wonder how many
more classics he would've had in his oeuvre if he didn't die tragically young.
Meanwhile, Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor are the stars of the show, and they're both outstanding. But the
biggest winner of them all is George Stevens' direction because Giant is a top 50 picture if I've seen one.
It's almost like Citizen Kane and Gone with the Wind all rolled into one.
All in all, never mind the film's running length, Giant is a spectacle.
1/17:
Giant is a timeless classic and an epic one at that.
This is James Dean's final picture. I've wondered how many more classic films were left in him and how many Oscars he
would've won. James Dean's Jett Rink is a complicated character and steals the show whenever he appears.
But honestly, this is Rock Hudson's movie. What a marvelous job he has done. The movie is about the changing
times and the willingness of a big man to change with the times. Bick Benedict proves he can do it. Although mostly
relegated to a supporting role, Elizabeth Taylor is great. She knows how to be classy.
Racism is a big deal throughout. It's sad to watch and so unnecessary. By the way, the famous painting is
called "Venting Cattle on the Frisco System" by Frank Van Ness, and it now hangs at the Menger Hotel in San Antonio, Texas.
All in all, Giant is a classic Texas picture.
Gigli (2003)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
1/06
1/06:
Judged to be the worst film of 2003, Gigli, on the contrary for me, is a pleasant romance-comedy movie with a good,
albeit slightly tasteless, story.
It probably overstayed its welcome toward the end, but I feel the filmmakers had a hard time letting it
go when everything was clicking so well. Although the characters are nicely developed, a few of them should've been toned
down a bit. Ditto for the profanity.
Ben Affleck's talent is showcased, and there's less fluff this time around. His co-star Jennifer Lopez complements him
well although the nature of the script looks somewhat out of her range, but I think she handled it just fine. Of course, I can't
forget to mention Christopher Walken, who's good, and he has a great scene when he was intimidating Ben Affleck.
All in all, Gigli isn't as bad as the critics have made it out to be.
Gilda (1946)
Rate:
3
Viewed:
8/14
8/14:
I still haven't gotten over Glenn Ford's comedic performance in The Big Heat, especially when his character said
he was going on a *stifled laughter* "hate binge."
Truth be told, Glenn Ford was a terrible actor. In Gilda, his character is supposed to be a tough guy yet comes
off as a wimp with sad eyes. That's why I can't believe for a second he's capable of pushing Gilda around. In fact,
Rita Hayworth looks more tough when compared to him which makes it embarrassing to watch.
Slow and tedious, the dialogue is poorly written, and it has a dreadful pace and loose plot. In fact, there isn't much of a
story. Noir pictures call for tautness, subtlety, and unsavory characters, but Gilda has none of them.
Rita Hayworth, although she has a classy, timeless intro by throwing back her head, is terrible as Gilda who's an intolerably
stupid character and looks like a man most of the time. I won't be surprised if she liked the idea of being married to anyone
as long as his name is "Johnny." Instead of Glenn Ford and Rita Hayworth, Lawrence Tierney and Lana Turner, sporting a
platinum blond look, should have been cast. They would've done a better job by making it believable.
All in all, Gilda is an overrated film noir.
The Gingerbread Man (1998)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
7/17, 3/19
7/17:
I don't believe I ever saw The Gingerbread Man before, but this is a nice surprise.
It's the penultimate John Grisham picture with the last one being Runaway Jury which came out in 2003. The reason
why is that John Grisham films were no longer bankable like they used to be. It's obvious because The Gingerbread Man
took in $1.5 million at the box office, but the production budget was $25 million.
Yet it's a damned good film. I love the buildup of suspense. Sure, the setup is easy to spot a mile away, and the plot is dumb
at times. Kenneth Branagh is absolutely terrific as the protagonist who digs himself deeper into a hole he almost can't
get out of. None of it would've happened if he behaved professionally right from the outset.
Interestingly, which happens often, the consequences for the damage wrought by the supposedly good guys are never administered,
but Branagh's character pays the ultimate price for letting his dick do the thinking for him. It's an unusual move and a
smart one at that.
What I love is the style. It's Robert Altman's preference of cinematography that's familiar going back to
The Long Goodbye and then perfected in
Vincent & Theo. If not for it, The Gingerbread Man will have been
another been-there-done-that picture. Another strength is Kenneth Branagh's performance. I'm surprised by how good of an
actor he is. He complements the atmosphere well. The supporting cast is equally good, too. Robert Downey, Jr., is
impressive. There's neo-noir charm in what he does.
I didn't recognize Daryl Hannah. She looks different as Lois. Famke Janssen is fun, and I like her character over
Mallory Doss who's played by Embeth Davidtz (Helen Hirsch of Schindler's List). Robert Duvall is perhaps the most
disappointing and is less than what I am accustomed to, but that's okay. He's a good soldier, even
in a trashy way, for Robert Altman, having worked with him on previous two films:
Countdown and M*A*S*H.
All in all, because of Robert Altman's brilliant filmmaking, The Gingerbread Man is an underrated mystery-thriller
picture.
3/19:
The Gingerbread Man holds up well and is even better than the last time I saw it.
Kenneth Branagh is a tour de force. Robert Downey, Jr., is wonderful as the seedy private dick.
I didn't recognize Daryl Hannah. Robert Altman's trademark of incessant zoom-in-and-out is unmistakable, going back to
The Long Goodbye and then employed again in Vincent & Theo. That being said, he's a brilliant director,
and that's why I love many of his movies with M*A*S*H being my favorite.
The plot is both simple and amazing. It's basic to the core of human element: men falling head over heels for women and
doing everything recklessly in the blind because of sex. Stupid, silly mistakes are made. That's exactly what the lead
character did, costing lives in the process.
All in all, The Gingerbread Man is one of the best thrillers I've seen.
Girl, Interrupted (1999)
Rate:
3
Viewed:
5/15
5/15:
When I saw Girl, Interrupted in 1999, my jaw dropped to the floor because I couldn't believe Angelina
Jolie won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress which is the stupidest thing ever.
Angelina Jolie has never been a good actress, and to this day, I fail to see her appeal. I wonder if she slept
around so much for the Oscar. After seeing Girl, Interrupted again, my opinion hasn't changed the slightest
bit. Damn long and repetitive by going through the motions, it's the feminist teenage pop version of
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
Winona Ryder thought she did enough to win the Oscar, but the reality is: she's breathtaking awful and fake
and plays herself too much for the umpteenth time. In short, Winona Ryder has no depth and thinks that opening her
eyes wide open to show off her black dilated pupils is the trick to acting. Take a look at the movie
poster for what I mean.
Angelina Jolie is equally bad. She, replete with puffy fish lips, looks more like a heroin addict than a mental
patient which isn't further from the truth because she's actually a heroin addict and was probably using a
lot of it during the filming to make herself more believable. Strangely, nobody resembles a person with
borderline personality disorder or some kind of mental illness. In other words, they're all pretending.
Brittany Murphy has a funny twist of irony by unintentionally committing suicide a decade later due to her
history of drug abuse and eating disorder given that her character hanged herself in the film. On the other
hand, Whoopi Goldberg appears ready to join the Black Panther Party.
All in all, Angelina Jolie's Best Supporting Actress Oscar should've gone to Chloë Sevigny for
Boys Don't Cry.
Girlfight (2000)
Rate:
3
Viewed:
1/06
1/06:
Girlfight is a damn cheesy movie about a stone-faced female tomboy who tries to act tough but ends up looking
sillier than a monkey licking a lollipop.
Million Dollar Baby is everything that Girlfight is not which makes it embarrassing to watch. In short,
nothing is believable. Michelle Rodriguez is a horrible actress. Her schtick mostly consists of making the same
face with the projection of "I am badder than you." Uh, no...she needs to stop making herself corny.
All in all, it's time to declare Michelle Rodriguez's thespic career officially dead.
The Girls of 42nd Street (1973)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
3/21
3/21:
Shot through low quality film on a minuscule budget, The Girls of 42nd Street puts
Pretty Woman's Julia Roberts to shame.
No matter how cheap the movie looks, it has some terrific acting. The two standouts are Laura Cannon and Neil Flanagan
as Dusty and Cherry Lane, respectively. I have to say it's the latter who steals the show because he's convincingly natural.
When Dusty uses her eyes in a certain way prior to performing a trick, she's expressing lack of enthusiasm.
It's easy to feel somewhat bad about Dusty and Cherry Lane who can do better. I think, deep down, they realize that. The ending
is a bit of a shocker which is symbolism for the long string of bad luck to befall on Dusty who was sincerely hoping for a
light at the end of the tunnel through her new boyfriend.
Some scenes, especially early on, are stale and can use more editing. Many times, the camera is annoyingly positioned in a
way which cuts off the bottom ten percent of the screen. I kept hoping Andy Milligan would move it a bit higher.
One nice thing is the film isn't gratuitous. There's more emphasis on the grittiness of going through the sleazy
life of prostitution on Times Square than straight-out nudity. Having said that, the longer and more X-rated version
(Fleshpot on 42nd Street which is currently destroyed) would've lost the effect, negating the serious acting put
forth by Laura Cannon and Neil Flanagan.
All in all, what Julia Roberts tried to fake is realistically captured by Laura Cannon and Neil Flanagan in
The Girls of 42nd Street.
Gladiator (2000)
Rate:
3
Viewed:
1/08
1/08:
The movie poster looks so fucking stupid.
There were certain reasons why I avoided seeing Gladiator for a long time, and when I saw it, my suspicions were
confirmed. The crapfest is Spartacus, Ben-Hur, and
Braveheart all rolled into one.
I hate how it's so damn long and pretentious and lacks the fundamentals of an epic picture. The number of extras is
surprisingly mediocre. I saw only two representatives of the Senate, and the new Roman Emperor is never seen partaking
of the affairs on a daily basis. So, who's really running the city-state?
Unbearably bad is the acting. Everybody, including Russell Crowe, is mechanical and has stoic facial expressions. I'm
more scared of a mouse than the sight of Joaquin Phoenix's face. Some of the costumes and action sequences are decent.
The special effects initially seemed to be on par with a junior high school play but would improve over time. By the time I was
taken to the Colosseum, Gladiator began to get better, and I was drawn to it. Thereafter, I became bored stiff,
often looking at my watch.
All in all, Gladiator is trite.
The Glass House (2001)
Rate:
2
Viewed:
9/21
9/21:
The high amount of manipulation shown in The Glass House has left me worn out.
It's a good thing that Leelee Sobieski retired from acting. She has the personality of a blank piece of paper. I can imagine
her answering an elaborate question with a short affirmative, setting off a long uncomfortable silence in the room with
hundreds of people.
In The Glass House, it's one of the most one-dimensional lead performances I've seen a teenage actress give. Leelee
Sobieski wears too much makeup in every scene including bedtime. Interestingly, she's never shown applying it on her face at
any point.
The first fifteen minutes has horrible editing which includes many rapid cuts. Then, things slow down, but I've figured out
what the jig was by the time Ruby had a meeting with various strangers during the wake. Thereafter, it's been one stupid
behavior after another. The last twenty minutes is one of the worst I've seen which includes two kids walking on the road
in the middle of nowhere. What's the benefit of that? They've sure moved on quickly from their parents' death.
California is well known for emancipation laws because of the child actors wanting to free themselves from parental control in
regard to their finances. Thus, Ruby is within her rights to seek it, and the trust fund is enough to take care of her. Then
again, she's dumb as a rock. To make matters worse, her brother is totally useless. The child actor playing him must have
gotten the job because of his looks, and he didn't have to do anything special.
For starters, Ruby should've thought of reaching out to his uncle in Chicago. She had the phone number but did nothing with
it for days. Every time she made a phone call, it's always inside the house. Why? She had plenty of chances to run
away or whatever but did nothing. Given her popular appearance, Ruby makes zero friends at the new school. At night, she
tries to change clothes in the hallway, but I must ask her: what's wrong with the bathroom?
I don't see how Ruby's guardians have the right to take over her trust fund; what's their legal authority to do so? In fact,
they didn't have to do anything out of the ordinary from the get-go and would've gotten the money easily by robbing the
orphans blind while being nice. On the other hand, why not sell the house and the cars to pay off the debt? Then, they can
make back the money through work.
The glass house looks huge which is definitely worth over ten million dollars, yet there's one room for the two kids. Hardly
likely. The title is supposed to be a metaphor, but there's literally glass all over the house and it has nothing to do with
the plot. After Ruby drove through the front gate which was shown intact days later, where did the guardians get the
money to have it repaired?
All in all, the filmmakers cited the 9/11 attack as the main reason for the box-office failure of The Glass House;
no...it's the movie that sucks.
The Glass Key (1942)
Rate:
8
Viewed:
11/15
11/15:
The Glass Key is a good, tough, and gritty film noir.
It's Alan Ladd's presence that makes the difference, and he was good-looking back then. Also, it helps that Dashiell Hammett
wrote the story which lends credibility to the quality of dialogue because it sounds terrific just like
The Maltese Falcon.
The story is labyrinthic to follow, making it hard for me to know what comes next.
There are a lot of noir elements that set up The Glass Key as a treat to watch: tough characters, seedy
behaviors, mysterious circumstances, underworld dealings, dark environs, shaky loyalties, fatal decisions, and violent
confrontations with plenty of action.
All in all, The Glass Key is a difficult film to follow, but it turns out well in the long run.
The Glass Shield (1994)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
5/13, 11/19
5/13:
You're going to see Ice Cube as the face of The Glass Shield, but his role is so small that he has nothing to do
with the film.
Because of the story, it's, quite frankly, a compelling movie, thanks to Charles Burnett's superb direction. Two rookie cops,
one white female and one black male, face an uphill battle of racism, sexism, and seniority. At the same time, an alleged
murderer is powerless when he's pitted against the system. Ultimately, it's the police corruption that ruins their lives.
Michael Boatman may come off as goofy, but the way he acts for a police officer is perfect. Lori Petty's character makes things
interesting by peeling off the layers of police corruption. She desperately wants to believe in the system but loses in the
long run. It also helps to have Bernie Casey and others at hand to keep the picture serious as much as possible to let
an array of topics flesh out: misuse of police power, mishandling of evidence, and disregard for proper law enforcement
procedures.
All in all, The Glass Shield is a remarkable cop picture that has a lot to say.
11/19:
A stylish neo-noir thriller, The Glass Shield follows the tradition of Sidney Lumet's pictures when it comes to
police corruption.
Don't be fooled by the cover: it's not Ice Cube's movie. He only appears for ten minutes max. Instead, it's Michael
Boatman in the lead role, and he is excellent. The cast is very good, and Lori Petty should've gotten more credit
for her performance.
Like Serpico, The Glass Shield is about going against the system. Everybody, even me, has been there before.
As T.S. Eliot would say, "Between the idea and the reality...falls the shadow." The truth is a tough, frustrating thing to
accept. Yeah, it's unfortunate that J.J. was charged with perjury for falsifying the arrest report, but he did break the law.
All in all, The Glass Shield isn't an easy film to swallow, but it presents the reality of police corruption on
an intellectual level.
The Glass Wall (1953)
Rate:
5
Viewed:
2/24
2/24:
The Glass Wall is an okay noir picture starring Vittorio Gassman and Gloria Grahame.
An Italian version of Montgomery Clift who makes his screen debut in an American film, Vittorio Gassman has a
good start but loses it the rest of the way by vacillating between fair and silly. When he's with Gloria Grahame, they are
good together, but unfortunately, it doesn't last long.
Instead, I'm shown lots of rear projection shots of New York City, especially in Times Square. It cheapens the film a great
deal. Then, there's Vittorio Gassman who's either making out okay, falling over, or going to sleep. The last ten
minutes make no sense. Why is everybody chasing him hard when it's prudent to send only Gloria Grahame? It'll end the
matter rather easily.
I understand what Paul Kuban is feeling. It's a survivor mentality that he's saddled with. Paul has to survive by doing everything
as he can, having been conditioned by it for so long. No wonder why he needed the sleep in the worst way possible.
The city is sure busy at 3 o'clock in the morning with many places open. By the way, the title refers to the United
Nations headquarters building.
All in all, had the shots of New York City been 100% real, The Glass Wall would translate to a better
viewing experience.
Gleaming the Cube (1989)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
10/11, 1/20
10/11:
I fondly remember watching Gleaming the Cube constantly on HBO during the early 90's because of the
skateboarding action along with the interesting plot.
Since then, it has become a forgotten cult classic. After seeing Gleaming the Cube again recently, I
feel it stands the test of time based on different elements. Plenty of famous skateboarders including Tony Hawk
and Stacy Peralta appear.
Of course, the skateboarding scenes look tame by now because vert skating gave way to street skating and the
technical mastery of it has increased by a thousand-fold. Now, check out Airwalk shoes in the film. I used to
wear them back in the 80's. Yep, those were the days.
Of the cast, Steven Bauer's character is annoying because he either doesn't listen or takes too much pride in
wearing tight clothes. Although Christian Slater has an engaging personality which overshadows his limited
acting range, he has the tendency to put his head down and play with his hair while speaking. Anyway, what
exactly does "gleaming the cube" mean? Good question. Brian Kelly says that meant pushing yourself to the edge of
your limits and staying near it.
All in all, Gleaming the Cube was an extraordinary film back then because it made skateboarding look cool;
but now, it's a nice nostalgic cult classic.
1/20:
Gleaming the Cube, which aired constantly on HBO back in the day, is probably the best skateboarding movie
ever made.
I doubt there will be a film that skillfully combines murder mystery and skateboarding. There are many excellent
skateboarding scenes, especially when Brian Kelly went after the bad guys. The most fun is he either going
downhill or latching onto a car at a high speed.
As the leading actor, Christian Slater is a natural, and he's fun to watch. Back then, I knew
who Tony Hawk was because of Gleaming the Cube. He was already famous before he became really famous. At
any rate, it's interesting to see him so young.
