Change Your Image
citizenpictures06
Reviews
Some Like It Hot (1959)
Well, nobody's perfect! Perhaps Some Like It Hot is!?
Billy Wilders 1959 comedy "Some Like it Hot" will forever be an absolute masterpiece of comedic cinema. A wonderful cast starring Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and an astonishing Marilyn Monroe combined with Billy Wilders directing make this film a classic that will never be forgotten.
The plot of two male musicians dressing up as women to escape the mob during the prohibition era in Chicago is in itself not only unique but also hilarious.
However, as great as this film is in delivering laughs and entertainment, that is not all to it.
Some Like It Hot shows how different people were treated by their gender and attractiveness. "Daphne" and "Josephine" (the two musicians female alter egos) are constantly being approached or even touched by men throughout the film.
All in all, Billy Wilders classic is a great piece of comedic cinema, while it also makes one think about the differences between men and women in society.
All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
All Quiet on the Western Front - A Soldier's View of War
Lewis Milestone's version of Erich Maria Remarque's well-known novel is to this day the best of all the adaptions and highly appreciated amongst the greatest war-films.
The story begins in Germany; a professor tells his students about the outbreak of war in europe. He says that his students should enlist to help their country and that the war will be over in some months.
The class is unsure wheter or not they should join the army and they look at Paul Bäumer to see his reaction. Bäumer is immediately enthusiastic to go to war and the students enlist.
When they first arrive at the front, they meet a soldier called Katcinzsky (often called Kat). Kat and his comrades begin to take the newcomers under their leadership.
The first time they are at the frontline, some of the students suffer traumatic experience caused by artillery and bombs.
They built up defense lines at night and, at day, the British begin to charge towards the Germans.
This scene is the most memorable and important in the whole film, because it shows the cruelty of WWI just as it was. Englishmen are running into the field, being bombed and shot at, dying one by one. Until they reach the German line and kill many of them. The Germans are able to fight the Englishmen back again and the charge ends.
Bäumer and his comrades leave the frontline for the day and want to eat. Of all the 150 men in the 2nd company, only 80 return.
Another important scene is where the soldiers talk about the reason for this war. One of them says he wants to go home, he has no reason to fight in this war, none of them ever wanted to kill Englishmen and yet they find themselves in their uniforms.
This scene has a very interesting effect, because it shows that no soldier ever wanted war and most didn't even know why they fight, there was no reason for them to die - what for, they wondered.
The film ends with Paul Bäumer at the frontline, looking at a butterfly, stretching his hand after it to feel it's touch. Being the last of his friends and classmates to survive the war, Bäumer gets shot by an Englishmen while watching the butterfly. The look on his face is not one of pain, despair or regret, but rather a look of relief; Bäumer looks satisfied, satisfied that he is finally free of all this horror and cruelty.
All Quiet on the Western Front captivates through it's haunting scenes and pictures. The dialogue has a great impact of showing the comradery between the soldiers and effects of the war on the lifes of ordinary people. To portray the charge of the soldiers in all its cruelty was a great decision by Milestone, because it highly adds to the atmosphere. All Quiet on the Western Front is a film that has earned it's great reviews and it shall never be forgotten amongst the many films in it's genre.
The Invisible Man (1933)
The Invisible Man - a story of power and it's abuse
"The Invisible Man" is a story about Griffin, a scientist who found a way to turn himself invisible.
The movie shows a desperate man wanting to return what he thought was a great idea. It depicts his process of becoming overwhelmed by his own creation, slowly turning mad - terrorizing the people. His only purpose in life is to kill. "murders of little men, murders of great men - just to show we make no distinction". The story is a very well written tragedy, as he talks to his love, Flora, he says:"for you my darling, I wanted to achieve what men of science have dreamed of since the world began to think". Griffin never intended to be a murderer, but rather wanted to help the world. The movie ends with the police that caught him and Griffin later dying in a hospital.
All in all, "The Invisible Man" is a great film which I would consider one of my all time favourites, not only for it's story but also for the stunning performance by Claude Rains.
It (1990)
IT - A story not of horror, but of love and friendship as well
The 1990's version of "IT" was always known as a solid (and at the same time not too great) adaption of the famous Stephen King novel, but I belive that it is much better than many people want to admit.
