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foxwood9
Reviews
The Sunshine Boys (1996)
a perfect example of a down rated update
i had the misfortune to view this version of the Sunshine Boys last night as a part of my Netflix Video Streaming Service. i dozed off for a bit during the performance and that i feel was the best part of the evening.
during the portion where i was awake, watching this mess, i kept comparing it in my mind to the vastly superior film that featured Walter Matheau/George Burns/Richard Benjamin/Murray Abraham/Fitz Feld/Carol Arthur etc and wondered just what compelled anyone to produce or act in this updated (?) version. i noticed Whoopie Goldberg in the part of the nurse tending to Peter Falk, but also noticed she took no billing for the part. i think i understand why. she evidently wished to be anonymous, if possible. i don't blame her in the least.
do yourself a favor, don't watch this version. pick up the original version. that you'll enjoy
Make Way for Tomorrow (1937)
great tear jerker (Spoiler)
this film is two years older then myself, but i recall watching it several times with my mom, when i was in my teens. my mom never could remember the films title, but always called it "OVER THE HILL TO THE POOR HOUSE" not that she had any cause, she always held it over me and my older sister, "that we would most likely treat her the "same way the rotten children in the film treated their parents".
i have never seen this film, now along with my wive of 50 some years, without being moved by the plight of the two aged parents/ this film is very well acted and seems very realistic. even now in the second decade of this new century, we constantly read of such elder abuse.
it's a great shame that these things happen and very often at that. the bible tells us "HONOR THY PARENTS" it a shame that so many children don't follow is very good advice. i urge you to see this film if you happen to have the opportunity. it's a great film and certain to affect you, hopefully for the good.
The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother (1975)
overlooked comedy gem
i had never seen user reviews for "Smarter Brother" previously and i was amazed at the number of viewers who seemed to have so much to criticize in the very funny film. some people, when reviewing a film seem to treat it like an artichoke, pulling it apart until there is nothing left. if i enjoy a film and can watch it over and over is my only criteria. DID I ENJOY IT? you bet! i have seem this movie many times and i always find it enjoyable and funny. without out going into the plot and cast members, this happens to be a very funny Sherlock Holmes parody. there is a Dudley Moore/Peter Cook send-up of a classic Holmes tale also available. while that film has some funny moments, Gene Wilder's Smarter Brother is funny all the way through. to really enjoy the film, i suggest you see it and then decide just how enjoyable and funny it is. if all else fails, you can always dance the Kangaroo Hop.
by the way, be on the look out for the cameo by Albert Finney. you must be fast, as he just pops in and out with no prolonged closeup.
Buffalo Soldiers (2001)
what army is this?
i served August 61 to August 63. there was no shooting war at that time, however when i was drafted there was something called The Berlin Crisis going on, where pre-Berlin wall, we had American tanks facing down Russian tanks at Checkpoint Charlie, so we had an "quickie" Basic Training. may i add that everything was up in the air, so anyone who walked into the induction station, was deemed "fit for service", no matter what. there were a bunch of lame and halt servicemen during my time. then of course there was the Cuban Missle go around where we all held our collective breath. Viet Nam was bubbling, but would not be brought to a boil until after my release from active duty. this film, The Buffalo Soldiers was certainly not within my military experience. i was stationed at a army general hospital in France for the final eleven months of my tour of duty. it would seem that at a hospital there would be many opportunities for all kinds of hanky-panky but i can state from my position in hospital headquarters, there was not even a hint of any wrong doing such as was outlined in this film. we had our share of drunks among the enlisted personnel. i can't speak for the officers,but as i said, i was in the hospital headquarters, so i would have heard of seen any type of such major or minor wrong doing.
to tell the exact truth, i viewed my time in service as something akin to a two year tooth ache. as the years piled up however, i came to the conclusion that my service did have a purpose and was something to be very proud of. maybe i mellowed, or perhaps just grew up.
at any rate Buffalo Soldiers was not a film i could enjoy or identify with. no matter how i look at this film it was a bad work of fiction. if you are interested in a truer picture of military service, i would suggest Gardens of Stone. if a factual view of actual wartime combat is wanted, Saving Private Ryan can show the real face of combat and being in the military during wartime. a more sanitized version of combat is shown in Band of Brothers. people are shot or hit with major explosives, but not a lot of blood is shown as spilled.