All in all, Gleaming the Cube is the film to watch if you like skateboarding.
Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
Rate:
10
Viewed:
6/04, 4/05, 2/15, 3/17
4/05:
Death of a Fuckin' Salesman is how the all-star cast described Glengarry Glen Ross which started out as a play
that won David Mamet the Pulitzer Prize in 1984.
It can't be any further from the truth. Scorchingly great performances are given by Jack Lemmon, Al Pacino, Alan Arkin,
Ed Harris, Kevin Spacey, Jonathan Pryce, and Alec Baldwin.
The dialogue penned by David Mamet is crafty and delightful to listen to, and the carefully created parallel threads make the
intertwining story compelling to follow. Every character has weaknesses, and that's why most of them weren't born to be a
salesman.
All in all, Glengarry Glen Ross, thanks to the all-star cast, is one of the best play-on-film pictures made.
2/15:
Aptly known as Death of a Fuckin' Salesman, Glengarry Glen Ross is one of the best examples of a
theatrical play succeeding on film.
It's because of the impressive all-star cast: Jack Lemmon, Al Pacino, Alan Arkin, Ed Harris, Kevin Spacey, and Alec Baldwin,
boasting of 6 Academy Awards wins among 27 nominations. Try naming another film that matches or exceeds it.
David Mamet is a reliable screenwriter because of the way he crafts the dialogue to sound so good, and
Glengarry Glen Ross is no exception. What makes a theatrical play hard sell for film is the loquaciousness,
forcing many scenes to feel static. But not Glengarry Glen Ross. Everybody is given a short
time to say his piece before flipping it over to somebody else to quicken the pace. It's why there's such music when
listening to them.
All in all, Glengarry Glen Ross is a rare treat for watching some of the finest actors in the business.
3/17:
Glengarry Glen Ross is among great films when it comes to overall acting performances by an ensemble cast.
Listening to them go through their dialogue, it's amazing how marvelous they are. Recently, I watched Robert
Osborne's interview with Alan Arkin, and Alan called the movie a "murder" because of David Mamet's insistence on everybody
to perform as exactly as how the parts were scripted, right down to their facial emotions with no leeway. So, he, as
others did, had to rehearse his part over and over every day for a month before the filming began. When a scene
was done, he had to go back to the trailer with Ed Harris and rehearse even more. That's why it looks so easy on film, and
it's just a brilliant job.
I have to say Al Pacino gave the best performance of the show, hence the Oscar nomination. Alec Baldwin is a close second
and should've gotten one, too. Ed Harris and Jack Lemmon are perfect. Jonathan Pryce is great as well. Alan Arkin and Kevin
Spacey are okay, but not much of screen time was given to them in order to develop their characters more.
All in all, Glengarry Glen Ross is one of the most well-acted movies ever filmed.
The Glimmer Man (1996)
Rate:
5
Viewed:
1/05, 8/08
8/08:
The Glimmer Man works for me because I am a fan of Steven Seagal.
Thanks to John Gray's direction, there are plenty of skull-bashing, bone-breaking scenes that have made Steven
Seagal a unique, exciting star who stood apart from the field of action stars during the 90's.
One marked improvement for Steven Seagal is his sense of humor. He's actually a funny guy. Meanwhile, his co-star Keenen
Ivory Wayans is okay for the most part but can be annoying at times. The black-white buddy setup is formulaic as
it's been done countless times such as Lethal Weapon,
48 Hrs., and Beverly Hills Cop.
All in all, I kept my expectations low prior to seeing The Glimmer Man and got what I wanted: entertainment.
A Glimpse of Hell (2001)
Rate:
8
Viewed:
2/25
2/25:
A Gimpse of Hell deserves '7', but I'll give it an '8' for being brave enough to tell the truth about
the USS Iowa incident on April 19, 1989.
It's something I never knew before. The U.S. Navy's cover-up of the matter is certainly on the same level as
what France did to Alfred Dreyfus as highlighted in
The Life of Emile Zola.
The Pentagon Wars came to my mind a lot while watching the film
except that the story wasn't funny and that 47 people died for nothing.
The script is hard to follow at first, but it'll be made clear in the long run. Basically, Turret Two on the
USS Iowa was too old (the ship had been in operation since 1942) and behind in maintenance, but a serviceman,
namely Stephen Skelley, had an idea of going for the unauthorized record of the longest conventional 16-inch
shell ever fired to make an impression on the superiors. As a result, it blew up, killing everybody in proximity.
The ship was about 250 nautical miles northeast of Puerto Rico, and the sprinkler system in Turret Two never
worked when it happened.
Nobody wanted to admit the truth because damnit...the U.S. Navy must look good at all times! So, they blamed it
on some "fag" for sabotage. But ask yourself this simple question: had there been somebody planning to do that,
wouldn't it be easy for others to report him in advance because they were stuck on a ship for a long while?
Unfortunately, the U.S. Navy continues to deny the true cause of the turret explosion. Some members of
the guilty party sued the author of A Glimpse of Hell: The Explosion on the USS Iowa and Its Cover-Up
for libel, among others, and the case was settled out of court in 2007. But it doesn't mean the author was
wrong in his presentation of facts. Clayton Hartwig is still blamed for the incident to this day, and his
family has never gotten closure from it, having tried to sue the U.S. Navy but to no avail. Ditto for the
class action lawsuit filed by the deceased's family members.
Captain Fred Moosally only got the job of commanding the USS Iowa through political connections despite not
knowing very much about the inner workings of a battleship. Why would he? He graduated from his class at Annapolis
with a ranking of 812 out of 868 and was a big-time athlete, playing football there. Anyway, Moosally was
responsible for the scrubbing of the supposedly crime scene before any evidence could be gathered. So much for the
sabotage theory being credible.
The performances are fine. Obviously, I went for the film because of James Caan. It helps when they do
something like that. Robert Sean Leonard is a better actor in dramas than Jim Carrey given how much they look
somewhat alike. However, the made-for-TV feel is heavily pronounced throughout, hence the cheap shortcuts
of using fake CGI explosions and stock footage.
All in all, A Gimpse of Hell is a straightforward, frank picture of how the USS Iowa incident
was covered up by the U.S. Navy.
Glory (1989)
Rate:
10
Viewed:
6/04, 10/06, 7/11, 1/15, 5/20
10/06:
Absolutely riveting and moving, Glory is the top film of 1989 and ranks among the very best of the decade.
Cary Elwes, Morgan Freeman, Andre Braugher, Jihmi Kennedy, and John Finn are all outstanding. Above them are the performances
of Matthew Broderick and Denzel Washington. Disappointed is I am that not enough credit was paid to Matthew Broderick
for the finest performance of his career. He's simply the leader of the ensemble cast. By looking his face and
then remembering Ferris Bueller's Day Off, it's incredible to see what Matthew Broderick was capable of.
Without doubt, the most spectacular performance is given by Denzel Washington. When I saw the film in 1989 at a theatre,
the first moment he shed tears during the flogging scene, I said, "He just won the Oscar." It's all about the eyes. On the
other hand, the 54th's assault on Fort Wagner underscores how dramatic the scene is. The night before is incredible
because these men knew they were going to die and felt prepared about it.
All in all, Glory, an Edward Zwick's masterpiece that's buoyed by Freddie Francis' cinematography and Kevin Jarre's
script, is a rare film in Denzel Washington's oeuvre that showcases him at his truly best.
7/11:
Without doubt, Glory is the finest Civil War picture made.
Because of his powerful performance, Denzel Washington owns the film. Matthew Broderick is the other winner.
What a great supporting cast, also.
All in all, Glory keeps getting better with repeated viewings.
1/15:
On Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, TCM selected Glory as film of the night, and the choice couldn't have been any better.
There are several things I remember the most: Denzel Washington, Matthew Broderick, and the final battle scene.
It's also a moving, powerful film that's impossible for anyone not to be swept away. The moment Denzel Washington shed
tears during the flogging scene, it's so obvious that he flat-out won the Oscar. As for Matthew Broderick, it's a
transcendental role in terms of how he went from Ferris Bueller to Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, therefore earning my respect
as a fine actor.
All in all, Glory is a masterpiece.
5/20:
A perfect cinematic example of wartime esprit de corps, Glory has lost none of its power since 1989.
When I think of the film, I think of Denzel Washington. It's such a terrific performance with one of the greatest scenes ever
although flogging had already been abolished by the U.S. Army in 1861. What a shame Matthew Broderick wasn't nominated
for an Oscar; it's one of the finest performances I've seen anyone give.
Of course, the supporting cast is excellent as ever: Morgan Freeman, Cary Elwes, Andre Braugher, Jihmi Kennedy, and John Finn.
Freddie Francis' Oscar-winning cinematography is brilliant. The Shaw Memorial, scupted by Augustus Saint-Gaudens in
1897 as shown at the end, is in display at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
During the assault of Fort Wagner (which did eventually fall to the Union), how Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, who's a near Matthew
McConaughey look-alike in real life, and his 54th Massachusetts Regiment led the charge became the inspiration for numerous
African Americans to enlist in the Union which effectively turned the tide of the Civil War. The bodies buried at the beach
or thereabouts were disinterred and reburied at Beaufort National Cemetery in Beaufort, South Carolina.
All in all, I will be seeing Glory again and again.
Glory Daze (1995)
Rate:
3
Viewed:
8/04, 2/15
8/04:
Glory Daze has surprised me by the affinity of five male college students and is unlike
National Lampoon's Animal House.
Rob Wilkes, the director, takes the film into a different direction of the good, old college days which is an honest,
true portrayal of what it's like to let the life go at the end. It's tough, reminding me of what I experienced back then
and hated to give it all up. I had the same type of friends, girlfriend problems, reality issues, and parental skepticism
just like Ben Affleck's character.
All in all, Glory Daze is a simple reminder for those who experienced the similar themes during college.
2/15:
Glory Daze is one of those nostalgic films about the college life.
It's about five guys who stay together like a clique, are heading for alcoholism, and can't seem to let go the easy life
that college offers them. Why? It's because they've never worked a day in their lives! As for the friendships, especially
the camaraderie part, I can relate to them and understand the feeling, and it's a magical but ephemeral phase in life that
some are lucky to have the privilege of experiencing.
Meanwhile, Alyssa Milano may be miscast, looking like a pass-around sex doll, but to tell you the truth, there've been always
girls like her in college. Several well-known actors make brief cameos: Matthew McConaughey, Brendan Fraser, and Matt Damon.
All in all, those who had experienced the friendships in college will understand the message behind Glory Daze,
but the rest won't; either way, it's not a good movie.
Go Fish (1994)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
11/17
11/17:
Lately, I have been seeing outstanding gay movies: Maurice,
The Opposite of Sex, My Beautiful Laundrette,
Heavenly Creatures, and Prick Up Your Ears.
Here's an addition to the list: Go Fish. Its brilliance begins with the beautiful black-and-white
photography, and the editing is top-notch. Both are Oscar-worthy. Adding more to it is the ever-hip writing and
fresh acting performances. Combining all, Go Fish succeeds in sending a message that being a lesbian is cool.
The story is simple: a female looks around for somebody to start a lesbian relationship with. In between are statements
of why there's nothing wrong with it. The exploration of human drama is on the same level of John Sayles' work.
The standout of the cast is Guinevere Turner who makes her screen debut, having written the screenplay.
Here's a cool fact about her: she also co-wrote the adapted screenplay of Bret Easton Ellis' novel American Psycho.
I don't want to discount many other actresses' performances because they are all wonderful. Hence, a special
mention must go to V.S. Brodie, T. Wendy McMillan, and Anastasia Sharp for playing Ely, Kia, and Daria, respectively.
All in all, Go Fish is one of the best gay pictures made.
Go Tell the Spartans (1978)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
5/17
5/17:
Some parts of Go Tell the Spartans, which are the typical army fuck-ups, are amusing to watch.
But overall, the movie is okay. Yet it's more honest about the Vietnam War than, say, The Green Berets
and reminds me a lot of Beach Red. Remember the setting takes place in the early (the first five years from 1959
to 1964), not the middle or final, stage of the war. A lot of vets have attested to the film's accurate portrayal of what was
really going on at that time.
At a spiffy age of 64, Burt Lancaster has great acting scenes, however few of them there are, so be on the lookout for them.
They're priceless. He was actually limping, having suffered a knee injury. The rest of others
have done a good job to keep the film afloat. Their characters are realistic, and many can relate to them.
All in all, Go Tell the Spartans is a worthy anti-war picture, but it's more enjoyable if the
expectations can be kept low.
The Godfather (1972)
Rate:
10
Viewed:
7/04, 7/05, 12/07, 12/12, 12/17, 2/25
7/05:
The Godfather is a masterpiece.
What makes it a special film, although it's more specifically the franchise, is Al Pacino's transformation
as Michael Corleone. He has many wonderful scenes which are defined as classic. Unfortunately, the most
unbearable is the fans' infatuation with the film. It's equivalent to supporting the Mafia.
All in all, The Godfather is well-made, but it's overrated.
12/07:
After seeing The Godfather once again, I still say it's overrated.
First of all, the movie is very long. I can't get over how fake the fight is between Sonny Corleone and
Carlo Rizzi. Speaking of the former, I've had a hard time seeing him as the next Don because he could never
control his temper. I suppose it was a blessing in disguise for the sake of the family business' survival.
Although the plot is well-constructed, I fail to care for it. Worse, I fail to care for the characters. We're
talking about the Mafia. Why do I have to root for them? I'll never get over the fact that The Godfather has
been consistently selected the greatest film of all time, considering it's about glorification of the Mafia.
All in all, The Godfather is overrated.
12/12:
I still can't get over the fake fight scene between Sonny and Carlo.
Sonny misses Carlo's jaw by good four inches, yet he falls down.
All in all, I'm putting The Godfather back to where it belongs: Best Films list.
12/17:
Highly overrated, The Godfather is a cinematic masterpiece.
It's amazing that Joel Grey of Cabaret beat out all the heavyweights for the
Best Supporting Actor Oscar. What an impressive job, and I must shake his hand for it. There are many memorable
characters, lines, and scenes, but the most unforgivable is the fake fight between Sonny Corleone and Carlo Rizzi.
He really missed him by good six inches.
All in all, The Godfather is overrated, but Marlon Brando and Al Pacino are great.
2/25:
Marlon Brando is the king of big-time actors.
The Godfather Part II (1974)
Rate:
10
Viewed:
7/04, 7/05, 12/07, 12/12, 12/17, 2/25
7/05:
The Godfather Part II has some loose ends and underdeveloped relationships, most especially when it come to Michael
Corleone and his wife.
The Mafia investigation needs to be amplified more, but although it started in 1959 with Joe Valachi, the investigation
wouldn't have been effective until the 80's when the RICO Act became the most powerful weapon which finally put many gangsters
away for life.
As long as the movie is, the back-and-forth between Vito Corleone's upbringing and Michael Corleone's empire
is tiresome. Ditto with many characters who come in and out. Robert De Niro is okay, but his Italian mannerisms feel
feigned. Al Pacino's performance is the best thing going by making Michael Corleone an interesting character.
All in all, I prefer the original over The Godfather Part II for the acting, story, dialogue, and classic scenes
although the second part has plenty of it in each department which is far more than most films.
12/07:
The Godfather Part II is a great example of how a film can have impressive cinematography yet is average in everything
else.
If there's anything bad to say, it's the running length which is 200 minutes. That's too long, inflicting a toll on
my eyes. Only if I could care about the characters, maybe the length wouldn't bother me, but I just didn't. Drenched in fake
Italian mannerisms, Robert De Niro's Oscar-winning performance is ordinary. The transformation of Al Pacino's
character is rather impressive. Robert Duvall does a better job this time despite not having much to work with. John Cazale
is memorable as Fredo the Fuck-Up.
The story is plain and doesn't do enough to wow me. That's why the dark rich cinematography has overshadowed the deficiencies,
making the film better than it actually is. My problem with the back-and-forth between Vito Corleone's upbringing and
Michael Corleone's business dealings is that it, although absorbing in its own way, would be quickly cut off before switching
over. So, I keep forgetting The Godfather Part II features two parallel threads. Hence, the sequel should've
been broken down into two films; better yet, break the franchise into four: Vito Corleone's childhood, Vito Corleone,
Michael Corleone, and the Corleone family business.
All in all, The Godfather Part II is too long.
12/12:
The Godfather Part II is still an overrated picture, but it's now back on my Best Film list.
12/17:
Nope, I'm going to take The Godfather Part II off my Best Films list.
The movie is too long. In fact, it should've been split into two pictures. The acting is impeccable. Al Pacino is just
marvelous, and Robert De Niro isn't bad. John Cazale is more famous in this part than the other one. Because of the
cinematography for the trilogy, Gordon Willis has earned his moniker: The Prince of Darkness. Apart from the acting, I paid
more attention to the degrees of black, which is often heavy, throughout many scenes; it's an impressive job indeed.
What bothers me is how Clemenza and Tessio were portrayed. Then I have to go back to the original and be mystified about
how they're not important in the grand scheme of things given their origins. Also, what's that all about with
Michael Corleone and Tom Hagen? I don't care about Diane Keaton's character, having found it puzzling why Michael
Corleone didn't marry a true Italian woman again.
By the way, Morgana King was too young to play Mama Corleone; they should've aged her to make the character more
believable. Gastone Moschin, who plays Don Fanucci, deserved to be Oscar-nominated, not Michael V. Gazzo for the
role of Frankie Pentangeli.
All in all, The Godfather Part II is too long.
2/25:
Long, long, long but well-made.
The Godfather Part III (1990)
Rate:
10
Viewed:
7/04, 7/05, 12/07, 12/12, 1/18, 2/25
7/05:
The Godfather Part III isn't as bad as the critics have made it out to be although it's still too long just
like the previous two.
