vsturkey Reviews

Collateral (2018)

Bad, so very bad

[2/10 · 17 March 2018]

I only finished out of hope for a surprise ending, and because I enjoy watching attractive women. Lots of nice women, plot remained very poor, unsurprising in every way.

As mentioned, good technical work (acting, cinematography, sound, editing, sets).

Atrocious plotting, dialogue, character development, attempted social commentary. And on top of that, mindless, tasteless female partial nudity.

The MP character was pathetic. He acts like a kid, thinks like a kid and has insane problems with authority. And he is a cabinet member for the opposition. Idiotic. The lesbian priest was well acted, but then when her bishop is gay in hiding and her lover is an illegal alien, suspension of disbelief is denied! Finally, almost every character is mean, rude or surly to every other character. Comic book dialogue.

Carey Mulligan seemed to be wincing through most of her scenes. She would have rather held her nose, I am guessing.

What a waste of money and talent. How could anyone have read this script and approved the project? SOMEONE MUST BE MADE TO PAY.

The Fly (1986)

Operatic!

[10/10 · 26 March 2003]

This is the only movie I have ever seen that is truly like an opera - a Puccini-weeping, tormented drama. It could have been a play. I really, really like this movie, and the fact that it is an opera without song is very high praise.

Great opera pulls you in, fascinates you and challenges you to throw away your disbelief (not just suspend it). And so does The Fly.

The Fly has a tightly-written dramatic pull, along the lines of the classic 5-act Shakespearean model, where tension builds and builds, then relaxes, then comes in for the big end. It has, likewise, a Shakespearean sense of undeserved tragedy, where one is grossly over-penalized for an initial error.

Geena Davis here is like Liu' from Turandot and Cio-Cio San from Madama Butterfly. She plays the tragedy and suffering and shock so well! But she is not insubstantial. She is wise and sharp and energetic - and so we feel her pain and fear so much more!

It is very rare to see agony and weeping over a lifeless body in a movie. Can anyone name me a scene from a movie in the past 20 years that has it? It happens in every one of Puccini's big operas, however. And it works in The Fly! I am completely caught up in her agony and in the tragedy of the scientist's hideous end.

Finally, another device in Puccini (and Shakespeare) is a sense of eventuality. We know from about the 8th minute of this movie that it ain't gonna work out. The movie does not play with us and tease us and surprise us - it is worthy as a story in itself, and plays it straight all the way through. Just like La Boheme and Madama Butterfly and Tosca - we know that these Puccini operas are gonna end bad - we know it and we keep watching - we get sucked in because we are enthralled in the story and in the art. Same with The Fly. The story is so compelling and the characters so interesting. (And, yes, the special effects only deepen the experience. These special effects service the plot - they do not just exist for their own sake.)

I just thought this side of this great movie has been overlooked. And I have only scratched the surface of the parallels. If you like The Fly, see a video of Madama Butterfly! (I am dead serious.)

Mary White (1977 TV Movie)

Saw once 26 years ago - still fondly remember!

[10/10 · 26 March 2003]

I forget many things - but this movie I have not!

Very sensitive and enriching.

I remember a great deal of humor and smiles, but also a strong and open message. I say open in that it is not an elitist, talk-down-to message - rather it is simple and accessible, without dumbing-down the feelings and efforts of the protagonists.

Excellent script/story that is very effectively, enjoyably realized.

See this movie. It must be showing on Hallmark, right?

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

More Reasons this Movie is So Great

[10/10 · 26 March 2003]

I learned about the movie from reading a note on the CD that had its music as one of many great film scores. The note about the movie was so favorable I had to see it. The music is very moving and subtle; it really contributes to this fine movie.

The two finest scenes for me have not even been discussed yet...

