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QuintessentialQuipper
Reviews
The King of Kong (2007)
Wow
I couldn't believe my eyes watching Billy Mitchell act so arrogantly. It was shocking to me! He seemed to hate his opponent--especially the final one--and that disturbed me to observe.
He comes off as an absolute narcissist. That part is aggravating to behold; but the end is refreshing. Felt good to see a hardworking husband and father get some vindication.
Someone wrote that this film is great even for non-video game lovers. I disagree to some extent. If you don't have any appreciation at all for why someone would sit and play a computer game for hours on end, it doesn't seem to me that you will enjoy this.
The Ford Television Theatre: The Penlands and the Poodle (1957)
This is a fun, lighthearted tale, with a happy ending!
My wife and I loved this episode so much that we hoped to buy the entire series on DVD or Blu-Ray disc (BD). We couldn't find it, and to date it does seem unavailable, which is sad because we would have purchased it in a second.
It was clean and funny and close-to-home; we could relate! Great episode from what must be a great series. The actors who play husband and wife were actual spouses, which may explain why their interactions seemed so close-to-home! My wife and I felt like the lives we were viewing were reminiscent of our own....
If you can find it, we'd highly recommend you watch it! We saw it on a local 'classics' TV station. Very worthwhile.
Anastasia (1956)
What a stellar movie.
I did not expect to enjoy this film, and only watched it when my wife expressed an interest in doing so. To my surprise--as particular as I am about movies--as Anastasia unfolded I kept thinking, "What a great movie!" The story itself is very interesting, the acting quite believable, and the sets: perfect. Furthermore (and surprisingly), as great as the movie is to watch for adults, it is also fully appropriate for children. We did not notice any cursing of any kind, and there was no gratuitous violence or immoral sensuality.
For women (according to my wife) Yul Brynner is "startlingly handsome." For my part, I confess that Ingrid Bergman is absolutely gorgeous; so men can enjoy the movie from that angle too.
We will be buying this movie today; at the very least I recommend that you rent it.
National Treasure (2004)
Completely unbelievable, but generally fun.
Good parts:
The adventure aspect of the film was enjoyable; the style was a cross between the television show '24' and Indiana Jones.
Much of the movie takes place in Washington D.C., and seeing many of the famous buildings is fun--they're beautiful and stately, and affirm one's patriotic feelings!
Less-good parts:
My wife and I were rolling our eyes for the first half of this film because so much of the plot made us say, "That would Never happen!" or "O come on!" That said, we got used to what amounted to an impossible series of events eventually, which led to greater viewing pleasure. The movie is full of scenes like the 'bus jump' scene in Speed; if that one didn't bother you at all, you'll like National Treasure just fine! :)
Super Friends (1973)
Fun kid's show
I used to watch this show in the mid to late 70's, when I was a little boy. I'd get up quite early on Saturday mornings to wait for it to come on. This was in the days when we only got 4 or 5 channels total. At 5am NOTHING was on, except static or rainbow-colored stripes running vertically on the screen. When Superfriends finally came on, around 9 or 10am, I felt really happy for a true Boy cartoon, not sissy like the cartoons my sister had been watching. To emphasize how Boyish the show was, my sister always left the room when it came on, and my Dad even joined me to watch some of the episodes. I liked it; it's nostalgic. Was the storyline really that interesting? It didn't matter. And perhaps I'm the only one, but I kinda -liked- the Wonder Twins!
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
Provides Good Entertainment
I am one of those movie-watchers who is pretty picky about what he wants to spend his time viewing--I almost solely enjoy only Top Quality movies.
There are occasions when the craftsmanship behind a movie is not excellent by any means, but it's not "B" quality, either. If you read my other reviews, you'll see that I do sometimes heartily recommend other movies that, like this one, are very good but not excellent. Such is the case here.
