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Gunga Din (1939) Directed by George Stevens

Posted by: Frank Veenstra Posted date: 2:48 PM / comment : 0 , , , , , , , , ,

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(Review originally written at 8 October 2008)

Loose from its last 30 minutes or so this movie really isn't anything too greatly written or something too exciting too watch.
Seems to me that a story is almost non-existent in the first part of the movie, or at least it isn't anything to renewing or exciting. For an adventure movie this movie is certainly lacking with its adventure and exciting and spectacular moments. The movie begins well but it then not much later begins to sort of drag, when the movie more starts to rely on its three main characters, who just aren't good enough on their own and are only fun when they are together.
There isn't always a too great balance between the movie its light amusement and the movie its more serious tone. Because of this mostly the more serious tone of the movie doesn't always quite work out. The movie foremost focuses on its fun and adventurous aspects that also at times fall short however. Guess you could also say that the movie just hasn't aged too well and that this was still a better movie to watch in 1939 than it is now days. Much have been quite refreshing and spectacular for 1939 standards, especially it's action sequences.
But of course it's not an horrible movie or one that I hated watching. I actually quite liked it but for a movie with such an high rating and the status of a classic it's just a slightly disappointing one. The movie is not horrible by any means but just not much special either. It's average in basically every way thinkable, which doesn't make the movie bad but just a good and fun enough movie to pass some time.

The movie is mostly enjoyable to watch when its action kicks in. The movie also often features some large scale action and battle sequences, which are of course always something special to watch. 

 Especially the final battle sequence is quite epic and enjoyable to watch. I just wish I could say that the movie as a whole was also an epic one to watch but its very simplistic- and not present enough story is the foremost reason why "Gunga Din" isn't a classic '30's adventure movie in my book.
Of course the movie its cast should be reason enough already for the movie to be a watchable one. Cary Grant, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Joan Fontaine were all big stars at the time. Sam Jaffe was just a beginning actor at the time of this movie, as weird as it might sound, considering that he already was close to his 50's at the time of making this movie.
Good and fun enough to watch but it doesn't fully live up to its reputation.
7/10


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Columbo: Forgotten Lady (1975) Directed by Harvey Hart

Posted by: Frank Veenstra Posted date: 5:05 AM / comment : 1 , , , , , , , , ,





(Review originally written at 27 July 2008)

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

This is one of the best and also most enjoyable Columbo movie to watch out there. It's also original with its story and features some great actors as well. Even though it's one of the longest Columbo movie, it still is one of the best flowing ones and its 97 minutes simply fly by and it's over before you know it.

Harvey Hart seemed to be a director who knew how to handle the Columbo character and all of its usual ingredients that made the Columbo movie so great to watch. He handles especially the humor of the movie well, making his Columbo movies among the most entertaining ones to watch. But this doesn't mean that the mystery also doesn't get handled well.

It's a Columbo movie with a great story, with solid characters and as well an original ending to it. It's after all the only Columbo movie in which the killer gets away with the crime, for an humane reason. It's perhaps also the Columbo movie with the best ending because it's so surprising as well as original. It's a story that works as well on some more dramatic levels than any other Columbo movie perhaps. It's an engaging movie that really sucks you in and makes you care about its characters. It shows a real humane side of Columbo.

The story provides its movie with some great characters and settings, in the showbiz world. Columbo has an obvious respect for the main suspect, since it's an actress and performer he and his wife admirer. This gives the movie some great sequences in it, in which Columbo of course realizes very well that she committed the murder but is still reluctant to show this and confront her with it, since deep inside it's obvious that he wishes that it really was a suicide instead of a murder, or at least that it would had been committed by someone totally else.

The movie has a great cast, with mostly actors from the old days. Something that isn't anything uncommon for a Columbo movie. Besides Janet Leigh the movie also features movie veteran Sam Jaffe, as the movie its victim. Janet Leigh also is great, in a role in which she basically plays herself. The musical movie constantly featured throughout the movie also is an old unknown movie starring Janet Leigh, called "Walking My Baby Back Home" from 1953, by Lloyd Bacon.

Really one of the best and most enjoyable Columbo movies out there.

