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Since You've Been Gone (1998)
High School (ugh!)
This movie struck my adolescent home... and hard! The story line is rather brief in the drama department, mostly consisting of characterization "sketches" held together by the 10th reunion event. But I must declare, these vignettes were very much as I remember the angst of high school socializations. Every now and then I desire to watch this movie and usually end up watching it 2 or 3 times in one session. I think a good many people who have seen this movie dislike it because of the accurate recollections of those painful, "glory lost" or awkward years in high school. David Schwimmer's character as the class president reminds me of the social strata that necessitated the need to endure extreme torment. The trivial yet paradoxically significant feud between doctors McEldowney and Prince poignantly points out those events which act as a great social forge in our personal developments. There are so many personalities represented in this movie, and these personalities are highly representative of my friend's and my own high school years. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who can look back into their personal past and laugh at those formative semi-adult years in life.
The Mountain (1956)
Humble and spiritual
This movie is often described as simple and unidimensional. But in the context of spirituality and high moral character, this movie rates high.
Spencer's character is described as dull, and his acting effort minor. But how else is a man reverent of nature and God supposed to be portrayed. The subtleties of this character are often overlooked in our glamorized, sensationalized society. Quiet reverence, devotion to God and family are the central messages of this movie. Observe how Tracy's character tolerates and endures the unruly "modern-ess" of his much younger brother, portrayed well by Wagner.
This movie may be "sappy" to some, but I found it's moral message to be most uplifting and a pleasant departure from machine guns, gangster and starlets, sex and violence. Although, in a very minor respect, those elements are visible in this movie. This is a good family movie.
Coneheads (1993)
Not So Bad
Sometimes people expect a lot from a comedy. Comedy in itself is like music, very subjective and personal. Some people detest Jim Carey, some think of him as the greatest physical comedian ever. You decide. Dan Akroyd has shown himself a versatile comedic & dramatic actor.
Coneheads (the movie & as seen on SNL) was wacky, a bit Sophomoric, but, for me completely entertaining. The last "skit" I saw on SNL was their recall to Remulak using the Chrysler building as their emergency escape vehicle. Who could be serious about this!
True, this movie is a patchwork of comedy skits. It's designed to make us laugh and not necessarily intimate moral precepts. Each comedic segment was thoroughly in keeping with the outrageous activities of outer space aliens marooned on Earth. A "day if the life of" so to speak.
The Coneheads mis-assimilations into Earth culture are the basis of this comedy. I place this movie on the order of the '30's "screwball" comedies. Compare "Coneheads" to "Bringing Up Baby".
When you notice Beldar's ascension in Human achievements, doesn't he personify the "American Dream"? How can anyone not like a movie where the main character saves his life using alien (Earth, in this case) technology.
I highly recommend this movie despite the fact it is not a Hawks, Capra or Coppola product. Most entertaining!
The Wind and the Lion (1975)
Good Story Line
It is always good to see Connery in a role which is most dissimilar to the Bond characterization. This movie also has Bergan at her loveliest. The two portray opposites in demeanor and culture but nearly fall in love. Courage, honor and determination impregnate the dramatized historical account. This movie is most inspirational as well as entertaining. No one should refuse it.