There are many great scenes such as the christening of Vincent as the next Don, the spat between him and Joey Zasa in
Michael's study, the ballroom ambush at Atlantic City, and the assassination attempt on Michael Corleone's life.
As Michael Corleone's daughter, Sofia Coppola was heavily bashed, but I think she did fine. Al Pacino once
again dominates and should've been given a special honorary Oscar for his overall work.
Andy Garcia is perfect and captivating as Vincent Mancini who's a hybrid between Michael and Sonny Corleone.
All in all, The Godfather Part III is an underrated film that doesn't deserve the hate it has received
over the years.
12/07:
I've read the reviews with nearly all of them blaming Sofia Coppola for turning The Godfather Part III into a
total failure.
Guess what? She isn't the problem. Far from it. A lot of times, there are recycled subplots
from the last two parts. Yet it has plenty of moments backed by outstanding cinematography and
lavishly beautiful interior sets, being the reasons why I was able to put up with the running length of 170 minutes.
My favorite performance comes from Andy Garcia as Vincent Mancini. It's his finest
hour in acting. Al Pacino plays himself more than Michael Corleone. His haircut looks ridiculous which
breaks away from the tradition. He tries to reconcile with Kay Adams, but it's too late because they never
had chemistry right from the outset. In fact, I hardly know who she is.
All in all, The Godfather Part III isn't as awful as people say, but it sums up all of the problems that have
plagued the first two pictures.
12/12:
It could've been worse.
Sofia Coppola's role almost went to Julia Roberts. Anyway, critics have unfairly bashed her for the failure of
the film which seems like an excuse. Why the sequel failed is they started to realize the glorification of
the Mafia was a silly, stupid, and childish thing to do.
When Michael Corleone talked about how it had been for the family, he sounded like an idiot because it got rich at
the expense of people's lives. By the time his daughter died, causing him to have an overdone cathartic moment, it's
exactly how I felt which is relief that The Godfather trilogy is finally
over. Andy Garcia is once again excellent and has a powerful scene when his character is christened as the Don.
Gordon Willis' cinematography is still incredible as ever.
All in all, the disreputation of The Godfather Part III has been long undeserving.
1/18:
Thankfully, this is the end of it.
After finishing The Godfather franchise, it's a good thing that they never
made a fourth part, so there would be no further glorification of the Mafia. What an odd trip it has been in
The Godfather Part III. Who the hell is Don Altobello? Where did he come from? Vincent Mancini, a bastardo,
crashes the party, and all of a sudden, the entire Corleone empire is entrusted to him in a matter of weeks? Michael
Corleone begs his ex-wife to reduce her dread of him, and why? She's just a stupid white American idiot. Connie
takes the reins and gives orders to have people whacked. Where was she the whole time?
Michael Corleone lets out a long, silly-ass scream after his daughter is killed. Now, he can finally understand
how other people felt. At the end, Michael dies and falls over from his chair (bad acting right there
because I can see he broke his fall on purpose with his arm), indicating the end of sheer boredom in over nine hours
of watching him play vague politics. To this day, I've never understood why Al Neri was selected as Michael
Corleone's caporegime. On a side note, Richard Bright was killed in 2006 after being run over by a tour bus in New
York City. Also, Vito Antuofermo, who plays Anthony "The Ant" Squigliaro, was a World Middleweight Champion
in boxing during the 70's.
Many have dissed Sofia Coppola's performance. Once again, I think she did fine. Electrifying and
charismatic, Andy Garcia gives the best performance of the show. I'm always motivated to watch the third part
because of him.
All in all, I appreciate the acting, the storytelling, and the cinematography shown by the entire
Godfather trilogy.
2/25:
Vincent Mancini makes the biggest mistake of his life by becoming the next Godfather because he'll be part of
the RICO roundup, which sent many to prison for a long time, resulting in the decimation of the Mafia.
Gods and Generals (2003)
Rate:
4
Viewed:
4/18
4/18:
Ronald F. Maxwell was going to make a trilogy of Civil War films.
The first one was Gettysburg which was released in 1993 and was meant to be the second part. Next in line was
Gods and Generals which came a decade later to serve as the prequel with a running time of four hours and
thirty-nine minutes(!). Because of its absolute failure, having grossed $12.8 million against a budget
of $56 million (almost all of it being Ted Turner's money), plans for the third and final picture of the trilogy had been
scrapped, and it was going to be entitled The Last Full Measure.
The trouble with Gods and Generals is essentially the same complaint that I made about Gettysburg: too many speeches.
Just show the fighting and be done with it. Nobody wants to listen to a sermon, or many of them as there were in this case,
while watching the movie. Not only do the filmmakers waste time with words, but they also can't make up their minds whether
Gods and Generals should be about the Civil War or Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. The special effects and the fake-looking
landscapes are ugly.
The more time spent on Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, the more obvious the movie was going to sympathize with the South
and its so-called Lost Cause which isn't true anyway. The war was about slavery, period.
I don't like the changes, either, preferring Martin Sheen as Robert E. Lee and Tom Berenger as James Longstreet, who declined
to appear because he wanted the Stonewall role, regardless of their fake beards. At least, Jeff Daniels, who was so good in
Gettysburg, comes back to reprise his role as Joshua Chamberlain but is only passable this time.
Stephen Lang gives a decidedly decent performance as Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, who was a fervent proponent of slavery which
is a fact that's lost in the shuffle. However, the more I think about how much he monopolized the running time, the less pleased I
am with Gods and Generals. And what's with the child actor paired up with him? Most of what happened
had already been covered in two different television miniseries:
North and South and
The Blue and the Gray with
my preference going to the former sans Book III. Hence, there's no need to reinvent the wheel.
By the way, American Airlines Flight 77, which was scheduled to land in Los Angeles, California, from Washington Dulles
International Airport, is the one that crashed into the Pentagon on 9/11. Martin Sheen wanted to be paid $1 million to appear
in Gods and Generals, but the studio told him no. Hence, he never boarded the planned flight.
All in all, Gods and Generals is too long, ambitious, and uneven, signalling the end of Civil War pictures.
Gods and Monsters (1998)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
5/24
5/24:
Gods and Monsters has nothing to do with homosexuality but is rather about euthanasia.
When the erstwhile director of Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein, James
Whale, eyed Clayton Boone mowing the lawn, he envisioned him pulling off the stunt. Sure, he had ideas of reviving his gay
past, but that's long gone. Mixed in are James' memories of the Great War, so they're stories just to pass the time.
After a while, James went for the jugular by pushing Clayton's heterosexual buttons until he became enraged enough to want
to kill Whale. After the plan didn't ultimately work out, Whale decided to forget about it and then killed himself. In some
ways, the fictional story is reminiscent of Prick Up Your Ears.
Ian McKellen steals the show, and that's why he was Oscar-nominated. Lynn Redgrave deserved hers, too. Before starting the
film, I thought Brendan Fraser was miscast, but after watching it for a while, I had come to see how great he was, having
terrific conversations with Ian McKellen. I think it's Brendan Fraser's 50's face that sealed the deal. Regardless, he may
have been robbed of an Oscar nomination. The cinematography goes a long way along with Bill Condon's Oscar-winning adapted
screenplay that's based on James Whale's son's book Father of Frankenstein.
All in all, Gods and Monsters is a superlative picture with strong acting performances by Ian McKellen, Brendan
Fraser, and Lynn Redgrave.
The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
5/11
5/11:
During a sociology class that I took in college, I watched a documentary about the lives of Aborigines and their practices.
Having an idea of what to expect in The Gods Must Be Crazy, I didn't know how crazy it would be. Of course, it's
all in good fun. Although the picture is billed as a comedy, it's been educationally enlightening. I love the story which
is so simple that it's ingenious in many ways.
The scenes are constantly zoomed in and out throughout which has been an effective technique. Ditto for the speed
of the frames. That's why the pace stays lively in order to maintain the same level of energy. Marius Weyers, N!xau, and
Michael Thys are all outstanding. They have proved that a film with an unknown cast can be successful.
All in all, The Gods Must Be Crazy is unique and a must-see.
The Gods Must Be Crazy II (1989)
Rate:
2
Viewed:
5/11
5/11:
Because I liked the original, I thought The Gods Must Be Crazy II would be more of the same, but it failed
to meet my expectations.
The sequel is a train wreck, but it probably works best for kids under 10. Although N!xau comes
back to reprise his role, the replaced cast looks uninspired. Worse is how terrible and cheesy the story is.
N!xau doesn't make for an engaging character this time around. At one point in his life, Hans Strydom may have won a
Tom Selleck look-alike contest.
All in all, The Gods Must Be Crazy II, as it's been the case for many sequels, is disappointing.
Godsend (2004)
Rate:
1
Viewed:
4/07
4/07:
If I get a blender and pour in the ingredients from The Good Son,
Boogeyman, The Sixth Sense,
Stir of Echoes, and The Shining, the result will be Godsend.
In fact, the film should be called Satansend. Nobody wastes any effort by making it one of the worst, dumbest
movies I've ever seen. When is anyone going to learn? The supernatural genre is dead as in "dead." Move on, and find
another genre that hasn't been beaten like a dead horse. Nothing—absolutely nothing—works in Satansend.
Not even Robert De Niro can save this. Why in the name of God is he in it? He used to be one of the greatest
actors in the history of motion pictures, and he decided to be part of this trash? Is it about the money? Has Robert De Niro
sold his soul to the devil?
All in all, why can't Robert De Niro be like Jake LaMotta and beat the crappy child actor to a pulp?
Going Overboard (1989)
Rate:
1
Viewed:
4/06
4/06:
Having been initially tripped with a lame start, Going Overboard was doing okay for a while by trying to be camp.
Then, it started to come apart at the seams in so many ways like I couldn't believe. Finally, I had seen enough to
declare it one of the worst films ever made. Going Overboard's place in the bottom 10 is firmly secure. I honestly
don't know what the plot is about.
Rather, I've been annoyed by the image quality. The fact is that one of the cameramen forgot the box of lenses prior to the trip, so
they filmed the whole thing with the wrong ones because everybody had to stay on the cruise ship from New Orleans to Cancun.
Adam Sandler has publicly disowned the film ever since, having been reportedly embarrassed for being associated with it.
A rumor has circulated around the internet that he smeared a bed mattress with his feces during the filming.
I only wished Adam Sandler's career never took off afterwards, so that way, none of his garbage comedies would exist.
All in all, I now know what it's like to be seasick.
The Golden Child (1986)
Rate:
4
Viewed:
2/05, 1/25
1/25:
Axel Foley meets the Dalai Lama.
It's easy to be fooled into thinking that The Golden Child would be as good as the first two parts
of the Beverly Hills Cop franchise and
Coming to America
because of Eddie Murphy. But the truth is: the film exposed him badly as a non-comedian with
nothing more than just a smile and teeth.
I don't understand the presence of Charlotte Lewis as Kee Nang. If she can do all the awesome things in
battle with the bad guys and is a Tibetan, then why isn't she the "chosen one"? What's wrong with making her
the centerpiece of the show? Oh, right...Eddie Murphy is a big moneymaker, and that shan't be messed with. My
bad. Here's a fun fact: the actor who played the little kid is actually a "she," hence the intended initials
in her name, J. L. Reate, which stands for Jasmine Lauren.
The biggest issue is the editing. It's simply awful because of the sharp cuts. When things
are slow, they're not noticeable, but when action happens, everything has to be so fast that it's
hard to absorb what's going on in a fluid manner, making for a disorientating viewing.
However, the special effects are okay, and Charles Dance, the only strong actor of the cast, does
what he can. The script doesn't bother me. It's just that whenever Eddie Murphy has
a chance to make a wisecrack, he isn't funny. Yet he continues to do it. Has anybody
tested the film and then told Paramount, "Hey guys...um, nobody is laughing"? Of course, the movie was
released anyway and made bank; that's all it matters.
All in all, Eddie Murphy admitted later that The Golden Child was a "piece of shit," and I concur with him.
Golden Gate (1993)
Rate:
2
Viewed:
3/12
3/12:
As much as I like Matt Dillon, he is wrong for Golden Gate.
As a matter of fact, the whole thing doesn't work for me. In some ways, it's a rip-off of
Year of the Dragon. Part of
the problem is how poorly written the dialogue is. It's painful to listen to. Every time the characters mention the word
"Chinatown," they make it appear as if the place is special. Honestly, it's just four to eight blocks of bad Chinese
restaurants and heavy red decoration.
Joan Chen cannot act although she has some chemistry with Matt Dillon. But let's be real: she's too old for the part.
Bruno Kirby can never act natural and has a hard time blending in. In short, he's not a good actor.
All in all, Golden Gate is a certified turkey bomb.
GoldenEye (1995)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
7/03, 9/14
9/14:
"For England, James?" Alec asks.
"Sure," and then James Bond shoots him in the heart. So there you have it. This is GoldenEye in a nutshell. As a matter
of fact, it's a lot better than most Bond pictures, thanks to Pierce Brosnan for bringing the much-needed freshness and
modernization to the franchise.
Pierce Brosnan does look, play, and act the part. In short, he's pretty good as James Bond. The action is never overdone;
it's just right. I like the script even though it feels a bit elaborate and far-fetched. As hard as it is to believe,
given my history of bashing him for being a sleazy womanizer, James Bond is more tolerable this time.
All in all, GoldenEye is probably the best Bond picture since Thunderball.
Goldfinger (1964)
Rate:
4
Viewed:
1/11
1/11:
Goldfinger is the worst Bond film yet.
The blatant display of sexism is its downfall, and the production values are extraordinarily cheap.
Peter Hunt's editing is terrible at times; several frames looks missing in certain scenes, making it a semblance of
today's cinema that's suitable for people with short attention span.
Auric Goldfinger isn't interesting and has an anticlimactic death at the end. When he died, I was like, "I hardly knew ye."
A lot of people thought Oddjob was the best Bond villain of all time. Well, he's boring.
The idea of people dying from a nerve gas leak is absurd and stupid. Worse is James Bond charming Pussy Galore
(gee whiz...the name) to change her mind. That'll never happen. He hardly does much except to bed more women as
usual. And this is the best Bond picture that most people have claimed it to be? Yeah...right. The most memorable
part of Goldfinger, actually the whole franchise, is when the woman was found covered in gold paint all over which is a
classic Bond moment. Oh yes, the car...1963 Aston Martin DB5 is a real beaut.
The scene when James Bond stopped Jill's sister from doing her work left me in a state of disbelief. Why does he care? Move
on, and get the job done. She has obviously blown his cover. Then, he tries to get out of the situation but ends up wrecking
the poor car for no reason. Even the crash isn't believable because the wall won't crumble like how it did. As always, through
some deus ex machina, James Bond extricates himself from a precarious situation before his balls are about to be
literally melted by laser. Since James Bond offers no value, why do the villains keep him alive and then leave?
All in all, Goldfinger is too silly to be taken seriously.
Gone in 60 Seconds (1974)
Rate:
4
Viewed:
4/25
4/25:
After seeing Gone in 60 Seconds with Nicolas Cage, I decided to
check out the original.
And...it's not a good movie. I can see why it made $40 million at the box office against a budget of
$150,000 which has everything to do with the cars. Getting an F are the story, the dialogue, the acting,
the editing, and the sound. They're unbearably bad and heavily drenched in 70's fashion. It's hard to see
during the night shots.
Then, there's the mother of them all: the forty-minute car chase which is the longest in history. This is the one
that makes the film. Although not mind-blowing, it still has a lot of potential. With a skilled editor
on top of an actual plot, Gone in 60 Seconds could've been transformed into a well-made picture
that would be an enduring classic to this day.
So, what happened to the guy who wrote, produced, directed, starred, and performed the stunts in
Gone in 60 Seconds? His name was H.B. Halicki, and he died in a freak accident during the
making of the sequel in 1989. For the big jump at the end of the original, he did it, resulting in
ten compacted vertebrae, and was never able to walk the same again.
All in all, if not for the cars, there's no money in Gone in 60 Seconds.
Gone in 60 Seconds (2000)
Rate:
4
Viewed:
3/25
3/25:
Gone in 60 Seconds is at best described as popcorn junk picture that's almost not any different
from The Fast and the Furious.
It's a good thing they got Nicolas Cage for the leading role. He can make this kind of crap easy to swallow. The
story is absurd: steal fifty vehicles in a matter of hours to save a brother's life. Randall and Kip might as
well go into the witness protection program and confess everything they know about grand theft auto and what
they're currently involved with.
What if the car they need to steal isn't where it's supposed to be at the exact hour or is locked up in some
gated community or parking garage? Time's a-wasting, kiddos! The mission wasn't even a success because three
vehicles were destroyed despite the delivery of the other forty-seven intact.
While the cast isn't bad on paper, I can do without Angelina Jolie and Giovanni Ribisi who always plays a
fuckup after another with no common sense. Will Patton disappears for the longest time while Robert Duvall
is obviously cashing in his reputation for a big payday. At least, Nicolas Cage and Delroy Lindo have come to
save the day to keep my brain from melting.
There's a lot of terrible editing. Several examples are Angelina Jolie partly arriving in a motorcycle,
Nicolas Cage and Giovanni Ribisi miraculously escaping from a car that's being machine-gunned, and Scott Caan and
Giovanni Ribisi stealing a SUV with the kid shot in the backseat before the film prematurely cuts away to
the next scene.
All in all, an excuse to be as cool as Bullitt, Gone in 60 Seconds
is an apt title because that's how fast my mind went after I started playing it.
Gone with the Wind (1939)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
3/05, 2/08, 4/12, 8/15
2/08:
As impressive as it can be, Gone with the Wind is a one-of-a-kind picture although it's an extremely long epic.
It abounds with excellent performances, picturesque cinematography, and a sumptuous story. I'm at an impasse when I try
to decide who gave the best performance: Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable, or Olivia de Havilland. They're all very good.
However, I say this with no disrespect, but Hattie McDaniel's performance is overrated. Olivia de Havilland is
much better and thus more memorable because her character is the glue that keeps everybody together.