9/10

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Battle Beyond the Stars (1980) Directed by Jimmy T. Murakami & Roger Corman

Posted by: Frank Veenstra Posted date: 3:42 PM / comment : 0 , , , , , , , , , , , ,





(Review originally written at 14 December 2007)

The movie has got some of the worst storytelling I've experienced in a long while. Scene's rapidly follow each other, without often feeling an obvious connection. It's a very disjointed movie, in which some sequence, mostly the action one's, happen without no apparent reason. It makes this one of those annoying hard to watch movies, that is not because of its intelligence or well layered and constructed story. Unfortunately the movie gets only worse as it progresses.

It uses the exact same plot and characters as Akira Kurosawa's "Shichinin no samurai", which is of course fine on its own, since it's also something "The Magnificent Seven" did but it also heavily 'borrows' from other movies such as "Star Wars ", "Superman", "Alien" and the "Star Trek" franchise. In other words every other popular genre piece released before at that time and without any shame. Also especially annoying how the movie uses the same sounds effects as in those previous mentioned movies. For instance, hear Darth Vader's breathing as a door opens...ridicules. It could had worked as this movie was supposed to be a spoof, which it isn't.

Yes the movie is supposed to be comical and has humorous moments, characters and dialogs at times. It helps to give the movie a certain camp and cheesy entertaining value.

The action is a complete bore within this movie, mostly because halve of the time you don't know what is going on and who is fighting who, plus it's all done extremely formulaic and standard. Nothing spectacular or groundbreaking happens ever in this movie.

The special-effects are pretty dodgy looking in the movie (directed by James Cameron by the way). But no, perhaps not as bad as you would expect from a B-movie. Fairly much the same goes for the sets and costumes. Through some of the make-up effects and clothing are hilariously bad. There's a weird bunch of character in this movie!

Perhaps the greatest and only real good thing about this movie is the fine and rather well known musical score by James Horner. Guess this movie also was the reason why he got the "Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan" job, which is still one of his best and most appreciated works.

Pretty amazing how many well known actors agreed to be in this movie, also especially when considering producer's's Roger Corman's notorious reputation in B and some even Z-grade movies. But in that regard this one perhaps isn't even among his worst movies. Robert Vaughn, George Peppard and Sam Jaffe were no small time actors, although admittedly it's true that their careers were already declining at the time. Jaffe was almost 90 while starring in this movie!

The storytelling makes this absolutely one of the worst genre movie you'll ever see! Two big fat thumbs down for this one.

2/10

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The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) Directed by Robert Wise

Posted by: Frank Veenstra Posted date: 2:08 PM / comment : 0 , , , , , , , , , ,



(Review originally written at 21 July 2007)

 This movie is so totally refreshing different than its fellow genre movies from the '50's! Everyone has a certain images in their mind about '50's science-fiction movies, with flying saucers of which you can see the wires, aliens with bad make-up effects and simple plots. The type of Ed Wood movies. "The Day the Earth Stood Still" is a much, much different movie fortunately!

 It's not a movie that tries to impress, it's instead more of a movie that tries to provoke and at all time remain as realistic as possible. The movie its message is clear and (unfortunately) it still applies today, just as much as it did over 50 years ago.

 Normally these type of movies from this time period would be about aliens causing mayhem and destruction, by trying to take over or simply destroy the Earth. This movie does begin as one of those sort of movies but soon starts to take a positive turn, when it starts to totally focus on its script and story, rather than any action or over-the-top science-fiction moments. It's a clever and provoking movie. Everything happening in this movie happens with a reason.

 The way the alien visits Earth and tries to discover things and places is done in a great way. It's a reflecting and objective view of a neutral person. It's really a movie that holds up a mirror to the world and therefor works great and effective as a social commentary, that still applies today.

 The movie has some great convincing special effects (especially for '50's standards of course) that are still acceptable by today standards. The movie is not as cheap looking as most of the genre movies from the same time period, though I imaging this movie had just such an high budget as any other. So also real big kudos to director Robert Wise who brought it all so very well and convincing to the screen. Robert Wise would later make also such science-fiction classics as "The Andromeda Strain" and "Star Trek: The Motion Picture". Another thing that makes this movie distinct itself from other is the classic Bernard Herrmann score.

 The main character is greatly played by the unknown Michael Rennie . He really has the right looks of an alien in human form. Also surprising how important and strong the female character played by Patricia Neal in this movie is. The always great Sam Jaffe also plays a good, though small role in the movie. But the real classic and most memorable character of the movie is the robot Gort, played by the very tall Lock Martin. Even though it's not a character that talks or even movies a lot, it's still one that impresses very much, just by its looks and actions. He has become a real classic!

