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BILLIII
Reviews
The Da Vinci Code (2006)
baffled
I really don't understand at all; being a Christian, having a reputation for 64 years of demonstrated keen intellect, having developed several difficult diversions to respect from similar aficionados, I saw for the first time yesterday this DA VINCI CODE production. I don't like TOM HANKS's previous efforts and only wanted to experience this film because of its apparent visual effects product.
IMO, the entire product is more than one could expect or want; Hanks and the other actors were IMO faultless.
This film will be cataloged by me as one of my TOP 10 --- who cares? I do .......... and some others who respect my impressions.
BILLIII
American Pie (1999)
Adolescent
Picture realistically depicts the wrestling match most adolescents involve themselves in with sexual relations. Movie was well done technically and the actors were pretty believable; but the subject is one of growth from immaturity, and the rating reflects this genre. Light weight, but how else could it have been done, given its goal?
Bill Schaefer Berwyn, PA 19312 ephraim@chesco.com
Rating: 4/5 7/10
El crimen del padre Amaro (2002)
"My vocation is the important thing!"
This was one of the best movies I have seen; NOT because the acting was excellent, but it was! NOT because the music was excellent, but it was! NOT because the photography was excellent, but it was!
In addition to all the above, it spoke of a very real and present danger existing in our societies today, so skillfully, and with such excellence of production, and character and thematic development that I will long remember the story, the feelings of ALL the characters, and, most important of all, the POINT.
The REAL CRIME became evident in the early stages of the movie: the sin of placing ego ahead of God, and the people to whom one has voluntarily become a Shepard. Padre Amaro's youthful amoral dedication to the development of his career (should have been `calling') littered white lies that like mustard seeds grew and grew until he became a spiritual disfigurement of what he should have become. Placing extrinsics ahead of integrity, Amaro's service to God and His congregation finally became a mockery.
This lesson hits a soft spot with me as I watch our present day `public servant' shepards almost ubiquitously putting their own personal interests ahead of their duties to the people. Greed in ambition
can be a dangerous thing, especially in the realm of service to the public, be it religious, governmental, or charitable.
And, like a boil, it will ultimately be lanced.
This movie is a real credit to the Mexican film industry.
Rating: 5/5 10/10 Bill Schaefer Berwyn PA ephraim@chesco.com
Days of Wine and Roses (1962)
REALITY PERFECTLY PORTRAYED
This is as modern a portrayal of alcoholics struggling against the disease with the help of AA as you'll ever get, especially if you are an experienced AA attender. The characters were played out with excellent skill, and present day realism.
The delivery through black and white cinema had the same profound impact on me that CITIZEN KANE did, and a bit more than did LOST WEEKEND, which I also rated "excellent".
Any active alcoholic wanting, but not quite ready for, an AA meeting should rehearse with this masterpiece. It showed the way it REALLY IS (and will be!)
RATING: 5/5 10/10 Bill Schaefer Berwyn PA ephraim@chesco.com
Swept Away (2002)
Fine!
Technically, I thought this was an excellent movie:
1) ALL the actors were VERY life like, and that certainly included Andriano AND Madonna (who has been seen as too restrained or stilted by SOME viewers). Madonna is obviously working out physically very hard and professionally, and her body certainly shows it in the picture. She also portrayed the up-tight frigidity of her character VERY WELL, and this portrayal continues to convince me that she is a very talented actress.
2) All environs in the movie were ideally represented and the photography, especially of natural phenomenon, beautiful. The movie was worth the time just for the photography, but in my opinion it was also worth it just for the acting alone.
3) Great Quotes:
"Would you really be interested in me if there were a choice?"
"Maybe what I WANTED wasn't what I NEEDED."
"Then was THEN, now is NOW."
4) Interesting Morale: Power is yours when you have what someone else wants; ie: $ for vacations; knowledge and strength for being marooned on deserted islands.
Thematically, I felt a distinct blur between this movie
and Blue Lagoon(s) and Swiss Family Robinson and Robinson Caruso. This writing (content) of Swept Away pulls my rating down from its technical heights by producing something similar to, but not as thought provoking as the others in its genre.
I'm glad I experienced SWEPT AWAY.
Rating: 3/5;6/10 Bill Schaefer ephraim@chesco.com
Bad Boys (1995)
ACTION!
Average Story Great Action Great Humor Good Acting Great Photography Great Sound
8/10 Rating
Bill Schaefer
Taboo (2002)
IT FIT THE BILL - LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT
Take Edgar Allen Poe horror story development, throw in an Italian Aria finale, blend with a solitary old mansion in a nighttime storm with lightening and wind, throw in 6 kids (JUST post college) for a reunion and you have the makings of a fun, entertaining, non mentally exhausting time, and that's exactly what TABOO was for me.
Two points, without giving away the story:
1) I LOVE to OUTFOX the writers, and figure out endings to movies before they are divulged. This time, I COULDN'T figure out who were `the bad guy(s)'.
2) I was totally SUCKED IN to thinking the movie was rapidly approaching finale, only to discover it was just two thirds through and approaching a second wind. Was I embarrassed with my `sophistication'!
I give this film a rating of 4/5 or 8/10 because I think everyone involved, from producer through director and actors, aimed at a light, comedy-horror action product; I believe there is a complete genre for that, and relative to the genre it is GOOD.
I got what * I * wanted!
Bill Schaefer ephraim@chesco.com
p.s. There was one GIGANTIC BLUNDER in the movie, but no one has commented on it, so I'll let it rest in peace.