Of course, who can be more dashing than Clark Gable as Captain Rhett Butler or bitchier than Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara?
They're timeless characters. Gone with the Wind has done a very good job of perpetuating the myth about the Old
South which was anything but. It's an outstanding film, but let's not kid ourselves: the blacks were enslaved, beaten, and
maimed against their will, so the Southern culture could be made possible.
All in all, Gone with the Wind is a very long picture to sit through, but its magnificence is undeniable.
4/12:
Although I've long considered Gone with the Wind to be a masterpiece, I'm lowering my rating from '10' to '9'.
The sight of the mythical Southern way of living is too much to put up with. I hate the false message that Southerners
were portrayed as a superior class of people when their way of living was in fact built on the backs of black slaves. Hence,
I'm glad the Union torched the South as a punishment for being ahead of themselves.
Another reason I hate the movie is Scarlett O'Hara who happens to be full of shit. She ruins it by prancing around like
a royal bitch of the highest order. The worst of the ensemble cast is Butterfly McQueen as Prissy. I just
can't stand her. Laura Crews' Pittypat comes in a close second.
Hattie McDaniel's Oscar win sours it for me because Olivia de Havilland is the reason why it's a
highly compelling film. Melanie Hamilton is truly a remarkable character. I also love Clark Gable's performance as
Rhett Butler. He's brilliant and forever a classic. Yet there are six chief problems with Gone with the Wind:
One, it's not racist enough. Thus, how typical it is for Hollywood to gloss over the truth by making the South that
it never was. I mean, this is the Civil War South we're talking about which was made possible by slavery.
Two, there's a scene of women covering for their menfolk who are coming home from a secret meeting. The fact is that their
husbands are members of the Klu Klux Klan although it's not explicitly mentioned. I'll feel better if they
can come out and just say it, but no...Hollywood wanted to make the South look good.
Three, Gone with the Wind is too pretty of a picture. It's impossible. After the South was deservingly burned down,
everybody is still beautiful.
Four, none of the characters, most especially Scarlett O'Hara, ages over time. Everybody looks the same, no matter what
period of time it is.
Five, as mentioned before, Scarlett O'Hara is the worst character. She needs to be taught a lesson by being thrown in the
gutter and left to fend for herself. I can't stand Scarlett for a minute, so it's a wonder how everybody, especially Rhett
Butler, was able to. At least, he finally left her at the end by saying, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."
Six, what's so damned special about Tara? It's just a freaking land that's probably ruined by the lack of fallowing with a
rundown house!
All in all, apart from the flaws, almost everything about Gone with the Wind is perfect, but it's way too fucking
long.
8/15:
It's impossible for me to give Gone with the Wind a '10' because the epic is too long.
The first half is quite good, but the second half is full of melodramatic soap opera that kept torturing my eyes. An hour
cut out of the film would've been greatly appreciated. It's the ending that saves it from being a hopeless romantic picture.
As perfect as the ensemble cast is, only two characters whom I like the most are Rhett Butler and Melanie Hamilton. They're
timeless. On the other hand, Scarlett O'Hara is one of the biggest villains who have ever graced the silver screen.
I just hate her and don't give a flying fuck about her, but she's timeless anyway. Listening to Scarlett O'Hara's problems
makes matters worse when I think of the blacks who had been enslaved for over 200 years and, as freemen, tried to pick
up the pieces as they faced new challenges. The Southern way of living couldn't have existed without them, and there's nothing
nostalgic about it.
All in all, I'm glad that the Old South is no more.
The Good Earth (1937)
Rate:
5
Viewed:
2/16
2/16:
Talk about dated and silly.
Paul Muni is great in The Good Earth, but he's not the issue. It's the idea of him, as a Caucasian, pretending to
be a Chinese. Why do that when there are over one billion Chinese people to pick from?
Paul Muni would showcase many stereotypical traits that were unbelievable to see. By the way, no Chinese actors were ever cast,
and the film wasn't shot on location in China. Luise Rainer won the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Wow, I didn't know being a
great silent actress in a talking movie with a knack to make beautiful faces was enough to merit the award.
Winning the Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Karl Freund did an excellent job with the locust scenes which are, in
fact, shots of a locust plague. That being said, the special effects are pretty good for the time.
All in all, The Good Earth shows why using Caucasians to play Asians is a bad idea.
The Good for Nothing (1914)
Rate:
1
Viewed:
4/07
4/07:
The title The Good for Nothing serves as a pretty good indicator of what it might be about.
In other words, it's the same typical, mindless crap like the rest of the other shorts by Charlie Chaplin.
All in all, I'm surprised Charlie Chaplin lasted a long time in Hollywood.
Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)
Rate:
5
Viewed:
11/17
11/17:
Good Morning, Vietnam is a well-known film from the 80's, but I never got around to seeing it fully until now.
I have to say it's not that good. The jokes, especially during radio play, are outdated and inappropriate for the military,
but Robin Williams is ironically funny when he isn't on it. Bruno Kirby is actually funnier than him.
As hard as it's to believe, three actors passed away relatively young in their 50's and 60's: Robin Williams, J.T. Walsh,
and Bruno Kirby. So, it's eerie seeing them all together.
On the other hand, Good Morning, Vietnam fails in trying to be a serious drama when Adrian Cronauer was acting
like a white knight in shining armor by saving a Vietnamese female. I'm pretty sure he was trying to hit anything that happened
to walk by him. Then, he didn't realize the gravity of his actions until later which sort of sours the film for a while.
Even worse is Barry Levinson attempting to mix comedy with the Vietnam War like how it was done in
M*A*S*H. Um, bad idea.
I'm sure LBJ would've laughed his head off...not. By the way, Richard Edson is a familiar face for having taken
Cameron's 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider on a joyride during
Ferris Bueller's Day Off. He also appeared
in Stranger Than Paradise.
All in all, I wish Good Morning, Vietnam was consistently funny, but it's not.
The Good Son (1993)
Rate:
4
Viewed:
6/25
6/25:
If I have to pinpoint one that did the most damage to Macaulay Culkin's career
post-Home Alone, it's The Good Son.
Having seen the film in 1993, I predicted Macaulay "Don't Fuck with Me" Culkin would never recover from it,
especially after dropping a dummy from the bridge onto a busy road. So, he didn't, retiring in just two years
at age 14. Everything that represented Kevin McCallister through Macaulay Culkin is virtually gone in
The Good Son. Instead, he's interested in killing animals and people. Hence, where's the entertainment?
I tried to find the positive in Elijah Wood but ended up hating him because of his pretentious eyes.
The Good Son might have been tolerable had the filmmakers gotten somebody else who's normal in appearance.
I say that after being forced to watch three weird-looking kids in one film: Elijah Wood, Macaulay Culkin, and his
sister look-alike.
The best part is when Wendy Crewson bitch-slapped Elijah Wood in the face. She should've yelled at him, "Don't
patronize me! You aren't an adult yet. There's no reason for you to be acting like a grown-up man!" Later, she
held to Macaulay Culkin on one hand and Elijah Wood on the other hand over the cliff and was trying to decide
what to do. I was like, "Just drop them both."
All in all, if you love Home Alone and want to keep your memory of
Macaulay Culkin intact, don't ever watch The Good Son; it's simple as that.
Good Will Hunting (1997)
Rate:
10
Viewed:
8/03, 4/04, 12/06, 2/12, 1/24
12/06:
No doubt, Good Will Hunting is brilliantly made.
Because of his experience directing juvenile delinquent pictures such as
Drugstore Cowboy and My Own Private Idaho,
Gus Van Sant is the perfect choice. In the past, he tried to make the best movie possible to represent the genre, and he
finally gets it right in Good Will Hunting.
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck turn in the best performances of their overrated careers, and it's maybe the biggest highlight they'll
ever have because they believed in the story and put everything into it. Robin Williams proves once again that he's one of
the best drama actors in Hollywood and deserved the Oscar. Stellan Skarsgård is also very good while Minnie Driver is okay.
By the way, I've lived through the experiences of Will Hunting and can understand his character completely. Psychologically, many
emotions are right on the mark. The dialogue is an accurate representation of who the characters are.
All in all, Good Will Hunting is one of my favorite pictures.
2/12:
When I saw Good Will Hunting the first time, I felt like I was seeing myself in it.
All in all, Good Will Hunting is one of the best movies of the decade.
1/24:
It's still a terrific movie.
The Goodbye Girl (1977)
Rate:
2
Viewed:
7/09
7/09:
The Goodbye Girl tries to reinvent the wheel by combining soap opera and theater, and the results are disastrous.
Richard Dreyfuss shows off his versatility, but it's apparent he's overacting. The only funny part is when he's ordered
by the director to make his character flaming gay for the theatrical production. His co-star Marsha Mason is
annoying and pretentious. She, drenched in the rain while holding the guitar at the end, is an awkward
sight.
Stagy as hell, the New York feel of The Goodbye Girl makes me want to gag. And it's labeled as a romantic comedy?
Yeah, right.
All in all, The Goodbye Girl is a torture on my eyes.
Goodbye Lover (1998)
Rate:
6
Viewed:
2/16
2/16:
Goodbye Lover was going well until Don Johnson dropped out and Ellen DeGeneres entered the picture.
Then, it's all downhill from there. The multiple red herrings have done me in, too. Although the story is not bad, it's mostly
gimmicky, tacky, and manipulative, reminding me of Wild Things but in a bad way. It's a surprise to me that Roland
Joffé decided to take on this project considering he directed
The Killing Fields and The Mission.
He would do one more film two years later and then was never the same again.
Patricia Arquette is fun, recapturing the same mojo from True Romance. She's great with Don Johnson, but
they don't spend much time together. When I thought it was going to be another The Hot Spot for him, why did
they have to kill off his character so early? Dermot Mulroney is unlike himself as compared to his past films and does a
good job of being hip. Vincent Gallo's uncredited cameo appearance is a nice treat.
Whoever initially thought Ellen DeGeneres had star potential should be taken to the woodshed. She's so fucking
unbearable that the sight of her face makes me want to turn off the TV immediately. To be forced to put up with her
character for an hour is asking too much from me.
All in all, Goodbye Lover would've worked out well if Don Johnson had stayed on longer with Ellen DeGeneres out of
the picture.
Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939)
Rate:
6
Viewed:
2/16
2/16:
Imagine my skepticism when I learned a long ago that Robert Donat won the Oscar for Best Actor in Goodbye, Mr. Chips
over Clark Gable's timeless performance of Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind.
I hadn't come around to seeing the film for years until now. I'll concede Robert Donat is outstanding, but that's the
only good part which is based on James Hilton's novella that I didn't really like. As great as Robert Donat's performance is,
Jack Dawn's makeup job on him is even more impressive with nothing phony. Also, kudos to Freddie Young for his photography
work. He'll do the same for Lawrence of Arabia.
However, let's talk about making a permanent impression. Robert Donat's character fails to achieve it for Mr. Chipping. Clark
Gable will always be Rhett Butler. The way he played the role is exactly as envisioned in Margaret Mitchell's book. Hence,
Clark Gable is whom I imagined Rhett Butler to be. When I think of great performances in the annals of cinema, Clark Gable's
for Gone with the Wind is among them. As a result, he should've won the Oscar.
All in all, full of sentimental drivel, Goodbye, Mr. Chips is a deservingly forgotten movie.
Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969)
Rate:
6
Viewed:
5/16
5/16:
Despite the fact that it's a remake of the classic version with Robert Donat, I actually like this version of
Goodbye, Mr. Chips with Peter O'Toole who regained his form from
Lawrence of Arabia, earning himself an Academy Award nomination.
There aren't many ripped-off scenes from the original. Rather, it's a bit of a musical, yet I don't see why it has to be so.
The movie might have succeeded without the music based on the strength of Peter O'Toole's acting and Oswald Morris'
cinematography.
Petula Clark is one of the few weakest spots. Her character isn't likeable and is out of sync many times.
I thought she was going to die much earlier, but she lived for a long time.
All in all, Peter O'Toole does the character justice for Goodbye, Mr. Chips by avoiding the emulation of Robert
Donat for the sake of repetition.
Goodfellas (1990)
Rate:
10
Viewed:
11/03, 2/07, 5/10, 12/13, 7/20
2/07:
The opening sequence of Goodfellas is what impressed me the most when I saw it first at a theatre in 1990.
I still feel this way after seventeen years. Without doubt, Goodfellas is the hardest-hitting Mafia picture made.
There's nothing like it. To produce the movie, Martin Scorsese called Nicholas Pileggi, the author of Wiseguy, to say,
"I've been waiting for this book my entire life," which was met with, "I've been waiting for this phone call my entire life."
Ray Liotta doesn't get enough credit for stealing the show from start to finish. Everybody else is as good as he, but let's
not kid ourselves: this is Ray Liotta's picture. On the other hand, Joe Pesci's performance is overrated.
All in all, Martin Scorsese is a master storyteller.
5/10:
Based on Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi that I read a long ago, the first two minutes of Goodfellas,
which is complemented by Saul Bass' title sequence, is what sets the tone.
It's a hard-hitting, brutal picture, depicting three decades of life in the Mafia. I wish I can say Goodfellas
is the best gangster picture made, effectively obliterating the perch that The Godfather had stood on for years, but
the comparisons aren't fair to both due to generational differences. By the way, Ray Liotta's performance is my favorite;
without him, Goodfellas will not be the film as it is. The "May 11, 1980" scene underscores the power of his
screen presence.
All in all, Goodfellas is a must-see masterpiece.
12/13:
There are many outstanding scenes, lines, and performances in Goodfellas; they simply come in waves.
One of them that impressed me the most is the restaurant scene when Ray Liotta and Lorraine Bracco took the back way
which is an excellent demonstration of power and respect. Once again, Ray Liotta is the man, being the main reason why
I continue to revisit the film from time to time. Robert De Niro's supporting performance is fascinating because he
makes most of his limited screen time yet is able to give a special performance.
All in all, Goodfellas is a brilliant mob picture.
7/20:
The only film to rival The Godfather seriously is Goodfellas.
To be fair, both depict the Mafia during different generations, so it's, chronologically speaking, The Godfather first
and Goodfellas second. RICO finally tore down the whole criminal enterprise, and it was all over by the time John Gotti
was sent away for life.
A lot of people and critics alike focus too much on Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, but it's really Ray Liotta's show. As a
result, he should've received an Oscar nomination. My favorite scene is still "May 11, 1980," The opening sequence is
unforgettable with Joe Pesci hacking Frank Vincent and Robert De Niro blowing him away.
All in all, Goodfellas is a powerful Mafia picture that will never be old.
The Goonies (1985)
Rate:
10
Viewed:
10/06
10/06:
In comparison with other children's films, nothing beats The Goonies.
Unparalleled are the acting, dialogue, sense of humor, premise, fantasy, creativity, comedy, and action-adventure.
It's so much fun to watch The Goonies that, after twenty-one years, the magic still hasn't diminished.
Of the child stars, Corey Feldman does an exceptional job. As for the rest of everybody, they're unbelievably natural.
All in all, The Goonies has it all I can possibly want in a children's film.
Gorillas in the Mist (1988)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
1/06, 8/21
1/06:
Gorillas in the Mist is a nice-looking but flawed film.
The main attraction is obviously the gorillas. Sigourney Weaver is great while Bryan Brown and John Omirah Miluwi do their
part to make the picture even better. Yet it has many underdeveloped subplots, an out-of-place romance, and some poor
direction.
All in all, Gorillas in the Mist doesn't tell the real story about Dian Fossey, so I refer you to a book entitled
The Dark Romance of Dian Fossey by Harold Hayes which has more to explain.
8/21:
After seeing Koko: A Talking Gorilla, I thought of checking out Gorillas in the Mist once more.
Apart from the Alien movies, it's Sigourney Weaver's most famous role, and she was rightly awarded an Academy Award
nomination. The film is both beautiful and sad. Of course, the gorillas are the stars. A few of them are fakes, most
especially the babies, because using them will invoke the wrath of their parents which is fair enough.
Dian Fossey had a reputation of being emotionally unstable which is often glossed over. Instead, she's credited with reversing
the downward trend of the world's gorilla population. There are over a thousand now which is the highest ever recorded since
the 60's.
Sigourney Weaver's on-screen habit of chain-smoking is actually spot-on as Fossey suffered from advanced emphysema. The high
mountain altitude and damp climate didn't help, either, making her condition worse, and toward the end of Fossey's life, she
needed an oxygen tank to move around.
All in all, animal lovers will like Gorillas in the Mist despite the several very strong, but purposeful, scenes.
Gorky Park (1983)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
1/13
1/13:
People are being murdered over sable fur?
That's what confuses me the most while watching Gorky Park. Other than that, the acting is as good as
it gets. The unfolding of the layers to arrive at the core of the mystery is well-done. But it's the concept of
killing for sables that hurts the film a lot. Honestly, won't it be easier to farm them commercially?
All in all, Gorky Park doesn't feel realistic.
Gosford Park (2001)
Rate:
10
Viewed:
5/03, 8/13, 2/24
2/24:
Gosford Park is a film that people either love or hate; there's no middle.
If they hated it, I can understand why. It's boring and overwhelming. But if you understand the history of the "Upstairs,
Downstairs" lifestyle including the sex abuse that went on, then everything changes. On top of it is the über British feel.
Hence, it's an amazing collection of thespians which is too long to list. Only Robert Altman had the genius to pull this off.
I kept thinking the whole thing must have been influenced by La règle du jeu
(The Rules of the Game) which turns out to be correct.
It's impssible to understand what's going on when you see Gosford Park for the first time, but things will be somewhat
clear during the second half. Therefore, I recommend watching it two, three, or, perhaps, four times in a row. The reason is
that there are so many characters to keep up with and the dialogue is very challenging to follow. Once done, it'll become
a satisfying movie experience.