 A real refreshing genre classic about still 'hot' subjects!

 10/10

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La bataille de San Sebastian (1968) Directed by Henri Verneuil

Posted by: Frank Veenstra Posted date: 1:15 PM / comment : 0 , , , , , , , ,



(Review originally written at 27 February 2007)

 The movie begins bad with some bad story-flow and also the rest of the movie suffers from this, though the movie definitely gets better as the movie progresses. In the beginning it isn't too clear were the movie is heading to and the movie makes a pretty formulaic and redundant impression. However from the moment on when the main character arrives in San Sabastian, the story gets developed well and becomes interesting and original. This certainly ain't no formulaic spaghetti western. The movie gets multiple layered, when it concentrates on the divine. It helps the characters to develop well and the story to become interesting. The movie certainly shows some parallels to the movie "The Mission", even though it isn't as beautifully and professionally made.

 It doesn't seem like it at first but the movie becomes surprisingly action filled toward the ending, with some quite big scale battles. Also the ending most certainly does not disappoint.

 The movie has some good actors that help to flesh out the flat characters. Anthony Quinn is a good main lead and he makes the moral change his character goes through seem believable. Charles Bronson plays a good movie villain, though his character is perhaps a bit underused. Further more the movie features Sam Jaffe, once again in the role of a Christian.

 The directing isn't much good, since the story-flow of the movie is quite poor at times, which is also due to some bad editing. Nevertheless the movie is filled with some memorable and great looking sequences, although it's also definitely true that most of those sequences are being uplifted by the musical score by Ennio Morricone.

 Definitely worth seeing if you get the chance.

 7/10

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The Asphalt Jungle (1950) Directed by John Huston

Posted by: Frank Veenstra Posted date: 5:33 AM / comment : 0 , , , , , , , ,





(Review originally written at 7 August 2006)

This is one real classic and great heist movie. It has all the typical genre elements present and a great, oh so important, dark and gritty atmosphere. This is crime/film-noir at its very best!

"The Asphalt Jungle" is a quite typical heist movie with all the formulaic characters and elements present in it. I however really like the approach of this movie on its story. It provides us a view in the dark violent criminal underworld of the '50's and it chooses to not really have a main character. Instead the story focuses on all of the major players that are involved in the heist; before, during and after. It makes every plot line and character just as engaging and interesting as the other. It makes "The Asphalt Jungle" a consistently powerful crime/film-noir that is filled with all the necessary elements, such as backstabbing characters and honor amongst thieves. Combine that with a perfectly dark and gritty atmosphere and the end result is one of the most consistent and engaging heist movies ever created, if not the best of all time.

The story is told really well. Instead of having only fast paced action sequences, the movie maintains a steady pace during its entire running time. It doesn't make one moment slow or the other fast, it instead is a very consistent movie that thanks to its steady pace doesn't ever have any boring or too slow moments, like often is the case with movies from the same period. Also the fact that it focuses on more than one storyline or character, makes the movie even more interesting to follow. Due to this, every event and character in the movie becomes just as interesting and engaging as the other. The formulaic screenplay is made really interesting and powerful thanks to John Huston his refreshing directing and take on the story. He makes the story look more exciting, tense and engaging than it was on paper. It makes the character introductions, the heist itself and its aftermath work all extremely well and the one just as powerful and interesting as the other. It's certainly one of the most consistently great movies I have ever seen.

Like you would expect from a genre movie like this, the atmosphere plays a very important role for the movie. This particular movie does have a great atmosphere. It's deliciously dark and gritty and has some great cinematography and use of light, done by Harold Rosson, who was one of the very best cinematographers of his period. The musical score by Miklós Rózsa is also wonderful, though its unfortunately not often enough present in the movie.

Film-noir's always are very straight-forward and have a certain feel of realism. The movie is not only realistic due to it's atmosphere but it's also mainly very realistic, due to its character treatment, dialog and well cast actors.

The acting in this movie is great. The actors in this movie are by no means some of the greatest that ever lived but they all suite their roles extremely well. Especially Sterling Hayden as Dix Handley is fantastic. Very raw and tough. Also really well cast were Sam Jaffe, Louis Calhern and Jean Hagen. Marilyn Monroe is also really good in this movie. She doesn't play a very large role but her presence is big and impressive enough to leave a lasting impression.

Impressive, realistic, gritty heist movie in typical film-noir style brilliantly directed by John Huston. An absolute must-see for the fans of the genre.

10/10

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