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Reviews
Life Is Too Short to Dance with Ugly Women (1996)
Short, funny, effective
This is actually a remarkable short film and a highly entertaining one. The plot involves a grocery store holdup that goes awry. The performances are great and the twists really work. The camerawork is virtuousic (it's made to look like one continuous take, though if you watch closely you can find one cut during a swish-pan). The filmmakers apparently rehearsed it extensively then did only two takes during production.
The only drawback is the title, which is offensive and has no discernible connection to the content of the film.
In German with English subtitles (at least the print I saw).
Local Hero (1983)
An inspired little film
A refreshing change of pace; a whimsical, off-beat comedy with just enough plot to keep it going, just enough surprises in it to keep it interesting, and lots of great characters played by actors who really deliver.
The music by Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits adds richness to the experience, and the cinematography vividly contrasts tangled, sterile, modern-day Houston with the cool, gorgeous, emerald green Scottish landscape and the peaceful, pristine coastal village of Furness.
Well worth the trip.
Old San Francisco (1927)
American race consciousness at its worst.
For those weary of political correctness and who pine for the "good old days" before racial sensitivity, this film is a good antidote. It apparently caused a riot by Chinese-Americans in San Francisco's Chinatown in 1927, for good reason. Asian characters are involved in every sort of illicit subterfuge, from the opiate trade to fraud to white slavery; they worship false gods and, being heathen, cannot withstand the pure, righteous sound of Christian church bells, nor overcome good old fashioned Christian prayer.
Yikes!
Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000)
A botched film probably salvaged in the editing room.
My five year old found it mildly amusing, but this film is needlessly complicated, appallingly incoherent and completely witless. The original series was great; just don't get your hopes up too high when you put this one on the VCR.