However, I think 1932 is a bit too far ahead when it should've been set ten years earlier or so, but yeah, the whole thing came
crumbling down by the end of WWII, which marked the end of the British Empire, due to not being able to afford a
large estate that required numerous servants. Back then, most especially during the 19th century, there were only
two types of jobs available to women in Britain: domestic work and prostitution. Eventually, more professions opened up to
women, allowing them to leave behind the two traditional jobs.
To be honest with you, I hate most of the characters, especially those who are from upstairs; this is British snobbery
at its finest. But they're absolutely well-played with some standouts: Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, Helen Mirren,
Kelly Macdonald, and Clive Owen. For the longest time, I thought Ryan Phillippe was miscast, having no place in such a
prestigious film. After his character was exposed, it started to make sense, so I had to ask this: did Ryan know he
was a bad actor himself and got asked to play a bad actor? Also, was everybody, like Maggie Smith, making fun of him for real?
Actually, the role was meant for Jude Law, but he dropped out at the last minute.
The title Gosford Park bothers me although it's the name of the country estate. Why? Let's go back to what Mrs. Wilson
said: "It's the gift of anticipation. And I'm a good servant. I'm better than good, I'm the best. I'm the perfect servant.
I know when they'll be hungry, and the food is ready. I know when they'll be tired, and the bed is turned down. I know it
before they know it themselves." Then, she reiterated, "I'm the perfect servant, I have no life." So, why not call it
The Perfect Servant?
I know the film was supposed to be about a murder mystery that got ultimately turned into
Murder on the Orient Express, but it's actually secondary in the grand scheme
of things. The primary focus is on the "Upstairs, Downstairs" world, period, hence the creation of the TV show Downton Abbey
at the hands of same writer: Julian Fellowes. Therefore, it's fascinating which is to say you shouldn't pay too much attention
to the dialogue. We just happen to have landed in the middle of it that's only a small sample of their lives, and we'll never
know afterwards when everybody is back to his or her life after leaving the house.
All in all, exacting and historically accurate, Gosford Park is another masterpiece fashioned by Robert Altman.
Gossip (2000)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
4/21
4/21:
Gossip runs with the eponymous concept to the goal line and scores a big win on the philosophical level.
When I attended a bubble-like college during the same year as the movie was first released, rumor was the name of the game.
One day, somebody pointed me out an Asian male and said he had AIDS. It got repeated so often by others that I
took it for a fact.
One day, I finally confronted the man himself and asked him point-blank if he really had the disease. He told me
some fat, ugly girl made it up to get back at him for refusing to go out with her. We ended up being friends,
and today, he's very much healthy, married with kids, and is doing well.
Thinking about it, I can relate to Gossip. What I didn't realize is how it was shaping to be like
The Game
with Michael Douglas and Sean Penn. At first, I thought it was going to be another hip wannabe young adult movie, but the plot
did get better and the players were working well toward a point.
For a while, I was leaning toward the stereotypical tortured artist because Derrick Webb seemed so convincing that I apparently
believed his side of the story. However, what bothered me was when Cathy Jones went to see Naomi Preston, the latter lost
it in a dramatic fashion. Therefore, how could that be when it was later revealed that they decided to work together to hatch a
scheme? Hence, I'll have to see the movie again to ascertain the feasibility of it.
Regardless, everything else seems fine, and there's a terrific ending. Given the adult nature of the topic,
Gossip is a much more appropriate picture than Cruel Intentions. What goes a long way is the ingenious construct
that's surrounded by a cool cast including James Marsden, Lena Headey, Norman Reedus who actually did the artwork, Kate Hudson,
Joshua Jackson, Eric Bogosian, and Edward James Olmos. I have to laugh at the last one because this is the man from
Miami Vice, and of course, he's going to pass for a detective easily. Come on, don't be ridiculous.
All in all, a box-office failure at the time, Gossip is a highly clever movie that deserves a look.
Gotham (1988)
Rate:
6
Viewed:
10/19
10/19:
Gotham, which was originally titled as The Dead Can't Lie, is an okay neo-noirish picture about the
supernatural.
The movie starts out well with Tommy Lee Jones, who has the best deadpan face since Walter Matthau, receiving a visitor before
being paid a princely sum of money to take on the missing person case. It turns out it's his dead wife of ten years, but he
thinks the whole thing is a joke. The husband finally absolves himself by passing along the ghost of her to the private dick.
Along the way is a lot of steamy sex with Virginia Madsen going nude which is more than enough. It seems the jewels play
a big role as they're the rara avis straight out of The Maltese Falcon. Yet despite the great backdrop,
Gotham completely falls apart in the final twenty minutes, leaving me with nothing but a sheer waste of celluloid.
I never understood why the stupid husband gave away one million dollars worth of jewels just like that. What was he
trying to accomplish?
It'll be easy to categorize Gotham as an all-time bad movie, but Tommy Lee Jones' performance is enjoyable. Kevin
Jarre, the screenwriter who also did Glory, Judgment Night, and Tombstone, complements him
well in terms of dialogue, but Frederic Forrest as a Russian Orthodox priest is a mistake, adding nothing to the film.
Virginia Madsen looks beautiful, but she has too much makeup on her face. Nevertheless, she delivers the best line of anyone: "There's nothing
fair about me, Eddie. I start the game owning Boardwalk and Park Place, and everybody pays."
All in all, Gotham had a workable story with many excellent lines to make for a good neo-noir movie
about the supernatural, but throwing it away in the last twenty minutes is inexcusable.
Gothic (1986)
Rate:
1
Viewed:
12/12
12/12:
Want to see a film that's utter shit?
Then, check out Gothic. The awesomely bad film is incoherent, rambling, and pointless. In fact, there's no plot
to speak of. It's a stupid hallucination that's shared by everybody partaking of massive doses of alcohol and drugs
during one night at the mansion. Then, the next morning, they're jolly cheerful and alive.
And Gothic is labeled a horror film? Yeah...right. Oh, by the way, that weird-looking elf on the movie poster?
He has nothing to do with the film whatsoever and only appears in it for like three seconds.
I should've known better. While I was watching Gothic, Altered States kept coming to my mind constantly.
Afterwards, going on the internet to see Ken Russell's oeuvre, he directed that piece of crap along with another craptacular
picture The Lair of the White Worm. Congratulations, Ken...you have officially landed on my Worst Directors
list. He should've been committed a long time ago.
All in all, Gothic is a straight F turkey bomb.
Gotti (1996)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
7/16, 10/19
7/16:
Gotti seems consistent when it comes to chronicling the major points of John Gotti's rise and fall, but it's
mostly fictional.
The truth is it was John Gotti's big mouth and flamboyance, which were the antithesis of the code of silence, that got him
into trouble. Hence, he became the worst Don ever. Luckily, it marked the beginning of the end of the Mafia which would never
again reach the same heights, thanks to G. Robert Blakey's RICO Act.
Solid acting, well-written if incomprehensible script, and brisk pace are among the highlights of Gotti. Armand Assante,
Anthony Quinn, and William Forsythe are enjoyable to watch.
All in all, Gotti, although somewhat technical at times, isn't too bad for a Mafia picture despite the historical
inaccuracies.
10/19:
I'm not sure what the public fascination is with John Gotti and the Mafia but...okay.
A good book to read about the history of the Mafia is
Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires by Selwyn Raab. Once done,
I think you'll find Gotti to be remarkably consistent with historical details. Yeah, there's so much to get into,
but that's why I mentioned the book.
There are a few important things that need to be mentioned. G. Robert Blakey is the chief architect of the Racketeer
Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. For many years, the FBI didn't want to apply it to the Mafia because the
act was so new and unproven that they couldn't be sure if it would work at the risk of double jeopardy given their extensive
work and manpower to build the cases.
Rudy Giuliani, then a federal prosecutor, finally used the now-tested RICO to take on the eleven Mafia leaders, including the
heads of the so-called five families, in 1985 and put all away for life in what's known as the Mafia Commission Trial.
It would mark the beginning of the end of Cosa Nostra with virtually all leaders sent to prison by the end of the 20th century.
How RICO works is that if anyone commits "at least two acts of racketeering activity" under the flag of an enterprise within the
ten-year period, everybody in that enterprise is guilty. That being said, John Gotti would've been sent to prison, no matter
what. RICO continues to be used today and is a powerful weapon against gangs, police departments, sport organizations, wall
street firms, corporations, etc.
Meanwhile, the performances are fine; nobody stands out from the pack. Everybody but Armand Assante bears an uncanny
resemblance to the characters they play. Unfortunately, the most boring part is listening to Assante's talk, and when his
character predicted that, in five to ten years, everybody will miss John Gotti, I was like, "Yeah, um...okay." Because of the
telefilm's smash success, HBO decided to make an original series called The Sopranos which would become a
runaway hit.
All in all, although the dialogue is nonsensical, Gotti captures the major events pretty well and gets some of
the little details correct.
The Graduate (1967)
Rate:
6
Viewed:
5/03, 8/16
8/16:
Talk about overrated.
The Graduate is just exactly that and is one of the sleaziest movies I've ever seen because the daughter agreed to
marry the guy who slept with her mother many times. Come on, that's pretty disgusting. I first saw the movie in 2003 and had
never understood its appeal since then. I mean, what's so fascinating? It's a coming-of-age film? Don't they mean "a coming
of a full-blown pervert"?
The American Film Institute did a top 100 list in 2005, and this time, it was for movie quotes. One of them is
"Plastics" from The Graduate. Uh, are the voters stupid or what? I mean, what the fuck? People thought the
movie was funny. It has also been labeled a comedy. I'm sorry, but I didn't laugh once. Exactly what's so funny about a
weird, socially maladjusted guy who stalks women?
Already too old for the part, Dustin Hoffman is 29 playing a twenty-one-year-old college graduate who comes off as a
weird creep. Katharine Ross is also over the age for the part. Anne Bancroft isn't bad, but her character is unlikeable.
She's just bored stiff about everything in general. How is sex with her going to be better? She'll still be having a
cigarette in her mouth while being lit up like a pinball machine.
All in all, the high praise shown for The Graduate is bizarre; Dustin Hoffman would shed off the fluke success by
appearing in the next film: Midnight Cowboy.
Grand Canyon (1991)
Rate:
4
Viewed:
5/21
5/21:
Grand Pretentious, Grand Boredom, Grand Nothing, Grand Bullshit...
Whatever the film may be alternatively called, it's all of them and more. Prior to seeing it, I was thinking of something along
the lines of The Big Chill, but this is a stupid waste of my time. Who goes through a life-altering event after another
on a daily basis when it only comes once every five or ten years?
Just like how Lawrence Kasdan ripped off the concept from Return of the Secaucus 7 for The Big Chill, he
manages to do so by going through The Razor's Edge. Instead of one, there are six Larry Darrells, but I don't think
Steve Martin's character qualifies.
The dominant theme is enlightenment. Excuse me, it's been 137 minutes of wokeness among white liberals who
are out of touch with reality pretty much all of their lives and try to make up for it by befriending token blacks.
Lawrence Kasdan and Meg Kasdan's original screenplay is so full of profanity that I'm surprised it was Oscar-nominated.
I have to say the acting has been very good. The standouts are Kevin Kline (although what his
character did to Dee while cheating on his wife isn't cool) and Danny Glover. Either Steve Martin is miscast or his character,
who's based on big-time movie producer Joel Silver, doesn't belong which explains why he wasn't there at the end of the
film to see the Grand Canyon.
All in all, well, duh...everybody knew, for thousands of years, that the universe is bigger than them.
Grand Hotel (1932)
Rate:
6
Viewed:
8/13
8/13:
The Best Picture Winner of 1932, Grand Hotel, is dated, but it can be charming at times.
With the exception of Greta Garbo who certainly overacts, the performances are very good. What I love is the
wonderful cinematography by Cedric Gibbons. There are times when the movie will lose momentum and then comes along a
thrilling chain of shots to jumpstart it. Such examples are, but not limited to, the circle of six floors, the continually
revolving glass door, and the hotel guests walking through the front lobby.
Nothing sums up the film better than the famous quote by Lewis Stone's Two-Face Harvey: "Grand Hotel. People come,
people go. Nothing ever happens." It's exactly how I feel.
All in all, full of movie stars, Grand Hotel is a dated classic.
Grand Prix (1966)
Rate:
4
Viewed:
6/17
6/17:
From a spectator's point of view, motor racing is one of the most boring sports.
These cars go round and round for laps and laps...200, 300, 400 of them. My goodness, I can develop Alzheimer's by just
watching it all although it's obviously more fun to be a driver. Hence, there's no reason to recapture it in film. But
it's exactly what John Frankenheimer did for Grand Prix which is the Chariots of Fire of Formula One.
The worst part? It's three fucking hours long! Goddamn. John has to insert four soap opera storylines between the racing
scenes. They fail to keep up my interest. As the love subplots are underway, they're thus discarded after
two hours into the film, and I'm back to racing once more.
I facepalmed myself when I saw Toshirô Mifune speaking English, and I was like, "Eh?" He's just mouthing the words as
slowly as possible. That's so awkward to watch. It turns out all of his lines were dubbed by somebody else.
If Toshirô "I Shot Down 17 American Planes" Mifune was badly miscast and would wear samurai clothes(!) in some scenes, Eva
Marie Saint is even worse. She's too American to be involved with an international picture. The difference between
her and Yves Montand is night and day. He's too cool and foreign for her. Hence, it's embarrassing to watch Eva trying to be
on the same stage with Yves. Even Geneviève Page has her beat in presence and looks.
When I read the closing screen credits, I was surprised to see Antonio Sabàto's name. The movie was made in 1966, and he was
alive that far back? It turns out to be Antonio Sabàto's father. Now, I can see where he got his looks from, and his father
was actually more handsome. James Garner is merely okay, but I like him although his character's personality sucks. Everybody
else is bland as hell. Really, I had a hard time figuring out whom I was supposed to be rooting for, but Grand Prix
never made it clear.
Finally, we come to Steve McQueen. Grand Prix was his pet project that was going to be called Day of the Champion.
But he was stuck in Taiwan and Hong Kong for the filming of The Sand Pebbles which was originally scheduled for nine
weeks that got stretched to seven months. John Frankenheimer was literally in competition with John Sturges to get a racing
film first to the theatres. Eventually, Grand Prix was released and became a smashing success, forever shelving
Day of the Champion which led to Steve McQueen's refusal of speaking to James Garner for four years.
Steve McQueen thought of himself a real race driver and viewed his one-time co-star an outsider to the sport. To James Garner's
credit, he started to get more involved with auto racing right after Grand Prix and actually did his own driving
for the film including the scene when his car was caught on fire. So, it wouldn't be another five years that Steve McQueen
released his own racing film called Le Mans, but it turned out to be a huge box-office failure.
By the way, out of thirty-two professional race drivers that were involved with Grand Prix, ten died in racing
accidents within fifteen years of its initial release, showing how unforgving the sport is.
All in all, Grand Prix is no Days of Thunder as it's overlong, tedious, dated, and soapy.
The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
Rate:
10
Viewed:
2/17
2/17:
When I think of top ten films ever made, The Grapes of Wrath immediately comes to my mind.
I felt that way when I first saw it in the early 90's. It's just a fantastic movie. So is the book which won the Nobel Prize
for John Steinbeck who's universally acknowledged as the greatest American author of the 20th century. Also, it was my first
introduction to Henry Fonda whom I regard as one of the finest actors in cinema history. The characters he played have been
great champions of social justice, and Tom Joad is one of them.
Accompanying Henry Fonda are Jane Darwell and John Carradine. The former won the Oscar for Best
Supporting Actress as Ma Joad, and the latter, as Jim Casy, wasn't nominated for anything which is a shame. Just like the book,
The Grapes of Wrath is a historically important picture that depicts the great migration that was caused by the Dust
Bowl during the 30's, the class struggle between the haves and the have-nots, and workers' rights.
Here's a trivia that's taken from IMDb: "Prior to filming, producer Darryl F. Zanuck sent undercover investigators out to the
migrant camps to see if John Steinbeck had been exaggerating about the squalor and unfair treatment meted out there.
He was horrified to discover that, if anything, Steinbeck had actually downplayed what went on in the camps."
My favorite line is from Ma Joad when she said: "Rich fellas come up an' they die, an' their kids ain't no good
an' they die out. But we keep a'comin'. We're the people that live. They can't wipe us out; they can't lick us. We'll go on
forever, Pa, 'cause we're the people." That's actually true, and history has proven this many times.
There are many memorable scenes, with just about all of them with John Carradine, but one of
them is a classic which is the opening scene that ends with Tom Joad saying, "Homicide." Also, Gregg Toland took care of the
cinematography before moving on to Citizen Kane one year later.
All in all, it's impossible not to feel for the characters in The Grapes of Wrath.
Grave Indiscretion (1995)
Rate:
2
Viewed:
12/10
12/10:
I was hoping for a nice mystery murder flick through Grave Indiscretion.
Instead, my decision became...grave indiscretion. I gave up after half an hour because I was bored to tears. Then, I came back
to it one week later only to end up feeling tortured for trying to finish it. When Grave Indiscretion ended, I was
finally relieved.
Although I like the English feel, the plot is pointless, and the characters aren't worth caring about. One sure sign of the
producers knowing how much the movie sucks is the numerous title changes. Here they are for this: The Grotesque,
Gentlemen Don't Eat Poets, Grave Indiscretion, and, my favorite of them all, Perverso. On the positive
side, Sting isn't bad, but he can do better than this junk. By the way, women might be interested watching it since he's in
the nude.
All in all, Grave Indiscretion is a mess.
Grease (1978)
Rate:
10
Viewed:
12/04, 1/25
1/25:
Grease is among the best musicals of all time.
That's how the genre should be: tell a story while the music advances it. There's no question the filmmakers
had to have John Travolta as Danny Zuko because of his immense star power after what happened to
Saturday Night Fever. As a result, Paramount Studios got two smash
hits in a row.