• The scene where Fred Derry's parents are reading his award citation makes me cry. I am moved whenever respect is shown and appreciation is given; when there is an understanding of sacrifice and of honor. (The only similar scene which comes to mind now is that great moment from To Kill a Mockingbird when Atticus Finch leaves the courtroom after having failed to win Tom Robinson's freedom, when all of the black folks in the balcony (plus his own kids) stand to show him respect.)

• The scene in the cockpit, when Fred Derry is reliving his war experiences. The music takes over and he is overwhelmed with the intensity of the memories. This scene is big for me because I was a sailor and I did some neat things in uniform and was in on some intense action. After I left the military, I had a letdown - what is more important that waging war, defending your country and trying to save lives/minimize casualties? I had to realize that those feelings of contribution and worthiness and importance can never be matched again. (There are other types of worthiness, like being a dad and a husband - but these are very different.) Regular life is of a different pace, with more competing responsibilities. Its all about balance rather than objective.

So these two scenes meant a great deal to me when I first saw them and they still do.

What a wonderful film!

Cool Hand Luke (1967)

Motivational, Inspirational, Educational

[27 May 2000]

I know, my title is boring, but I wanted to say something many of you have not - that so much here is really food for thought. This is a great movie for teenagers who may be asking some fundamental questions at that age - this film raises many such questions and let's each of us resolve things ourselves.

Humor is everywhere - many kinds of humor. The value of humor and how it helps...

Leading and following. Participating in these roles and how much of yourself you surrender in doing so. How do the leaders and followers learn and grow? What about those of us who choose to not participate, like the guards?

Religion - sure Luke, a Biblical character, seems to represent Jesus at times. Is that OK? Did he have an ultimate success, like Jesus, despite his physical demise?

I've bored you with thoughts on the movie, but I figure you've already seen it and you are pumped and want to talk about with someone. With that in mind, and I last saw the film 10 or more years ago, there are some GREAT scenes and moments. The hound dog sneezing from the red pepper - 'ahh WOOF'! The majestic asphalting scene where they all 'beat the man' - what inspiration, what power! George Kennedy's laughing and grinning when Luke takes the pot on a total bluff!

I hope every young adult can see this movie.

Jason and the Argonauts (1963)

My uncle was "Jason", the movie meant alot to him

[27 May 2000]

I decided to contribute my comments when I read another commentator who mentioned that the leads were dubbed... this fact dealt a crushing blow to "Todd Armstrong" from which he sort of never really recovered.

As I was told, he showed up at the gala premiere and nobody had told him he had been dubbed over. What a horrible shock, in public, on one's 'night of glory'!

He had a highish voice, but one that was extremely expressive - a fine instrument. The dubbed voice is very low and flat. I can't tell you how I'd love to see the film with his voice restored!

Making movies, like any creativity, is full of compromises, some of them beyond one's control. "Todd" still loved the movie - it was filmed in southern Italy - he had a great time doing it. He was always a very, very handsome and strong man, and his physical presence shines through still.

It is really a memorable, powerful film! After seeing it I dreamt my favorite kitten had been slaughtered by the other kittens in the litter, who had become sword-wielding skeleton kittens!

I hope you all enjoy it and don't get too worked up about inaccuracies with the original story (as someone here has).

Because its overall professionalism and the magnificent special effects, this movie will live on despite being technologically outdated.

Can anybody speak to the possibility of finding the original actor's voice track? What's to be done? Thanks!

12 Angry Men (1957)

What a work!!

[10/10 · 27 May 2000]

I gather you've seen it...

It's hard to know what to say about it. The acting is beyond belief, and the dialog is completing engrossing.

A movie full of guys that gals should like, in that emotions and relationships and personalities are deeply explored. Every single character is portrayed in depth, yet there is also a vivid, engrossing plot.

All of the films I like most are ones that speak to human growth and human choice. I love this movie for its great characters and great dialog that exposes so much humanity.

I regret the final scene outside - I wish I could have come back to the real world with having left the 12 back in there. But now I am forced to see them also reenter the world. Why did the director give us that scene?