They Should Have Burned This Footage

Bringing Up Baby had probably one of the worst plots to a movie that I have ever seen. Now don't get me wrong, I'm all for very far fetched plots but this one was just so out there and annoying it became impossible to enjoy. The beginning of the film, which is in my opinion the most important part of the movie, was so over the top and annoying that the rest of the movie was impossible to enjoy. Katherine Hepburn's ditsy acting, paired with Cary Grants blandness created out of the most uncomfortable and blood pressure raising introduction to a movie.

Granted the movie wasn't a complete annoyance, partway through the film Hepburn's character actually partakes in more than one funny and clever scene. The part where her heel breaks and she walks around like an idiot was hilarious, as well as the part where she breaks out of the the jail by outwitting the deputy. Overall the moronic appearance of all of the characters just makes me really mad

Kill Jill

Yes, the title is in reference not only to the fact that Quentin Tarentino's movies are heavily based off Leone's, but also to the fact that people wanted to kill Jill. I know I'm rather punny. There goes another one. But anyways getting down to business, I rather liked the aforementioned director Sergio Leone. Interestingly enough I can actually relate this movie to the other aforementioned movie Kill Bill Volumes 1 and 2. Sadly enough I don't fully comprehend the complexities of either Once Upon a Time in the West or Kill Bill. From what I do understand both Harmonica and The Bride, as Uma Thurman's character are often referred to, throughout the entire flick are each following the road to their arch nemeses. Which they succeed in killing both in dramatic ways, with a shootout and my personal favorite the Five-Point Exploding Heart Technique.

Also similar in each of the films is the directors use of motif when bringing in a character, like Harmonica and Jill, who have songs that play. In Kill Bill Oren Ishi, has special music when she enters a room as well. They also do lots of close shots on the characters. If this Evidence isn't enough to prove obvious similarities Tarantino is even quoted as saying, "Oh yeah, initially I was thinking this would be my Dollars Trilogy. I was going to do a new one every ten years. But I need at least fifteen years before I do this again" (Entertainment Weekly).

Mein Führer! I can walk!

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb¸is critically acclaimed black comedy pertaining to a nuclear fallout caused by a deranged Brigadier General Jack D. Ripper. Feeling that the Soviet Union is behind the fluoridation of water in the United States, the cause as he sees it of his impotence, he takes it upon himself to protect “the precious bodily fluids” of America. He orders a fleet of B-52 bombers carrying nuclear payloads past their failsafe point deep into the heart of the Motherland. The viewer is clueless to the mental sanity of the General at first, and is lead to believe that this is an actual military order. Inspecting further into the movie, the viewers finds out the true cause of the attack, and is led by Stanley Kubrick’s interesting directorial choices into possible fixes to the end of the world.

When he first started writing the screenplay, it was Kubrick’s intention to purely adapt Peter George’s novel Red Alert into a film. But midway through, he realized that many of the most truthful elements of the film were ridiculously absurd, and thus he did what any person in his shoes would do, it changed the film into a nightmare comedy.

Filmed during one of Peter Sellers’ divorces Kubrick was forced to film entirely in England where Sellers’ battles took place, which gave need for Kubrick to make some interesting choices in set design. Made by Ken Adam, the four main sets were each masterfully crafted in Shepperton Studios. Interestingly enough while attempted to recreate an authentic cockpit of a B-52, Adam was unable to actually visit a B-52 due to the secrecy that surrounded the state of the art plane. Unrelented, Adam built the set off of just a picture of the plane. Upon inspection by the U.S Air force, it was deemed a perfect substitute of the real thing.

The ending of the film, which depicts ex-Nazi Dr. Strangelove shouting “Mein Fuhrer, I can Walk!” is actually an alternative ending used by Kubrick because the first one was a “farce and not consistent with the satiric tone of the rest of the film” (Kubrick). The original ending depicted all of the men in the war room engaging in a cream pie-fight of epic proportions. However there were so many pies flying around it became difficult to see who was speaking during this fight, so it had to be removed. Also removed was an opening and ending narration voiced by a supposedly Alien onlooker reviewing the history of Earth.

As an “immature” individual, I found some of the funniest moments in the film arose from often funny names of the characters, such as Major King Kong, Colonel Bat Guano and Jack D. Ripper. The movie seemed almost like a toned down Austin Powers flick than any of Kubrick’s classics, like A Clock Work Orange and Full Metal Jacket. I would strongly suggest to view this movie to anyone, though having some understanding of the Cold War Era and history in general is often necessary to really understand the hilarity of this film.

To be or not to be, that is the question;

Personally My Darling Clementine, directed by John Ford, did not live up to my expectations as a western. Wyatt Earp the main protagonist is not the usual rough and tumble hero depicted in my favorite country themed flicks, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, and Walker Texas Ranger. Wyatt Earp is shown to be a caring almost girlish man, it seems he places more emphasis on making the town of Tombstone. Too much of the plot is worthless in my eyes, Ford seems to show meaningless scenes which play no role in the movement of the plot. Scenes like the raising of the Church, and the entire part about the Shakespearean artist play no role in making the plot more interesting. They only serve to further effeminate the main characters Doc and Wyatt. I think Ford was trying to romanticise the old West, which should never be done. There was no room for error out in the dessert it was not a romantic place.