I didn't know this until now that Grease originated as a stage production, having its first run
in Chicago during 1971 before relocating to New York City and London. The performances are outstanding, and I have
to give credit to some players for making the film better: Jeff Conaway, Stockard Channing, Didi Conn,
Sid Caesar, and Eve Arden as Kenickie, Rizzo, Frenchy, and the high school coach and principal,
respectively. Prior to being cast as Sandy, Olivia Newton-John barely did any acting in her life, so this
is the one she'll always be famously associated with.
What's impressive is the incorporations of stereotypical high school traits and fashions from the 50's that keep
reminding me of three films: Rebel Without a Cause,
American Graffiti, and
The Lord's of Flatbush. There are a lot of
references to pop culture, and the songs play a big part as well. Of course, it's nice to see Frankie
Avalon having a part for one musical number (Elvis Presley was considered for it, but he died a year earlier).
The most prominent negative of Grease is how old-looking everybody is for the high school setting
(Stockard Channing was 33 at the time!). But I will ignore this because it's so well-made.
Had they cast their younger counterparts, the movie wouldn't work. Also, it's not 100% pure because
of the occasional sex stuff. The third is the lack of diversity; save a black person here and there,
everybody is so white with some Italians littered throughout.
During one scene, I was concerned about the guys jumping on and off the cars and thought
something bad could occur. Well, it's exactly what happened to Jeff Conaway while
dancing atop the car. As a result, he developed dependency on painkiller medications to treat his back injury
before progressing to harder drugs. After Grease, he found a second life in the TV show
Taxi, but he was gone by Season Four due to his spiraling drug abuse. He would die in 2011 at age 60. By
the way, in the film, Jeff Conaway gave Stockard Channing the hickeys for real.
All in all, unfairly dismissed by the Academy Awards, Grease will always stand the test of time.
Great Balls of Fire! (1989)
Rate:
8
Viewed:
3/06, 6/16
3/06:
Featuring an electrifying performance by Dennis Quaid as Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire! is a sensationally
fun movie that has the same vibe as Grease.
I can't say enough about Dennis Quaid. He's over the top but in a brilliant way like never before.
Thus, he got robbed of an Oscar nomination. The musical performances with him lip-syncing Jerry Lee Lewis'
songs are inspiring and rousing, making me want to get into the action. There's one scene that's among the best ever
when Dennis Quaid sets the piano on fire as the audience is going nuts.
Movies about music such as La Bamba, Hustle & Flow, That Thing You Do!,
The Doors, and CB4
tend to take the Horatio Alger route which is the primary reason why many of them have been successful, making it easy for the
audience to root for the lead character. Looking back, Great Balls of Fire! is probably the best of the bunch because
it's lot of fun and hip.
Winona Ryder gives a rare performance that I can say she's a good actress. Alec Baldwin gives his best as Jimmy Swaggart
who's a real life cousin of Jerry Lee Lewis. He'll be embroiled in sex scandals during the late 80's and early 90's,
resulting in an infamous but hilariously funny tearful "I have sinned" apology. Although the characters are wacky most of the
time, there's a nice touch of seriousness when things start falling apart for Jerry Lee Lewis.
All in all, thanks to Dennis Quaid's spontaneous performance, Great Balls of Fire! is a fun rock 'n' roll picture
about Jerry Lee Lewis.
6/16:
My favorite Dennis Quaid performance is when he played Jerry Lee Lewis in Great Balls of Fire!, a fun, catchy rock
'n' roll picture about the Killer himself.
An exhilarating scene is when Jerry Lee Lewis set the piano on fire. The film is surprisingly true
to the story of the meteoric rise and fall of Jerry Lee Lewis' career although he'll have a successful resurgence.
Becoming a member of the very first class inducted for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, Jerry Lee Lewis is still
alive and kicking at the age of 80 years old, having outlived all of his peers except for Chuck Berry.
All in all, it's always enjoyable to see Dennis Quaid amping it up in Great Balls of Fire!
The Great Dictator (1940)
Rate:
1
Viewed:
5/11
5/11:
Damn...Charlie the Idiot was at it again: making more junk films.
The Great Dictator is one of them which is done in bad taste. John Waters fully knew what he was doing when he did
Pink Flamingos and didn't have to care about the public reaction. But this one was actually created for the mainstream.
Charlie Chaplin had done a great job of insulting the Jewish population. I can imagine after surviving
the Holocaust, they grabbed some beers and laughed uproariously at The Great Dictator. Of course, Charlie said
he made the film to create awareness. Well, it didn't do anything for world peace or whatever the hell it was that he
was trying to accomplish. So...an epic fail!
Finally, I wanted to know what Hitler thought of it, but sadly, his reaction was never recorded. Perhaps Hitler
secretly wished Charlie Chaplin was put in death camp, so he could repeatedly watch videos of him being tortured.
The weak, corny speech at the end left my head spinning. I always knew Charlie Chaplin had the mind of a
5-year-old child. The only part that worked for me was when he played with the beach ball that was included
in the trailer which initially suckered me into seeing the film.
All in all, I can't tell who's worse: Charlie Chaplin or Adolf Hitler.
The Great Escape (1963)
Rate:
10
Viewed:
3/07, 6/11
3/07:
The Great Escape.
There's nothing like it. By far one of the most thrilling made, it has all I can possibly want in a film. Steve McQueen's
performance as Captain Virgil Hilts, aka The Cooler King, cements his status as an international superstar because of the
motorcycle scenes. Who can forget the iconic jump at the end?
Although it's three hours long, The Great Escape is one of the fastest movies I've seen. The chemistry of the all-star
cast, the story, and the dramatic escape are the reasons behind the quick pace. Personally, my favorite character is Hendley,
who's played wonderfully by James Garner, and he's handsome and resourceful while sporting a great-looking white sweater.
All in all, one of the most thrilling pictures made, The Great Escape is an undeniable cinema classic.
6/11:
Once again, there's nothing like The Great Escape.
It's one of the greatest movies ever made. Although the performances are impressive, it's Steve McQueen who makes an
unforgettable impression. There's something that makes him a unique actor. That's why he became a bona fide
superstar, thanks to the motorcycle scenes. According to Steve McQueen: A Biography, it took John Sturges thirteen
years to bring his pet project to the silver screen due to repeated rejections by MGM.
Well, the timing is perfect for Steve McQueen to make the iconic jump.
Historically, only three out of seventy-six escapees made to England while fifty had been summarily executed after
getting caught. The escape played a role in making the Allied invasion of Normandy possible on D-Day (June 6, 1944) because
the Nazi officers were distracted by the situation.
All in all, The Great Escape is an all-time great movie.
Great Expectations (1946)
Rate:
5
Viewed:
8/24
8/24:
Great Expectations is routinely included in Great Films lists, but it has left me...unimpressed.
I don't see what the big deal is. Yes, David Lean made outstanding pictures like
The Bridge on the River Kwai and
Lawrence of Arabia, but there's nothing special about this one.
It's a routine story with underdeveloped characters and 40's flavor with none of the epicness as the title seems to
indicate.
Probably the biggest letdown is the relationship between Pip and Estella. The former basically forces it while the
latter is nothing more than a spoiled brat with no redeemable qualities.
My favorite part is when the fire was
started. The curtains...all that unbelievable amount of dust...I wondered how nobody got sick from that for years.
At least, it's interesting to see the young-looking Alec Guinness and Jean Simmons, but John Mills was too old to play Pip.
All in all, Great Expectations is absolutely mediocre.
The Great Gatsby (1974)
Rate:
10
Viewed:
2/08
2/08:
Having been forced to read The Great Gatsby in high school and then again later on my own, I never really understood
its appeal.
So, I finally decided to see the cinematic version. I like the movie a lot, and it's everything I imagined the book to
be but better. Mia Farrow is very good as Daisy Buchanan. Robert Redford is perfect as Jay Gatsby. Bruce Dern gives
a wonderful performance as Tom Buchanan. Sam Waterston is well...Sam Waterston. Everybody else toes the line to keep up with
the main stars.
Although the film appears ambitious, the message is effective and subtle and comes across to me more clearly than the book
did. However, the principal characters are vapid and not worth caring about just like the book. To
illustrate this point, there are two scenes in either version that say it all what The Great Gatsby is about. The first
is when Daisy said she had never seen beautiful shirts like Gatsby's and thus had an orgasmic moment when the shirts were
thrown up in the air. The second is when Nick suddenly realized it's his birthday and I was like, "Huh?"
Many highlights are the Roaring Twenties costumes, the opulent cinematography, and the lavish interior sets.
I'm a firm believer of the adage: "Less is more." But for The Great Gatsby, why not go all out? And they just do.
All in all, The Great Gatsby is an underrated film that stays highly faithful but brings more meaning than the novel.
The Great Outdoors (1988)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
5/04, 4/07
4/07:
My favorite moment of The Great Outdoors which describes Roman and Chet the best when they have a moment
to take a look at the pristine landscape before them.
Roman begins to describe his vision: "I tell you what I see when I look out there. I see the undeveloped resources of
Minnesota, Northern Wisconsin, and Michigan. I see a syndicated development consortium exploiting over a billion and a half
dollars in forest products.
I see a paper mill and—if the strategic metals are there—a mining operation. A
greenbelt between the condos on the lake and a waste management facility focusing on the newest rage in toxic waste:
medical refuse. Infected bandages, body parts, IV tubing, contaminated glassware, entrails, syringes, fluids, blood,
low grade radioactive waste all safely contained sunken in the lake and sealed for centuries. Now I ask you, what do you see?"
Chet answers, "I, uh, I just see trees." The Great Outdoors is another memorable John Candy picture. Having Dan Aykroyd
on board is an extra treat. Although there are lots of laughs generated by John Candy and Dan Aykroyd, there are too
few from everybody else. Also, there are other faults that stick out like a sore thumb:
One, I don't like the boy-girl summer romance which detracts too much from the fun of watching John Candy and Dan
Aykroyd to ham it up. Two, there's weak character development among the children, most especially the two girls who seem
to be from outer space. Three, Annette Bening doesn't have the knack for comedy, hence the necessity of limited screen
time for her. Four, I find it weird to learn so much about Roman but little when it comes to everybody else.
All in all, despite the shortcomings, there are many funny scenes in The Great Outdoors that have made me laugh hard.
The Great Santini (1979)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
5/06, 2/17
5/06:
Although Robert Duvall turns in an excellent performance, The Great Santini resembles a series of unconnected TV
episodes.
When I say "unconnected," look no further than the murder of the black boy. The son being apathetic keeps reminding
me of Ordinary People. Strangely, he's a Timothy Hutton look-alike whose personality traits are similar to Conrad
in many ways. As a matter of fact, Timothy Hutton auditioned for the role of Ben Meechum but didn't win the part.
All in all, I have to watch The Great Santini again for further assessment.
2/17:
What a performance by Robert Duvall.
It's a great role for him, leading to an Oscar nomination. Michael O'Keefe was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor.
I can say he's the original Timothy Hutton, yet Timothy won the Oscar for Ordinary People during the same year.
In fact, he auditioned for the role, but Michael O'Keefe ended up getting it.
There are many memorable scenes, and the most interesting of them is the varsity basketball game when the son
was ordered by his father to put down his opponent. It's hard for me to say whether the Great Santini is an overall bad person,
but he's a perfect example of an abusive military father. I think it's a matter of him needing to be deprogrammed in order to
let go his thinking patterns and try to be a normal person in the societal sense because he has a lot of love to offer for his
family. But what gets in the way is his drinking problem.
Oh, here's a movie trivia that's so Great Santini-like which is taken from IMDb: "On the morning of the Academy Award
nominations in 1981, when the movie got nods for actor and supporting actor, author Pat Conroy received a phone call from
his father who told him, 'You and me got nominated for Academy Awards, your mother didn't get squat.'"
Notice the big South Carolina house in the film? It's the same one used for The Big Chill.
David Keith makes his film debut, playing the red-haired bully, and Blythe Danner, who plays the Great Santini's wife, is
Gwyneth Paltrow's mother.
All in all, Robert Duvall is truly the Great Santini.
The Great Train Robbery (1978)
Rate:
6
Viewed:
12/10
12/10:
Having read the book that was written by Michael Crichton, The Great Train Robbery is a fairly interesting picture.
However, I like the book better. Easily, the best feature is the Victorian England scenery which is the biggest
reason for my sustained interest from start to finish. Sean Connery and Donald Sutherland aren't too bad themselves, and
I've enjoyed their presence.
The most amazing scene is when Sean Connery is atop a moving train which looks breathtakingly real because he did
it himself. An awesome part is Wayne Sleep, as Clean Willy, performing his own stunts, especially for the frightening
scaling of the huge vertical wall at Newgate Prison.
What's keen is the demonstration of copying keys which was memorably a big thing in the book. Now, thanks to the film, I
finally figured out what the word "snakeman" meant. But I question the idea of Clean Willy climbing through the hole of
the room where the two keys are located and opening the door for the waxman. I think it'll be easier if
the latter can teach the former how to make an impression in wax rather than the other way around.
Anyway, I feel The Great Train Robbery is a bit banal because of the need to obtain four keys. Ultimately,
Mission: Impossible with Tom Cruise, which is more exciting and fresh,
will render it outdated due to both films having the same premise along with the train stunt toward the end.
What I remember the most about the book is the coffin that's fastened with a bell. It's included in the film which
must be the first time ever. Many viewers probably won't understand all of that although it's explained very well
in the book. Basically, during the 18th and 19th century, because of the cholera outbreak, there was a fear of people being
buried alive. So, when a dead person was placed inside the coffin, there's a possiblity of him ringing the bell to prevent
that. Of course, the whole thing is impossible to believe because it never happened. So, that's superstition to
you. Nevertheless, it's interesting.
All in all, it's nice to see the film version of The Great Train Robbery as it brings good memories from the book.
The Great White Hope (1970)
Rate:
3
Viewed:
6/25
6/25:
I thought I would see spectacular acting from James Earl Jones in The Great White Hope, but it never
happened.
Instead, I'm treated to a very boring, talky staged play about some black dude by the name of Jack Jefferson
that's mostly focused on why it's a sin he has a white wife. That's all. Oh, yeah...boxing occurs about 5%
of the time. When it's shown, there's not much...just the audience surrounding the ring.
Oscar nominations were given out to James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander? I didn't see anything special. All
they did was talk, argue, and kiss. It's very theatrical, having run on Broadway for 546 performances from
October 3, 1968, to January 31, 1970. Because of the play, it brought stardom to James Earl Jones and Jane
Alexander for the first time.
The movie is about Jack Johnson, the first black boxer to win the heavyweight world title? Hardly that.
Otherwise, I would see a lot of beatings and infidelities. His wife killed herself with a gun, not throwing
herself into the well. The movie captures at most a couple of years in Jack Johnson's life; it might as well use
fictional people and be more broad in coverage like The Hurricane.
All in all, The Great White Hope belongs in the theater.
The Great White Hype (1996)
Rate:
6
Viewed:
7/21
7/21:
The Great White Hype is stupid, funny, and perfect as a Samuel L. Jackson vehicle.
Instead of a shocked-by-an-electric-jolt hairdo, Samuel L. Jackson dons a turban for the Don King role. At one point,
he meets Vincent Vega, who asks for Jules of Pulp Fiction. Then again, how can Vincent be alive since
he was gunned down on the toilet?
Much of the premise is based on the 1982 boxing match between Gerry Cooney and Larry Holmes. Setting off a racially charged
promotion of which Gerry didn't appreciate, Don King called him "The Great White Hope" since there hadn't been a Caucasian
heavyweight champion in twenty-three years when Swede Ingemar Johansson emerged victorious over Floyd Patterson.
Of course, the outcome of the fight is predictably how it happened for Mike Tyson and Peter McNeeley which was
the biggest scam in the pay-per-view sports telecast history. People paid fifty bucks only to see the match to end in mere
seconds after blinking a few times.
All in all, The Great White Hype isn't far from the truth when it comes to the boxing scene during the 90's
which eventually did in the sport.
The Greatest (1977)
Rate:
8
Viewed:
4/25
4/25:
Who could play Muhammad Ali in a film about himself?
The answer is nobody other than Muhammad Ali. I remember when ESPN ran a rubbish contest to find out who the
best North America athlete was of the 20th century. It turned out to be Michael Jordan. They did another
version and came up with Bo Jackson. Wrong on both counts, and it's not even close.
Muhammad Ali went against some of the best boxers his heavyweight division could offer: Sonny Liston,
Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Floyd Patterson, and Ken Norton. He beat nearly all twice, and they weren't
easy fights. In a couple of bouts, he was a huge underdog, and nobody gave him a chance, especially
against George Foreman (see the documentary When We Were Kings).
Let's not forget that Muhammad Ali lost four years of his prime when he refused to be drafted into the U.S. Army
(he was 25 years old when that happened), causing him to lose the first professional boxing match of his
career to Joe Frazier afterwards.
Between one and two billion TV viewers worldwide watched some of Muhammad Ali's fights in live. Can you name
another athlete, or anybody else at all, with that kind of pull? His trash-talking is legendary.
Funny, outlandish, and unique, nobody ever spoke like that, even in a rhyming pattern with zero profanity, or
declared emerging victorious before the event had started. He almost always made good on them, and
remember...his opponents were very tough fighters, some of the best ever: Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, and
George Foreman.
Apart from being a pioneer in hip hop, paving the way to rap, Muhammad Ali made other firsts. When he agreed
to a bizarre match with Antonio Inoki, it was the beginning of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). On January 19, 1981,
cops had tried for hours to prevent a suicidal man from jumping from a high-rise building but to no avail, and
people down there were yelling at him to do it already. Muhammad Ali's friend just happened to be there, saw
what was going on, and decided to get the boxer to come over. So he did and was successful in talking the
suicide man out of it in mere minutes. This changed everything in terms of how to handle such situations
because it would lead to other copycats in wanting to talk to famous people as part of their demands.
