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Reviews
Wonderwall (1968)
Incomprehensible Mess
This film is a piece of pretentious, pseudo-psychedelic crap. It is bad even for the sixties (and, being a child of the sixties, I've seen it all)! As for the soundtrack, George Harrison was right - he didn't know anything about movie music. Of course, all the people who slobber all over anything related to the Beatles will call the soundtrack a work of genius, but it's a perfect match for this dismal attempt at....what? Certainly, Harrison was a gifted guitarist (and Ringo was a pretty good drummer), but not everything the Beatles touched was magic (witness Hey Jude and Let It Be - two pieces of absolute twaddle to which no one would have given a second listen had they been written and performed by anyone else. However, I will say this in defense of Harrison: no one could have written a soundtrack that could have saved this piece of dreck.
Man of the West (1958)
The second-best western ever made
With the exception of John Ford's "The Searchers," this is the best western ever made. And, believe me, I've seen them all. A cast that was selected, I'm sure, for its pure grittiness, shines in this uncompromising film. Gary Cooper plays a reformed outlaw who has the misfortune of being on a train held up by his former gang. When the gang recognizes him, they take him and several other passengers with them, including Julie London's character. an excellent supporting cast, including Lee J. Cobb, Jack Lord, Royal Dano, and Jack Albertson, turns in a bravura performance. I must mention Royal Dano's incredible performane as a mute outlaw in the final scenes. This is a turn you'll never forget! All in all, a must see for all fans of westerns!
The Searchers (1956)
Simply the best western ever made!
When John Wayne and John Ford got together, you could expect quality. But when they teamed up for this film, they outdid themselves. I have yet to see a movie in which the characters are so fully and richly defined, and the times so faithfully reproduced. I agree with those who say that the Monument Valley in Utah doesn't resemble anything in Texas, but that is the only criticism of this film I can abide. Those who say John Wayne couldn't act or play anyone but himself had to eat those words after this film was released. Wayne sears the screen as the grizzled, bitter Ethan Edwards, who is determined to kill his niece, Debbie, the long-time captive of a Commache tribe. Jeff Hunter plays his nephew to perfection, a man determined to save Debbie from her vengeful uncle. A movie called "possibly the best movie ever made" by no less an authority than Steven Spielberg, who am I, or anyone else for that matter, to argue?
Yellowbeard (1983)
Great Fun!
With a cast including Monty Python's Graham Chapman, Madelline Kahn, and Cheech and Chong, how can you go wrong? The plot is absolutely insane, everybody involved was obviously having fun, and the dialogue is so outrageous that you can't miss by giving this a viewing. As usual, Kahn steals the show, although the rest of the cast are no slouches. Cheech and Chong turn in a hilarious bit, and Chapman is suitably over the top. All in all, a celebration of total lunacy concocted by an irreverent bunch of crazies!! Obviously, the critics hated it. In my opinion, people who don't like this film (or the Three Stooges) have an irrational fear of anarchy!
The Bermuda Depths (1978)
All the elements of a bad flick, but still hauntingly memorable
Unlike many of the folks who have left comments on this movie, I first saw "The Bermuda Depths" (TBD) when I was in my late thirties or early forties. It is a movie that I should have written off as being just another cheesy made-for-TV flick but, instead, I found it to be strangely affecting, if not outright haunting. This feeling, I admit, flies in the face of the bad special effects (the giant turtle, for example), sometimes corny dialog, and a story rife with holes. I don't know if it was the interesting cast (Burl Ives puts in an especially good performance), the intriguing music, the story, or Connie Selleca's breathtaking beauty, but I was hooked. I watched it several more times before putting it on tape. I have since transferred it to a DVD, which I pull out every now and then. Strangely enough, my kids have come to share my love of this film, although they, like their Dad, can't say exactly why. This film is somewhat reminiscent of some fantasy films of the forties and fifties. For example, I can't watch "A Portrait of Jenny" without thinking of TBD. Like TBD and "A Portrait of Jenny," some films rise above their obvious flaws and connect with the viewer's emotions in a very special way. These are special films, indeed, and deserve a different kind of recognition. In summary, if you get a chance to see "The Bermuda Depths" (if it ever airs again or comes out in DVD form), try to watch it with your heart and not your head. If you can, you, too, will be hooked.