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Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928) Directed by Charles Reisner & Buster Keaton

Posted by: Frank Veenstra Posted date: 7:48 AM / comment : 0 , , , , , , , ,





(Review originally written at 24 December 2007)

These early Buster Keaton movies are always both fun and charming to watch.

The movie is mostly fun because of its physical humor and charming because of the almost childish innocence that is in Keaton's performance. The movie also has a lot of comedy in its dialog. Surprising for a silent movie. Like often, the movie also further more features a cute little love-story involving Keaton and the young Marion Byron.

The story isn't much special and it's very typical for a '20's silent genre movie. It's however fun and interesting enough to hold your interest throughout but of course the movie is not dependent of it. The concept and its settings provides the movie with a couple of entertaining, silly and also original moments.

Once more Keaton also shows us his skills as a stuntman. He does some extreme dangerous stuff here. Of course stunts in those days were also much more dangerous than now, no matter how often much more spectacular it's looking all. Some of the things he does in this movie are really amazing, with of course the spectacular classic ending as the highlight- and most impressive of them all, when a cyclone hits the town and Keaton manages to run across collapsing buildings without getting hit and without him getting blown away, while also other large object are flying at him.

A great watch.

8/10

The General (1926) Directed by Clyde Bruckman & Buster Keaton

Posted by: Frank Veenstra Posted date: 6:01 AM / comment : 0 , , , , , , , ,





(Review originally written at 4 October 2007)

The great train chase would perhaps be a better and more suiting title for this movie. The movie is for most part set in a train engine and involved the Buster Keaton in the pursuit of another stolen train by the Union army, during the American Civil War.

You would think that a movie that's mostly set in a moving train engine would become tiresome after a while and jokes would start to repeat itself. But it's amazing all the stuff they came up with. What is it with Buster Keaton and trains? There also is one great long sequences involving a train in his earlier movie "Our Hospitality".

It's a really creative comedy, with always some surprising unexpected insane moments in it. It's way more than just some other slapstick routines. The movie also obviously caused more than most other silent comedy, made during the same era. As a matter of fact the movie actually features the single most expensive shot of the entire silent movie era in it.

Buster Keaton himself also once again performances all of his stunts. It aren't his biggest or most spectacular looking stunts but just as dangerous nevertheless.

The story was fun and interesting, also since it's partly based on true events during the Civil War. There of course aren't that many Civil War comedies in general, so in that regard this movie already is an original one. The set back of the movie enhances the story, that of course however does not form the most important aspect of the movie.

This was Buster Keaton's own personal favorite and it also really is one of his best movies!

9/10

Seven Chances (1925) Directed by Buster Keaton

Posted by: Frank Veenstra Posted date: 4:52 AM / comment : 0 , , , , , , ,





(Review originally written at 27 August 2007)

This is a really sweet little Buster Keaton movie, with a greatly executed story.

Its story is fun enough to make the movie consistently a fun one. It's the sort of story that has copied a lot in movies ever since but also was used in movies before this one. It's even a popular subject for modern present day comedies. It perhaps makes "Seven Chances" seem less original than it in fact truly is of course.

The movie uses a lot of title cards. I mean, basically every line that gets spoken in the movie gets shown in a title card. It also makes the dialog part of the comedy of the movie. It isn't a much visual comedy, meaning that it doesn't really feature much slapstick or things like that. It's more a movie that relies on its comical situations and of course on the acting comical talent of Buster Keaton. Also the supporting cast is really more than great.

The movie begins a bit standard and perhaps even a bit slow but when the movie its story starts to take form the movie turns into one great laugh fest, with the last 20 minutes or so as the ultimate highlight, when things start to get really crazy and paced and the movie gets turned into one big non-stop comical chase! It's the one great fun moment after the other, with also some great and dangerous stunt work again from Buster Keaton himself!

A great Buster Keaton must-see, from the silent-era!

9/10

Sherlock Jr. (1924) Directed by Buster Keaton

Posted by: Frank Veenstra Posted date: 4:28 PM / comment : 0 , , , , , , ,



(Review originally written at 27 July 2007)

As much as everybody seems to love this movie, I just don't count this among Keaton's best. It's a very creative movie but I feel that it also could had been made more fun.

Nevertheless, Buster Keaton movies from the '20's of course always remain a must-see. Keaton was unique in its sort, not only was he a great comedy-actor with excellent timing he also was an awesome stuntman, in the period when stunts weren't halve as safe as they are now.

What makes this movie especially distinct itself from other genre pieces made in the same period is the enormous amount of creativity in the movie. There are some unforgettable and brilliantly constructed sequences, such as the one in which Keaton literally enters a movie in the theater he works in. I still don't understand how they created those effects! The movie keeps changing locations with Keaton in it and he falls, runs and hides, without the camera ever moving, or the movie cutting. The movie is filled with more creative sequences such as this one and other daring stunts that look amazing.

There isn't much to the story of course really. In my opinion its also not really the most interesting one the genre has ever provided but it provides the movie with some fun moments and sequences nevertheless.

Not the best in its genre but for '20's standards a truly excellent movie!

7/10

Our Hospitality (1923) Directed by John G. Blystone & Buster Keaton

Posted by: Frank Veenstra Posted date: 3:28 AM / comment : 0 , , , , , , ,




(Review originally written at 24 March 2007)

Comedy movies from the '10's and '20's aren't known for their originality or overall brilliantness. Basically all the movie were the same and had predictable and simple laughs in it. In those days comedies were made for mostly one reason; to make good quick money, as cheap as possible. Studio's produced literally hundreds of movies like that per year. "Our Hospitality" is different. It's most definitely not a simple or cheap made movie and also its running time of over an hour is quite unique for its time. Comedies from the '20's really don't get any better than this one!

What surprised me the most is how perfectly watchable the movie still is by todays standards. Normally movies from the time period feel outdated and perhaps also clumsy in parts. "Our Hospitality" is really professionally made and is top-quality entertainment. It's pace and style and of course also the greatness of the movie makes sure that the movie is still perfectly watchable, even by todays standards.

It's not a movie that constantly tries to be funny, with many slapstick humor in it. It instead is a movie that dose its humor and uses at the right times and spots. It makes the comical moments work out all the more hilarious at times. It's also not a movie that just relies on its comical moments, like for instance in Laurel & Hardy movies often was the case but it also relies on its written story and at times even on its comical dialog. Surprising, considering that this is a silent movie.

"Our Hospitality" is really greatly written and has a great comical premise. Comedies from that time period more mostly set at purely one location but in "Our Hospitality" many different locations pass by. It's also the reason why the movie isn't as cheap and simple feeling as most other genre movies from the same period. The story is really solid, though it of course is also kept as simple as possible. It is perfect for the movie and its comedy.

There are really some great comical moments in the movie, such as the train travel. How much funny moments can you think of, purely set on a train, that looks like a stagecoach with a steam-engine put in front of it? Watch the movie if you want to know the answer. The sequences goes on for a long time but it just never weakens or seizes to amuse. Also the waterfall ending sequences is one to remember. There are many other much smaller and more subtle sequences in that that are also just as hilarious.

The movie has 3 generations of Keaton's in it; Father Joe Keaton, Buster Keaton himself and his son Buster Keaton Jr. Of course it's Buster Keaton that plays the main part of the movie. Besides acting he also directed the movie and he did all of his own stunts. And some of those stunts are really dangerous and extremely daring. doesn't it also make Buster Keaton one of the earliest action hero? He also plays some of the silliest moments of the movie with a straight-face, which makes those moments all the more hilarious to watch. This is a true Buster Keaton classic!

In my opinion a really great and fun absolute must-see!

10/10
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