So, yes...Muhammad Ali was the greatest North America athlete of the 20th century. There was nobody like him,
especially in terms of worldwide impact. Michael Jordan wasn't in his league; it's just marketing campaign,
thanks to Nike. I would say Michael Jackson was far more popular than him. Bo Jackson? Yeah, right...his
professional career barely lasted long, and he was more of a wimp when it came to dealing with injuries in
the NFL.
While watching The Greatest, I thought the story was interesting, but a lot of it is made up,
including the moment that Muhammad Ali threw his gold medal over the bridge, and omits important
details, especially when it comes to the bad stuff. That's part of his showsmanship. One couldn't tell if
he was joking or being serious or somewhere in between. However, there's no denying his larger-than-life
personality.
Whenever Muhammad Ali is in the same scene with other Oscar winners and nominees like Ernest Borgnine,
Robert Duvall, James Earl Jones, Ben Johnson, Paul Winfield, and John Marley, these guys are fake actors
compared to the legendary boxer who had accomplished so much. And yep, that's Drew Bundini Brown playing
himself, and he was responsible for coming up with a lot of stuff that Muhammad Ali would eventually say.
I would've liked to see Malcolm X playing himself, but he was assassinated in 1965. At least, there's no
Howard Cosell; I hated that fucking weasel who thought he was special by hanging around the boxer.
As great as Muhammad Ali was, he was, in truth, a hypocrite. Claiming to believe in peace and love and labelling
himself the people's champion, he was a fighter who often talked about destroying men and called some of them,
most especially Joe Frazier who was a decent person, "Uncle Tom," a follower of the criminal
organization called Nation of Islam that preached segregation and hate against white people, a serial
adulterer who cheated on his three wives (he met them when they were underage or barely so) and impregnated
many women, and an absentee father.
All in all, The Greatest is a largely fascinating hagiographic picture, thanks to Muhammad Ali
playing himself.
The Green Berets (1968)
Rate:
4
Viewed:
3/16
3/16:
You can watch the fat, old John Wayne, a WWII draft dodger, kill Viet Cong in The Green Berets, a film that's
often regarded as the first film on the Vietnam War.
Unfortunately, the whole thing is bland and runs far too long. I've no idea what's going on in most scenes. Characters come and
go, but I can't remember their names or faces except for George Takei because of his Star Trek connection. That's why
Platoon is such a great picture because of so many memorable characters; I can even remember their names to this day.
All I see is John Wayne acting like a director by telling his men to get in position. Also, he went so far to request military
assistance to create lots of fireworks of which he did get. Many Vietnam vets have lambasted The Green Berets for being
inaccurate in details. A reviewer from IMDb explains it well:
"The war was all heat and sweat and dirt and bugs—we were all down sick with something mostly. I never got to see the
enemy up close alive, they were just blurs through the bush. Sometimes I didn't even look at them, I just pulled the trigger
and hoped I kept breathing. The locals hated us—even those who wanted us to stay and fight for them, so they wouldn't
have to do it themselves. They kept trying to sell us cheap dope, cheap girls, and rancid meat, telling us it was 'local
cooking.' It was clear that, behind their fear of us, their [sic] was a real contempt. The first three months, I thought I
was fighting for my country; then all I was fighting for was to get home."
Psst, John...the sun sets in the west, you fucking racist idiot.
All in all, I had expected to laugh a lot while watching The Green Berets, but I came away bored to tears.
Green Card (1990)
Rate:
4
Viewed:
6/25
6/25:
Green Card is a romantic comedy?
Hm, I didn't feel much of either. Peter Weir's writing isn't witty or screwball enough with a
lot of bland scenes. When the ending came with Brontë (Andie MacDowell) showing love for Georges (Gérard
Depardieu), it wasn't credible. She's more like, "Oh, all right...let's make believe for five minutes." By the
way, her reason to be married is extremely stupid. Why she couldn't do that with Phil is never explained.
It's Gérard Depardieu's first Hollywood picture after making his mark in France and then Europe. Whatever the
negatives have been, it's not his fault but rather Andie MacDowell's. They're a mismatch. She's too uptight
and standoffish for Gérard Depardieu to stretch his range spontaneously. It's easy to tell he was more
comfortable with Bebe Neuwirth by being on the same wavelength.
This green card stuff is weird. I understand the marriage stuff and so on, but a white Frenchman? There
shouldn't be any issues. How about replacing Gérard Depardieu with somebody from Rwanda, Somalia,
or Chezhen? Now, that'll be a challenge. I can't imagine the need to memorize so many aspects about the
significant other, and I'm sure some of them are still a total mystery.
All in all, Andie MacDowell was the wrong choice for Gérard Depardieu in Green Card.
The Greene Murder Case (1929)
Rate:
8
Viewed:
7/25
7/25:
The Greene Murder Case is the second picture of the Philo Vance franchise.
However, the case is impossible to solve because the amateur sleuth withheld a lot of clues until the end, so
it's disappointing this way. I wasn't sure if he understood spoken German. Also, if I could read the crime
books on the shelf, that would help, too.
At first, I suspected the mother and Ada but had no idea of the true nature of the former's legs. Eventually,
it was confirmed during autopsy. Gee, thanks for the easy way out. I wonder what everybody would do if she
were still alive. That left Ada, and I had to wait to hear the rest of the evidence implicating her from Philo
Vance.
I like the last fifteen minutes because of the strong black-and-white photography. The mood is certainly
spooky, thanks to the murders that kept happening in the house. Jean Arthur is better this time, but William
Powell is less of Philo Vance compared to how he was in
The Canary Murder Case. At least, he has a good working
relationship with Eugene Pallette who plays Heath.
All in all, although not as excellent as The Canary Murder Case,
The Greene Murder Case is a nice, fun murder mystery film.
Gregory's Girl (1980)
Rate:
4
Viewed:
6/14
6/14:
The fancy-sounding title Gregory's Girl seems to indicate quality.
Unfortunately, it's anything but. In fact, the movie is boring to sit through. I eye-rolled a lot throughout.
At the beginning, I noticed how quirky the characters were. After a while of figuring out the hook, I began to realize
that's all the film had going for it: quirks. Instead of substantive scenes, it's been one quirk to next to move things along.
The characters are not interesting. Oddly, one of them, especially when he opens his mouth, shows an uncanny
resemblance to Kevin Bacon. The girl isn't much of a looker; in fact, everybody is ugly.
All in all, the moral of Gregory's Girl is: quirks alone aren't enough.
Gridlock'd (1997)
Rate:
6
Viewed:
1/18
1/18:
A couple of talented actors, Tim Roth and Tupac Shakur, team up to make a comedy for Gridlock'd, and the results
are above average.
There are funny moments, good points made especially about the welfare system, and solid acting bits here and there, but
the movie fails to be consistent in quality. I've tried to suspend my disbelief for a long time, but there's absolutely no way
a full-blown chain-smoking heroin addict can run hard for more than a minute and not drop dead of a heart attack afterwards.
Tupac Shakur would be murdered at age 25 four months before the film's release along with two more in the wings:
Bullet
and Gang Related. Given his sketchy history of run-ins with the law, I admit that he was a good actor with magnetic
personality, having the potential to give a standout performance that will be remembered for a long time. Somewhere in
Gridlock'd is a cameo appearance of the brilliant writer-director John Sayles as a police officer. So, enjoy him while you can.
All in all, making something out of nothing, Tim Roth and Tupac Shakur are the sole reasons to watch Gridlock'd.
The Grifters (1990)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
8/03, 1/18
1/18:
The last time I saw The Grifters, I gave it a '2' probably because it had no plot to speak of.
My opinion is better now. It's an interesting neo-noir picture although it lacks a fully developed plot. All three,
John Cusack, Anjelica Huston, and Annette Bening, are excellent with the last two garnering Oscar nominations. I have to say
it's the best performance of John Cusack's career although I don't think of him as a great actor who has a tendency to
play his characters the same way.
The ending is totally unexpected. I think it's sad given how much Lilly Dillon was allegedly in love with his son but favored
money more. Perhaps that's her ulterior motive for hooking up with him again after so many years of no contact.
The grift bit with horse racing for Lilly is still not clear to me, especially when she pooled other people's tickets.
To come to think of it, why would Lilly be counting that much money in broad daylight at the racetrack parking lot? It's not
believable for the slightest bit.
All in all, The Grifters is more of a performance-driven than a story-driven picture while sporting a lovely but tough
neo-noir look.
Grips, Grunts and Groans (1937)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
12/07
12/07:
Overcoming the slow start, Grips, Grunts and Groans is a delightful short film that ends on a positive note
It has many good jokes that have made me laugh.
All in all, Grips, Grunts and Groans might be the funniest Stooges picture I've seen so far.
Gross Anatomy (1989)
Rate:
8
Viewed:
12/13
12/13:
I had seen Gross Anatomy in clips on TV many years ago because I kept getting into the middle of it whenever I flipped
the channels.
Finally, I was able to watch it from start to finish for the first time. What impresses me is how mature the film
is in regard to the serious study of medicine. I'm taken through the arduous journey of medical school in terms of academic
work, giving me an idea how hard and difficult it is for many future doctors. That's why I have a lot of respect for them.
There are nice human moments, especially with Joe Slovak and Dr. Woodruff.
However, there are two negatives that have left me dismayed. One is the romance between Joe and Laurie which is a distraction.
It's not that I mind, but there's already a compelling story going on. The filmmakers should've focused on it wholly.
Two is the brief insight into the first-year studies. I'll like to see the film progressing more until the end of
medical school and then residency while showing growth of the characters.
All in all, Gross Anatomy is a rare film that shows what medical school is like.
Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)
Rate:
1
Viewed:
2/15
2/15:
The trouble with John Cusack is he plays the same character over and over.
He also has no versatility and tends to rely on his blank stare which are pissholes in the snow (thanks, Michael Caine,
for that). Hence, Grosse Pointe Blank is another failed comedy in John Cusack's oeuvre. It's a 107-minute picture
that's much ado about nothing.
My patience was tested so many times that I had to pause the movie to take a break. There's nothing appealing about Minnie
Driver, no matter how curly her hair is. She and John have no chemistry together. And don't get me started with Joan Cusack
whom I hate very much. Dan Aykroyd is obviously miscast, and Alan Arkin can do better than this trash.
The assassin angle never captured my interest, so I turned to the high school reunion for any hope in salvaging the film which
ultimately proved to be equally disappointing. What's ironic was that the filmmakers chose Grosse Pointe, Michigan, for the
setting given it's a notorious sundown town.
Considering everything that had gone wrong gives me enough justification to declare Grosse Pointe Blank one of the
worst films I've ever seen. It tries hard to be either the next Pulp Fiction, John Hughes high school picture,
or 90's comedy with an 80's feel. None of them works.
All in all, Grosse Pointe Blank isn't quirky, fun, or hip; it's just boring.
Groundhog Day (1993)
Rate:
8
Viewed:
7/08
7/08:
Groundhog Day has an ingenuous gimmick that separates itself from the pack of romantic comedy pictures.
Bill Murray selects a role which describes him the best: smug, funny, arrogant, and irresistible. Andie MacDowell once again
is flawless and a darling as Rita. Chris Elliot and Stephen Tobolowsky are superb. Rick Ducommun makes a cameo appearance.
The concept might have been tedious after a while. Yet the best part is that the movie is consistently funny while never
running out of gas. Director Harold Ramis has done a good job in this respect.
Despite Phil Connors' smugness and arrogance, he becomes a likable character in the long run, and I've started to root for
him midway. However, there's a small problem. Every event is dependent on timing of the moment. Phil Connors
can be one second, one minute, or twenty minutes early, or he can be five seconds, six minutes, or one hour late before the
event happens, but I'll overlook it.
All in all, Groundhog Day remains a memorable picture for going through the same day over, over, over, and over.
The Grudge (2004)
Rate:
2
Viewed:
3/08
3/08:
So, that's it?
The Grudge is basically The Ring meets The Amityville Horror. Sarah Michelle Gellar is too old for
the part as she looks closer to a 40-year-old mother than a 21-year-old college student.
I'm unable to get used to the idea of Americans cast in a film that happens to take place in Japan. So, why not make
The Grudge with an all-Japanese cast? Most of the scare-'em effects fall flat because I can see them coming a mile
away. Speaking of the haunted house, why not burn it down?
All in all, The Grudge has the feel of "all right everybody, let's go...there's nothing to see here."
The Grudge 2 (2006)
Rate:
2
Viewed:
3/08
3/08:
There should be a felony charge for making a pointless sequel, and that's what happened for The Grudge 2.
Although the first half looks somewhat fresher than the original, the second half goes back to the basics, undermining the
film as a whole.
Once again, the plot isn't the central focus but the series of cheap scare-'em moments that is. The franchise will only die
if the studio fails to rake in money from the sequels. To make it happen is not to purchase a ticket or a DVD copy.
All in all, just like the original, there's nothing new to discover in The Grudge 2.
Guadalcanal Diary (1943)
Rate:
2
Viewed:
2/25
2/25:
Guadalcanal Diary will have to be treated as a propaganda film.
Almost everything shown isn't what happened. The Guadalcanal campaign, which ran from August 7, 1942, and
February 9, 1943, was among the most brutal of WWII with tens of thousands of casualties on both sides due to
fierce fighting put up by the Japanese, especially during nights, that often bordered on suicidal. Hundreds
of ships and aircrafts were destroyed as well.
After the Japanese gave up due to not being able to match America's industry and manpower, they were pretty
much on the defense in the Pacific until the end of the war. There's no mention of how bad the whole place
smelled and the dysentery and malaria inflicted on the soldiers who also had to put up with crocodiles,
tropical heat, and continuous rain. Today, there are some live bombs left around the Solomon Islands, and
people have been inadvertently killed by stepping on them.
Instead, people talk and talk in Guadalcanal Diary despite the semi-strong cast consisting of Anthony
Quinn, Richard Conte, Lloyd Nolan, William Bendix, Preston Foster, Lionel Stander, and Richard Jaeckel who looks
quite young, being 16 years old at the time. My viewing experience is made worse by the annoying narration. There
are barely any fighting and some unbelievable moments like Anthony Quinn successfully escaping the Japanese to
swim at the beach and Lloyd Nolan standing up in open view to carry Richard Jaeckel. William Bendix keeps ruining
the seriousness by providing lame humor. That's why Platoon worked by striking a
perfect balance between dialogue and the realities of infantry combat.
All in all, Guadalcanal Diary is too talky and watered down to be taken seriously.
Guarding Tess (1994)
Rate:
1
Viewed:
6/25
6/25:
I hate Shirley MacLaine with passion.
Because of Nicolas Cage, I've tried to see the positive in Guarding Tess, but Shirley MacLaine is so
overpowering that it's among the worst films I've seen in my life. Her character makes me sick
and is simply a waste of resources and money. The situations she creates are befitting of a ten-year-old crybaby.
The story is stupid that's made especially so in the last twenty minutes. No one in the history of United
States has ever targeted a First Lady for assassination, let alone kidnapping. What's the point of that? She's
fucking useless. At the end, upon finding Shirley MacLaine explicably buried six feet under, Nicolas Cage
should've said, "Good! Let her. Now, my job is over, and I can go back to real life, the kind that matters."
Two producers said separately, "The humor of this film comes from rich, complex character," and "The
relationship is between two people you really do care about and have a good time with." Wrong-o! Imagine
Nancy Reagan, Hillary Clinton, or Jill Biden in Tess' place. Absolutely not...she should be shot in the head.
All in all, Guarding Tess belongs in the dumpster along with Shirley MacLaine.
Guess Who (2005)
Rate:
4
Viewed:
10/06
10/06:
Despite the indications that it's a family movie, Guess Who is littered with many profane words and graphic conversations about sex.
It has numerous subplots, leaving me feeling incomplete. Also, the characters are not fully developed. Thus, I'm not clear as
to what Simon does for a living or why he quit his job. There's no follow-up of the situation between Jamal and Simon.
A lot of time has been wasted in dealing with race before everybody gives up on it. Thereafter, the movie is better which
has comedic elements, but they're never laugh-out funny.
All in all, Guess Who has neither the originality nor the creativity of
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, hence the truncated title.
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)
Rate:
10
Viewed:
3/16, 5/19
3/16:
Because of its willingness to tackle racial intermarriage, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner is one of the most powerful
films made.
The performances rendered by Sidney Poitier, Katharine Houghton, Spencer Tracy (who comically wears eyeglasses with no lenses),
and Katharine Hepburn make it a transcendent film. The latter deserved the Oscar for her spirited, moving performance; she
did believe in the material and thus gave it all she had. Katharine never saw the picture due to her inability to handle the
memories of Spencer Tracy's failing health. Appearing in the final film of a long, great career, Tracy died seventeen
days after completion.
The discussions carried out by the characters are so interesting that it's hard not to be fascinated. Putting Spencer Tracy's
character on the spot for his longtime steadfast attitude in favor of interracial marriage is the best part
because it's the moment of truth to find out whether or not he's a hypocrite since it's his white daughter who will be
married to a black man.
Yet I wonder what would have happened if John Prentice wasn't so perfect and eminent. I guess we'll never know.
Rather, my biggest issue is how long he and fiancée had known each other. Of course, it's the point: to decide quickly in a
matter of hours by forcing everybody to answer the truth with no wall to back up on.
All in all, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner is a powerful classic that's laden with exceptional performances.
5/19:
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner is the fitting end of Spencer Tracy's glorious career as he'll pass away just days
after the completion of filming.
Just as powerful as it was in 1967, the movie still resonates. Back then, interracial marriage was illegal in
many states. Today, it's commonplace.
Scores of critics have missed the point: Sidney Poitier's character is supposed to be so perfect that the only concerning
issue is his skin color. Nabbing her second Oscar win of four, Katharine Hepburn sure looks moved by all of it.