Tonkô (1988)
EPIC
This is a great movie, in my opinion, an epic.
The technical aspects (cinematography, etc) were top notch, the acting very realistic, and the story Shakespearean.
Great quotes I will use as my own later, like:
"You have no treasure here; your scrolls and books are just paper to you."
"Killing the wounded is a kindness; who wants a soldier who wants to die."
"The powerful survive, but to survive we have to fight. We survived, but what have we gained?:
Subtitles do NOT get in the way to the movie's impact; LOTS of action, but it helps not to be dim witted.
Bill Schaefer
ITV Saturday Night Theatre: Catholics (1973)
HEAVY!
The landscape of an island of Ireland, the music, and the subject of this movie prompts introspection in one's religious behavior, what is meaningful in such behavior, what is not.
Add to that the question of conflict of personal belief with OBEDIENCE to church dogma and you have the makings of a heavy story, which the actors and director delivered in an "excellent" manner, and I rated it a "9" as a result.
There is an emotional and intellectual hangover produced by getting involved with the film, so beware. It is NOT just ENTERTAINMENT. It should make you THINK about your FAITH and the practice of it.
Bill Schaefer
Barbershop (2002)
WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT ?!
This movie was FUN. It had two tracks running alternately; one a kind of Laurel and Hardy comedy, the other a suspense drama.
Unlike some reviews in IMDB, I thought the comedy part was VERY FUNNY, but I LOVE W.C. Fields, Laurel & Hardy, Abbott & Costello slapstick, and this was in their genre.
The suspense drama concerned the modern day conflict between the intangible goals of meaning, honesty, and depth of character, and the tangible goals of materialism. I am very glad that the intangibles won out in this tug of war, which made for a very happy ending; and, yes, happy endings CAN happen like this in the real world.
Objections and protests to some of the dialogue in this movie merely reflect egos vulnerable to inspection.
Bill Schaefer
Into the Sun (1991)
A Fun Action-Comedy !
I rated this a "9" because my criteria in judging a movie are adjusted to its genre; and as an action-comedy I felt it approached a Harrison Ford type comedy, which I rate as "10"
Acting was realistic, photography great, and we even got a bid of sermonizing (how a fighter's discipline works against his ability to be confidential about his feelings).
Deborah Maria Moore was a nice bit of frosting on the cake.
If you're not jaded as a movie critic, and like light comedy and air force action see this one!
The Emperor's Club (2002)
BETTER THAN A 7 OR 8 . . . and this is WHY
Ok, so its a good movie (deserving an 7 or 8) because of excellent acting, beautiful settings, and interesting and developing plot.
But why give it a 9? Shouldn't it have more going for it to get out of the 7-8 range. I say YES - and its a personal reason: I liked the moral of the story, how it was demonstrated, and summarized.
As mentioned IN the movie, virtue and morality are not always popularly supported, if you didn't get MOVED by the THEME, so be it . . . I did, and gave it a 9 rating.
P.S. among others, Kevin Kline pulled off his character brilliantly!
Le grand pardon II (1992)
Obviously . . . A Foreign (Non-USA) Film
What can I say about this film? As an action film it took the foreign route of having a little bit of everything (suspense, surprise ending pathos, good appropriate music, beautiful scenery, boats, planes, helicopters, good guys, bad guys, a plot, a moral(s) very decently recapped at the ending; . . .
and YET TO ME it came off as an American B++ soap opera; the actors were too studied, too stiff. The plot held together, but was simple. The photography and decor was splendid.
I ENJOYED this movie, and might even play it over. I was ENTERTAINING in a mindless way, and that's OK. Sometimes I just want to watch an action movie without dissecting it, and this movie couldn't be dissected.
I probably should have rated it a 7, but emotionally I want to give it an 8. Now for a REAL action movie, I am going to put on one of Clint Eastwood's films.
Greased Lightning (1977)
A REALLY SOLID 8+++
It's not often I get to see a movie that isn't 1) unbelievably complicated in psychological meaning OR 2) unbelievably complicated in futuristic technology SO
I found it GREAT ENTERTAINMENT, REFRESHING, POSITIVE, AND most of all CLEAN, HEALTHY FUN!
This is the best I've seen Richard Pryor star in, and the real life Horatio Alger story is a real force for success motivation, even though I am a WASP.
Only the jaded and/or mean spirited would turn this one down.
Bent (1997)
An Unusual Depiction of Persecutions In Nazi Germany
Its always the Jew's travail I hear about concerning the Nazi Germany Period, but other GROUPS apparently got treated miserably as well, and this movie deals with one of them.
Pathos, tremendous camera action (black/white & technicolor), superb character acting, excellent thematic development and flow, and perfect music accompaniment.
I will see it again.
101 Ways (The Things a Girl Will Do to Keep Her Volvo) (2000)
Fun
This is definitely one of those movies I call "entertaining"; nothing heavy or prophetic, just NICE actors with a NICE story to share with the viewer. Sit back and relax with this one. Don't make a big sacrifice to see it, and don't expect a strong comedy out of it either-just fun.
Pulp Fiction (1994)
impossible for a #10 rating, this is a strong #9
everything in the film was tops; sound, video, acting; but the plot simply couldn't deliver a #10. I critique this as a #9, meaning I will gladly review it many times in the future for pure pleasure; but it can't compare with "Amadeus", "In Search of Bobby", or "By The Sword" which had overwhelming themes.