The movie is clearly not a good version of the novel, but I think that it was never even Tommy Lee Wallace's wish to do so. It should be seen as more than just another adaption of King's stories. Sure, it is after all one, but it is a story of love, friendship and adventure as well. A tale of friends who struggle to fight an evil being that they can only bear with united forces. "The Losers Club" has to overcome their personal fears and problems in life to safe the children of Derryl. The movie also has a good atmosphere - especially in the youth of the friends one can truly feel the sixties. Not to forget the stunning performance of Pennywise by Tim Curry. Sure, it won't scare many people nowadays, but it has it's own way and is what makes the movie memorable to this day. A very bizarre clown having a joke for every macabre situation.
This review is more of a personal note and the ten star rating will be unreasonable to some people, but it is just me seeing some kind of magic in the friendship the losers have. Although they did not stay in contact for nearly 30 years they are still able to get along as if nothing happened. Isn't that what everyone wishes? This version of "IT' should not be seen as a simple King adaption, but rather as a tale of life's important values and the difficulties we all have to face throughout it. All in all a very brilliant movie by Tommy Lee Wallace that needs to get a higher reputation amongst the people.
Children of the Corn (1984)
Children of the Corn - A typical 80's horror
"Children of the Corn" is a story about Burt and Vicky Stanton who come across a mysterious village called Gatlin. A town in which only children live.
The couple drives through the streets of Nebraska when suddenly Burt drives over a child that was standing on the middle of the street. After looking at the corps he realises that the child has already been dead - it was killed. They want to inform the police and arrive in Gatlin, but they can't find anybody. The whole village seems to be erased from existence. They later encounter two children and the Stantons learn about a boy named Isaac, leader of a cult which purpose it is to sacrifice all adults in Gatlin to a demon. Malachai (Isaac's right hand) tries to kill the Stantons now together with the other children while Burt and Vicky want to find out what is happening and how they can escape or fight the evil force.
A more or less thrilling story, "Children of the Corn" is a typical 80's horror movie that can still convince with it's supernatural and chilling atmosphere. Some scary scenes here and there and a plot that is, although not perfect, still very interesting.
The Blues Brothers (1980)
"The Blues Brothers" - A mixture of comedy and musical
"The Blues Brothers" is a story of two brothers that want to reunite their old band to safe the orphanage in which they were raised.
What follows is a very funny and exciting rampage through chicago - car chases with the police, a crazy ex-love and an encounter with american National Socialists peak in a last concert to fulfill their "mission from god" (as they call it themselves).
The cast is filled with jazz and blues legends just as Ray Charles and Cab Calloway and delivers the audience unforgettable musical performances. All in all, "The Blues Brothers" is one of the greatest comedies I have ever seen and it did a great job in achieving a perfect mix between musical and comedy.
The Twilight Zone (1959)
"It lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge"
The Twilight Zone is one of the greatest shows the world has and will ever see. Rod Serling put his commentary of mankind into an half-hour episode concept. The series is an endless collection of morality and understanding of the human race so that the different scenarios can be found as long as people will exist. A series of power, might, knowledge and much more.
Every episode depicts a new story and gives the audience a look into the fifth dimension and it's mysteries. "Ordinary people find themselves in extraordinary situations" is the main construct of it. For example in the episode "To Serve Men" in which the world encounters aliens, or the episode "No Time Like The Past" in which a man travels through different important places of history to change it forever! Many episodes come with a very surprising plot-twist that will shock everyone.
It is a show that not only wants to entertain the audience with suspenseful science-fiction stories, but to also get it to think. Think for a better tomorrow - or maybe realise that what we have is already the best possible outcome. Learning about regret and that a decision may appear good, but is bad at the end. That is what The Twilight Zone is all about. It makes commentaries about the foolishness of ourselves and our creations (e.g. "No Time Like The Past": "Everything he (human) designs as an art of dying, is his excuse for living").
A very well written and thought-provoking television series that won't be forgotten in the future.
High Noon (1952)
High Noon - A Thrilling Western Classic!
High Noon is one of many western movies of the past and yet it is still one of the most remarkable ones I have ever seen. Gary Cooper starrs as a though (former) Sheriff that wants to defend his town one last time from Frank Miller (Ian McDonald) and his gang. The film shows his desperate try to recruit men to help him against the Millers and depicts the moral conflict the citizens of the town have about the situation. The suspense peaks up at last - a final showdown between him and his rivals occurs.