I just purchased the DVD of this movie. I had rented it about three times in the past decade, and have always found it to provide what many of us hope for in a movie: Solid Entertainment! 6.5/10
BTW, the soundtrack is well-worth purchasing. (10/10) It's great for background music b/c the loud instrumentation is never too loud, nor are the quiet portions too quiet. And then there are the two great vocal tracks at the -end- of the disc (where they should almost Always be on soundtracks with this much instrumental music)--one of them "Everything I Do" performed by Bryan Adams! A perennial radio favorite. And that track has an extra tag to the song that is never played on the radio: If you like the song, you'll find it to be sonically gorgeous.
Somewhere in Time (1980)
Touching Storyline, Interesting Cast
Somewhere In Time is excellent, drawing one into the main characters' lives exceptionally well. One eventually feels as though Reeve's successes are one's own; and his losses are equally poignant. We feel his anxiety, frustration, restlessness, and sadness, but also his hope, excitement, surprise, and happiness. All the while, the movie's music matches the emotions we feel, enhancing them.
Watchers of time-travel movies tend to be gracious in the face of minor plot holes. After all, time-travel is clearly fantasy--so how can viewers really demand that it be more "realistic"? Those who watch this movie (or other movies of its type) see the movie as an escape from real life. If the story seems even somewhat logical in its time-travel elements, it's jolly good for us. And this movie does flow well enough that a movie-watcher who wants escapism can get it.
Last, the movie does implicitly address certain "deeper issues" for those who are interested: the issue of aging, the quest for meaning in life, the relative importance of one's pursuit of career versus the pursuit of one's romantic interests, and other such weighty topics.
The movie isn't perfect, but it is certainly worth watching. 7/10
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Well-Made But Worthless Movie
I just watched the "Redux" extended version of this film. I watched it after reading a number of these comments. I think my tastes in movies are rather broad; they include epic adventure and war movies--I like the Lord of the Rings movies very much, The Last of the Mohicans, Saving Private Ryan, etc. Still, this movie left me quite underwhelmed! I'm not saying that I wasn't -affected- by the movie, but the effect it had was to sober me to life, but at the same time to put me into a strange post-LONG-movie stupor. And so I spent 3-1/2 hours of my life watching this movie--one of the best of all time?--and I saw no value in it! I wasn't entertained, educated, or encouraged to do anything about anything. I call that a waste of time, even though--as others have noted--the cinematography was masterful. Many other movies have great cinematography: watch one of them.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
An epic film
Please beware of minor spoilers in this review!
I very much enjoyed this film, and on numerous levels: Does it have Humor? Yes. Romance? Yes. Action? Oh, yes. Deep truths to ponder? Yes, if you're willing to do so. I am a college professor, so perhaps that is why the last way in which I enjoyed the film means the most to me.
Two themes that struck home to me were: 1) the concept of death's very clear reality (e.g., how THE love affair might end in death someday: pictured by the movie so well in the scene where we see a body slowly "morph" into a sarcophagus), and 2) the counter play regarding what is worth living for (e.g., the shire? What if it's not there anymore? Then--the cause of good?). Powerful themes. The movie is made, I presume, primarily for entertainment; still, such concepts as the very nature of life and death permeate the movie and add a deeper layer, and a deeper value.
The environmental theme was probably more important to write about half-a-century ago, I think. It has now become clear to most people that we must balance technological advances with our duty to preserve the resources God has given to us. Still, I like trees: I feel sad when they are chopped down, even with good reason--but the idea of doing so doesn't freeze me with fear. Everything in balance: People can actually be -too- environmentalist!
Even though I'm a thinker, however, the movie's action really grabbed me--WOW is it good. The word epic means, "Surpassing the usual or ordinary, particularly in scope or size", and thus it aptly describes this amazing movie. My rating for this film is 10/10. I'm very picky about movies, but this film easily takes a place as one of my favorite movies ever. I highly recommend it.
Alan Keyes Is Making Sense (2002)
Good TV show, too bad it was canceled rather quickly.
Alan Keyes is one of the most clear-thinking and well-spoken men in America--he also has a great deal of sense; I would like to have watched him a whole lot more. If you have the chance to watch him at any time talking about anything, I highly recommend that you do.