Walker Texas ranger i feel does a much better job showing the true Western Hero. Yes, I know that Walker is from the 1990's and takes place in Texas, but it still has many elements of the great western thrown throughout. Like Wyatt, Walker doesn't carry or use a gun. He relies on his 3 time black belt karate skills, to bring down a myriad of armed assailants carrying knives swords and rocket launchers. In My Darling Clementine, at any point where Wyatt is in real danger, he mysteriously procures a gun and shoots the bandit. A Western should depict a heroic character, stronger enough to fend on his own, beating up bad guys and then going out to his hot woman for some loving. A true American hero is portrayed in Westerns, which in my opinion doesn't happen with Wyatt Earp.

Granted the movie was fairly decent Ford did an excellent job directing and putting his ideas on screen, in my opinion it just doesn't meet my expectations for a true American Western

And With Every Shot You Show A Little Improvement, To Show It All Would Take Too Long

Citizen Kane, Orson Welles' awarding flick about the pitiful life of millionaire businessman, is regarded as one of the best films ever created. Sitting in class staring "It's terrific!" plastered in big bold letters across a 40's era poster of this movie, I found myself wondering why is this movie so well respected. At first glance it appears to be a lame black and white movie about the hardships of having your childhood ripped out from underneath you. While watching it the main thing that stood out too me was how, in an age where CGI was unheard of, Welles was able to tell a story that darted too and fro in the space time continuum.

Due to his relatively small budget Welles had to be creative with his modes of shooting, as is seen in the election scenes, as well as the final scene showing the numerous goods he had amassed in his life. He used different techniques to make the scenery appear much more grand that it was in actuality. Painting the election hall on a canvas, not only saved money but also showed of his true ingenuity.

The make up is what i noticed most during the movie, shorts during the time of his death compared to shots when he was younger, it's seen though with some difficulty the extensive use of make up used on the set. One of my personal favorite scenes was the montage clip showing his relationship with Emily Monroe Kane. With each cut years are added on, showing not only their fruitless marriage, but also more subtly showing the excellent make up work used on set.

Some Like It Hot, and I'm One of Them

When first hearing about the requirements for the movies eligible to review, my first reaction was one of hatred for all literature and literature related courses. I have never been drawn into any older movie, except for the Bond series, up until this point. Some Like It Hot, directed by Billy Wilder, was able to flip my negative view of older movies 180 degrees. Through the use of scantily clad buxom babes, hilarious shenanigans, and of fear this movie succeeded in catching my attention and effectively changing my outlook on what makes a good movie.

Joe and Jerry the main protagonists, played by Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon respectively, were able to really get into character while playing Josephine and Daphne in an attempt to flee an angry Chicago Mob Boss, an aspect of the plot which allowed hilarity to ensue. The fact that they joined on all girls band only made things better. Filling to viewer with suspense as to if or when they were going to be found out for who they truly were, their transvestitism not only laid the groundwork for a hilarious comedy to ensue, but was also a terrific reason to bring in numerous beautiful ladies.

This fact leads to another terrific actor featured in this film: Marilyn Monroe. She shines so bright in this film, appearing in chic negligee for most of the movie made it ever more enticing to watch. Reminiscent of such latter day classics as Old School and American Pie, Billy Wilder really knew how to grab on to viewers’ heart strings, by throwing in such a fine specimen as Monroe, Wilder opened up the audience to not only teenage boys but also their fathers. Comparing this to these other movies however, makes the movie appear tame, but journeying back to a time when women weren’t allowed to have jobs and showing their ankles was scandalous, this movie seems pretty daring, even pushing the line on gay and homosexual marriage. This is seen near the end of the movie, where Jerry, who has been having a grand affair with a gentleman by the name of Joe E. Brown, appears to be almost legitimately in love with his courter.

Ahead of its time, it is also able to play homage to the large bootlegging rackets run out of Chicago. It combines elements from the Three Stooges and Scarface, essentially combining comedy and action into two terrific hours of footage. Being chased around the country by a bunch of mobsters wouldn’t seem fun, and yet through the use of excellent directorial choices it seems like a laugh riot. Airing more on the side of Larry Curly and Moe, in scenes involving elevators a loud whooshing noise each time one of the main characters uses the apparatus.

Thanks in part to the pure sexuality of Marilyn Monroe, extremely witty one lines gush from the screen. Having watched it with Buster, we found ourselves in awe of the sheer power held in such few words. On his pretend yacht, Joe, pretending to be a rich oil tycoon named Junior, is able to entice Sugar Kane, Monroe, on to his couch breaking down all her defenses by expertly crafting an ailment where he isn’t turned on by woman. A true ladies man, he proceeds to play his mind tricks with her into the wee hours of the morning (if you catch my drift).

Over all I would say that this movie unlike other more serious older movies would be a big hit with today’s crowd, replacing Marilyn with Jessica Simpson and Tony and Jack, with two guys I know I’d pay 8 dollars to essentially see it again in theaters.