Her niece Katharine Houghton is superb as the lively daughter-fiancée who only knows happiness.
All in all, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner is a timeless classic.
Guilty as Sin (1993)
Rate:
6
Viewed:
12/12
12/12:
Don Johnson is so cool that he can smoke a billion of cigarettes and still look great tanned.
Don Johnson is so cool that he can kill people without breaking a sweat, and he's so cool that he can get his head split
open after a spectacular fall. Guilty as Sin is directed by Sidney Lumet, and because of him, I had high
expectations prior to seeing it. Well, the film sort of reaches them yet comes out as a clunker due to the disappointing ending.
Not much happens at the end; Jennifer and David both fall out of the building, he dies, and the female lawyer survives. And
it's over...just like that. Rebecca De Mornay, of course, looks hot for a lawyer and is too cool to play one.
Hmm, I think the word "cool" is being overused here, and that's the problem with the film. There's too much
coolness and confidence, so am I supposed to believe people can do this easily when it comes to murder? Anyway, I like
the casting of Jack Warden, but much more can be done with his character.
All in all, Don Johnson (mostly) and Rebecca De Mornay make Guilty as Sin entirely watchable.
Guilty by Association (2003)
Rate:
1
Viewed:
5/25
5/25:
Yep, I've been a victim of bait-and-switch.
The cover of Guilty by Association shows Morgan Freeman, and it looks like a serious crime drama à la
Seven and Kiss the Girls. Well, he
appears for the first three minutes, but the cheap video quality and title design have me mystified. Then, a bunch
of wannabe rappers take over, and the rest of the way is film school bullshit with totally improper police
procedures and an occasional appearance of Morgan Freeman to remind me that he's still around.
What the hell? Afterwards, I checked out the back cover, and it said, "When gang wars spin out of control in
downtown Washington, D.C., one man steps into the battlefield to hunt down a ruthless killer." Really? But
nothing like that happened in the film. "Innocent victims are caught in the cross fire and it's up to one man,
Police Lieutenant Redding (Morgan Freeman), to take matters into his own hands and stop the needless deaths
before it's too late." Double really? Wake me up when he has. The tagline is apropos, and I should've heeded
it: "Sometimes first instincts are wrong."
Many reviewers felt enraged for being hoodwinked and said the following: "You might think that Morgan Freeman,
one of the better actors there is, should be a bit more selective when choosing scripts. This script uses his
name and face just to get sold," "I like Morgan Freeman, but this whole movie, and especially his supposed part
in it, is a fraud. I HATE gang-banger gibberish and subliterate street jargon, and that's all this movie is,"
"The doggie style scenes did it for my grown up daughter. It was the final straw in an already straw-ridden
catastrophe," and "All that can be concluded from this poor effort is that Morgan Freeman must have owed someone
a BIG favor."
All in all, the proper title should be Guilty by False Marketing.
Guilty by Suspicion (1991)
Rate:
8
Viewed:
10/14
10/14:
An actor can be considered great if he gives a believable performance without altering his face, gaining or losing weight,
or donning a mask and costume.
That's exactly what Robert De Niro did for Guilty by Suspicion. He's such a natural performer. Anyway, it's also an
interesting picture about a dark period in America's history, thanks to the idiot who started it all: Joseph McCarthy.
To me, "Communism" is a made-up word that politicians used to advance their careers. It made some of them famous including
Richard Nixon, Roy Cohn, JFK, and J. Edgar Hoover. Eventually, their fall became spectacular, earning themselves a place
among the worst Americans ever. Why do you think Jane Wyman divorced Ronald Reagan who was a failed actor? It's because he
was a champion fighter who was hell-bent on rooting the Communists out of Hollywood. Ronald was probably thinking
of his political ambitions secretly, and of course, he became U.S. President.
The insidious political machine through the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) impacted people in Hollywood,
effectively killing off their careers. It also carved villains out of some reluctant people, most notably Elia Kazan,
who were backed into a corner. In hindsight, whatever happened to the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment? I guess the
Constitution of the United States is not worth the paper it's printed on. Not that it's important whether or not a person is a
Communist, but it's a lot more important that he has the right to be a Communist.
All in all, Guilty by Suspicion is a fast, insightful, and enjoyable picture that uncovers a dark period in
American history.
Gummo (1997)
Rate:
8
Viewed:
6/07, 4/15
6/07:
Gummo is like a breath of fresh air.
It lacks none of the drivel that's typical of Hollywood pictures. There are people who look so bizarrely unusual and
different that they're mostly hidden away for the fear of being ridiculed or stared at. So, if I see them on the street,
what am I supposed to feel...hatred? But what for?
The first time I heard of Harmony Korine, whose name can been easily mistaken for a female, is through
Kids, which is a
brilliantly directed picture by Larry Clark, and I wanted to see more of the same from him. So, that's how I came
across Gummo. Basically, there's no plot. It's just a series of images of how trailer trash people
live their lives day-to-day. In a calm way, it's like watching Pink Flamingos minus the gross stuff.
I once recall a short story of a butcher dropping a slab of meat on a dirty floor. A customer, upon seeing what happened,
decided to pick up the meat before taking it home gratis and cooking it for dinner. Is he conscious that the meat might be at all
tainted? The thought never occurs to him. In many ways, the characters are like that in Gummo; therefore,
I appreciate this kind of perspective through Harmony's eye. There's no explanation of right or wrong. It's what it is.
His usage of actual people, just like Kids, gives the film a genuine, unpretentious authenticity because there have been
times I've gotten fooled into thinking that these people might be real.
All in all, the harsh criticism levelled on Gummo is unwarranted because it's the
Ladri di biciclette of White Trash U.S.A.
4/15:
I suppose Gummo is Harmony Korine's ode to White Trash U.S.A.
There's really not much of a plot but to see how poverty and lack of intelligence can contribute to low standard of living.
Hence, it's the ultimate breeding ground for future criminals. What I found interesting about the animal abuse which included
the mock killing of a human rabbit is the lack of empathy through their actions. At the same time, I can envision how they
might cross the point of wanting to murder people because that's how conditioned and soulless they are.
Tod Browning's Freaks is an unusual cult picture for the gathering of strange oddities. The same can be said for
Gummo because the characters are weird-looking people, too. Obviously, poor diet is at blame for their unsightly
appearances, physical deformities, and low cognition.
All in all, I don't mind seeing more of Harmony Korine's films because his cinematic perspective is fresh and interesting.
Gun Crazy (1950)
Rate:
8
Viewed:
7/06
7/06:
Before there was Bonnie and Clyde, there was Gun Crazy.
The concept is pretty much the same, and it's a prime example of dominant-submissive relationship between male and female.
John Dall and Peggy Cummins are excellent as Bart Tare and Annie Starr, respectively, although there's a lack
of development in their relationship.
What makes Gun Crazy work the best is the aesthetic shots. The ending is beautifully photographed which is
abstract, volatile, and dramatic. When the moment comes, it explodes with a feeling of meaninglessness.
All in all, Gun Crazy, notwithstanding the slow pace with some redundancy in certain scenes, is a superbly shot
film noir picture with terrific performances.
Gung Ho (1986)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
6/18
6/18:
Gung Ho is a movie I remember from the 80's about business relationship and cultural differences between
Americans and Japanese.
At first, I got curious if it was still racist or not, and after finishing the film, I think it's not that bad and can
understand where both sides are coming from. Now, if anybody saw his reputation ruined because of the character
he played, it's George Wendt. I've never forgotten how mean he was to the Japanese. That image stuck to me throughout
his days of appearing in Cheers. It's a career mistake he made.
Wendt's character should've been called out during the softball game because it's illegal to run through a player who has
the right to field a play. The resulting runs won't have been counted; therefore, it's a win for the Assan Motors execs. Equipped with
Steve McQueen looks, Michael Keaton was a very talented actor back in the 80's, and he made funny movies. He's a natural
comic relief in Gung Ho and is the primary reason to pick it up which has a lot of funny scenes because of his
presence. Hunt Stevenson's speeches before the workers and how he survived in Japan are great stuff.
Recently, I read Glass House: The 1% Economy and the Shattering of the All-American Town and was thinking about the
parallels between the book and the film. I have to say I don't really care much for the Americans' problems. It's
true they have a reputation for making shitty products, most especially cars. So, what's the answer? It's simple: do a
better job. Otherwise, I'm going to continue buying foreign products because of their superior quality. That's why I don't
sympathize much with the American characters in Gung Ho.
In the meantime, it's interesting to see how the Americans and Japanese interact with each other because of cultural
differences. The former are so abrasive and chauvinistic that, according to Bloomberg Businessweek, Toyota used
the film as an example of how to not manage them.
All in all, Gung Ho is a funny movie that has a lot to say about cultural differences and value systems, but
I don't think it's overly racist.
Guns at Batasi (1964)
Rate:
6
Viewed:
1/25
1/25:
Guns at Batasi is confusing, but at the end, I've decided that the film is okay.
It's impossible not to think of the following questions. Which country is this? What are the laws in regard
to the transfer of power from one to another? What's the big hurry? Why can everybody wait until it's
official? Why do the British need to defend themselves if change will be inevitable? Most of all,
what do I care if an imperialist country is being kicked out?
Only Richard Attenborough stands out by giving an exceptional performance. The filmmakers' mistake is reducing
his impact during the second half given that he was on a serious roll earlier with expansive vocabulary base.
After what happened, I think his character acted properly because the blacks were threatening to take lives. If I
were him, I wouldn't worry about being backstabbed by the army.
Meanwhile, Mia Farrow, in her screen debut, is only there to supply sex and is thus a waste of time, but she looks
better and more plump. Primarily a singer, John Leyton is no actor. Jack Hawkins is Jack Hawkins while the rest
of the cast is bland.
All in all, Guns at Batasi is somewhat of a staged play that's largely made better by
Richard Attenborough's performance.
Guns for San Sebastian (1968)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
4/04, 6/12
6/12:
"You want words...pretty words...I can't say pretty words."
So it goes in Guns for San Sebastian. It's a terrific sentimental Western that takes place in Mexico. The always
excellent Anthony Quinn makes most of his character and thus succeeds. However, there are instances of improbability
throughout.
1. No government is going to give that many guns to a small village.
2. The Yaquis might as well kill off the village as soon as they find out about the guns and soldiers.
3. Leon Alastray should've died after his encounter with Teclo.
4. Nobody can survive the conditions without food or water and still look good.
Meanwhile, Charles Bronson does nothing for me. Neither does Jaime Fernández who plays Golden Lance.
All in all, Guns for San Sebastian is the preferred film over
Shichinin no samurai.
The Guns of Navarone (1961)
Rate:
1
Viewed:
1/12
1/12:
I read the book The Guns of Navarone.
Seeing the film, I was like, "What the...?" In fact, it's not even The Guns of Navarone but a made-up story.
First of all, right at the beginning, don't ever, ever show the Guns of Navarone. Once they've been sighted, the film dies.
Second, when a book is already good, the director should try to improve on it. What happened in the film is a major revision
of the entire thing. Think of The Bonfire of the Vanities.
Third, never cast Gregory Wood and Anthony Quayle (my goodness, has he worked a day in his life?) as die-hard characters.
They show no credibility whatsoever. Instead, Lee Marvin should've been the face. Fourth, there were no women in the book,
yet for the film, there's a love story going on. Why? Fifth, everybody looks too damn good...fresh and healthy every single
day. They even shave, too. Sixth, when Gregory Wood's character said he hadn't climbed in five years, I guess
"forearm pump" isn't a concept.
All in all, I would rather watch Where Eagles Dare over The Guns of Navarone.
Guns of the Magnificent Seven (1969)
Rate:
4
Viewed:
5/14
5/14:
Guns of the Magnificent Seven is a way, way better sequel than the previous which was ill-advised to begin with.
In many ways, it feels like a true sequel to The Magnificent Seven. Although there's an indication of high
quality, it is, quite frankly, absolutely mediocre. Dearth of star power is the problem. Specifically, the cast
consists of well-known secondary actors who were sidekicks to a bigger star. So, there's nothing to be excited about. Even
the ending is as anticlimatic as it gets.
As soon as the action starts, almost everybody dies right away, successfully putting a preemptive end to the film in
order to avoid the risk of a prolonged final battle. I suppose it's better to think of Guns of the Magnificent Seven
as an audition tape for the cast as they would go on to have a long career in Hollywood.
The worst character is played by Joe Don Baker because not much is said about him. He just goes crazy in the middle of a scene
for pathetic reasons. Reni Santoni is horribly miscast because he's embarrassing to look or listen to. Yet Bernie Casey has
his moments and shines through. The rest of everybody is like a wallpaper; they're merely there.
I wish they would stop with this Chris thing and just move on with a new name; the inclusion of the words "magnificent
seven" is annoying, only to serve as a safety net. The story is improbable because I can't believe, after the
prison break, Mexico will post an APB for the escapees.
All in all, Guns of the Magnificent Seven is too mediocre and is thus not worth seeing unless you
want to erase your memories of the asinine sequel Return of the Seven.
Gunshy (1998)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
7/14
7/14:
Gunshy features two cool actors doing their usual stuff but ends prematurely with nothing much to say.
Michael Wincott's role is probably the biggest of his career because he usually gets a maximum of ten to fifteen minutes of
screen time. It's nice to get the William Petersen treatment which is the biggest reason for earning a rating of
'7' from me.
Diane Lane shows she still can't act and fails to develop chemistry with the two male leads which is why
the plot never got off to a flying start. Therefore, Gunshy is for the fans of Michael Wincott and William
Petersen. Somewhat, it can be reminiscent of Atlantic City with Burt Lancaster.
All in all, Gunshy could be better if the plot was developed more while replacing Diane Lane with somebody
else who's more capable of acting.
Guys and Dolls (1955)
Rate:
2
Viewed:
10/14
10/14:
I was going to give Guys and Dolls a '1', but Marlon Brando's acting precludes it from happening.
The truth is: Marlon Brando is too good for everybody. I'm not sure what he was thinking when he agreed to do this tripe.
Although Frank Sinatra was an accomplished singer, it's a surprise his singing parts are so small as compared to Marlon Brando
and Jean Simmons. The truth is that Frank Sinatra lobbied hard for Brando's role, and when Brando won the role, it caused a lot
of acrimony between him and Frank. That's why they aren't seen together often.
Vivian Blaine's presence is ghastly awful and hard to bear. By the looks of advertisements on the wall, the splashy colorful
production feels like it was created in the studio's backyard. The ordinary plot is no better than what a fifth grader might
have done as it mindlessly repeats the same nonsense over and over, therefore stretching the film to 150 minutes.
More ridiculous is the concept of Sky Masterson taking Sarah Brown from New York City to Havana, Cuba, for a day because
of the $1,000 bet. The word "doll" is said so many times that it has become an unnecessary stereotype for women in general.
Even worse is the childish song which makes no sense. The break dancing stuff looks stupid.
All in all, Grease is better, more fun, and a hell of a lot shorter than Guys and Dolls.
Gymkata (1985)
Rate:
5
Viewed:
1/17
1/17:
Gymkata received so many low ratings that I thought it was going to be a terrible movie.
It turns out to be interesting with some flaws. What jumps out the most is the story.
It's actually creative yet is underdeveloped and, in many ways, a hybrid of Enter the Dragon,
The Most Dangerous Game, and MacGyver.
It can be surreal at times, most especially at the end, which is a nice effect. Unsurprisingly, Gymkata was directed
by the same guy who did Enter the Dragon. It looks like he didn't learn any lesson afterwards. All I see is the same
flaws. This may sound strange, but the following trivia was taken from IMDb:
"The Star Wars satellite program referenced in the film was actually true. This was a part of the Cold War between the U.S.
and Russia in hopes that both countries would find territories outside their respective countries in order to plant satellite
stations so each country would be alerted in case of a nuclear attack on either side."
Kurt Thomas, the main star, is dazzling when he shows off his gymnast skills. However, acting-wise, he's merely okay but
doesn't do anything to rub me in the wrong way. Hailing from the Philippines, Tetchie Agbayani, who plays Princess Rubali,
is pretty.
Well known for two trademark moves (the Thomas flair and the Thomas salto) in gymnastics, Kurt Thomas was a world champion
in floor exercise and horizontal bar in 1978 and 1979 and was an odds-on favorite to win a gold medal at the 1980 Summer
Olympics, but Jimmy Carter's boycott of the games prevented it from happening. So, if you get the chance, check out his
YouTube videos. He looks impressive.
All in all, if the storytelling could be further improved, Gymkata might have worked out better.
The Gypsy Moths (1969)
Rate:
6
Viewed:
7/24
7/24:
The best movie for skydiving?
It has to be The Gypsy Moths. Gene Hackman and Scott Wilson capitalize on their fame from
Bonnie and Clyde and
In Cold Blood, respectively, to star in this. But really, the highlight
of the show is the pairing of Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr. Seeing them together made me want to revisit
From Here to Eternity afterwards. I didn't realize it was Bonnie
Bedelia playing Annie; she looks very young, and it's her screen debut.
Here's the mistake: Hollywood cannot kill off the main star when there's plenty of time left. Once that happened
to Burt Lancaster, The Gypsy Moths ran out of gas. Hence, the filmmakers should've prolonged the drama
between Burt Lancaster's and Deborah Kerr's characters and put his death scene toward the end just before Gene
Hackman's nice analogy about wearing the cape suit to make for a fitting conclusion of what it's all about.
Elsewhere, the cinematography is outstanding, especially when the skydivers are in the air against the landscape
background of Kansas. If the film deserved an Oscar nomination, it's this one which was handled by Philip H.
Lathrop. Also, I like Burt Lancaster's lesson on how the parachute works. That should be implemented more often
in other films.
All in all, although depressing, The Gypsy Moths is worth watching.