Reviews

Don't have expectations - the male leads tell it all: Astaire plays Astaire and Skelton plays Skelton. (It's always a joy to see Red Skelton playing a serious comedy and not the slapstick tramp he's too often remembered for.) But Vera-Ellen! What an athlete because just identifying her as a dancer is too limiting. The cartwheel she turns in the "married dancers at home" is stunning, if on the stage would have been a showstopper for sure!

Keenan Wynn! Arlene Dahl! Even Debbie Reynolds's in her film debut, this film is a "That's Entertainment" before anyone thought to pull all these gems together.

So put it on in the background and pay attention when Red Skelton is speaking and when Vera-Ellen is dancing. Oh yes, Fred can run a step or two as well!

What a lousy movie! How about spending more time on a real story that viewers could latch onto rather than worrying about where the next squirt of steam comes out of the wall, or where the next oh so obvious slasher style, scared, jumping, comes from out of a shadow? I am so tired of the use of strobes and darkness to create an atmosphere; do it with story! I watched this movie because it has somewhat of a place in sci-fi cinema, but perhaps it was stimulating at the time, now it is just a waste of bits and bytes.

The ship itself was ridiculous as an intergalactic vehicle; what's with the wings and arms and antenna sprouting like some kind of Battleship? Perhaps the original story had a ship designed to look much more like white and intergalactic, black hole-utilizing spaceship might be.

Tightened up both in the story and the acting and the sets could make this a true nail biter. Who is the alien? Are there really any? The story line of concern about rogue militaries got lost. Wow it is a great concept, but squeeze it down! Especially if budget limits sound equipment - not a time to film in large rooms. The whole war history of the world was totally unnecessary. What was Operation Troy anyway?

Sorry Mark, direction might have saved your actors from giving wooden performances.

Loved the concept tho' actually you can chuckle at the horrendous acting and sound and lighting while still trying to figure the storyline.

You can jump in and out and see what someone thinks a spy movie should look like. TV movie score for sure. I almost anticipated commercials. Don't try to follow any story line; just enjoy how the actors do what they are told to do. You can hear the director coaching, while looking at his watch. Can only imagine what went on in editing.

But it is fun to look at!

Just what vacation was Barry on anyway? He must be some lawyer back home - a Bond/Flint type practicing law?

Lawyer picks up college grad and immediately invite her to his room; poor innocent American! He's in for a surprise for sure.

Anna Bryant is a joy, as she tries hard to carry the role. Barry keeps up, and along with Karen Jensen make it viewable.

One last thought: is not Walt Bissell always great?!!

I usually dislike these past-present combination movies as often they confuse more than intrigue. This is no different, except the actors seriously invest you in the characters, and keep you rooting for them even to the somewhat obvious end. Perhaps some footage landed on the editing room floor that would have made some plot movement more clear. But the scenes are beautiful, Moscow and the river at night, and of course Ms Ferguson and her costars are worth the view. The story is actually moving and best part is that the conclusion and final frame are perfectly paced. This film could easily have been a 9 in my rating except for some possibly poor edits. Worth the time!

The best films will leave you pondering your own values and your willingness to act upon them. Very few of us are offered the opportunity to make a moral choice of such magnitude as presented here. It will pose the question of what would I do, would I have the strength, or would I cop out and live my simple life instead? We can go to rallies, and contribute to causes, but even then we rarely stand out to speak a moral truth. We do conquer moral issues in small, daily efforts: perhaps we call out not a racial or otherwise inappropriate joke, or challenge somebody who tossed trash into the street. This movie succeeds if it raises your ability to make such statements, and perhaps prepares us for when and if we are offered greater moral choices.

OK, that's not a review, and some people may think that Keira Knightley doesn't put over the emotional conflict very well. I believe she did, although her uncertainty often switched rather quickly to righteous indignation. The movie should generate an emotional response, and that's what great movies (and dreams) are made of.

This movie needs to be seen in the view of what domestic abuse victims suffer through in their decision process to stay, fight, or leave. Taken in that sense, the conflicts that each woman and the group experience make sense. If you expect a dramatic story within the construct (that of an ultra-conservative fundamentalist community, where the women are kept illiterate and totally subjugated to the men), well then it won't work. These women were much too intelligent to be illiterate, and the men would have been much more a factor in the outcome.

The movie is really about the heartbreaking choices abused women are faced with. Stripped out of the setting and set up, it does work. Suspend disbelief and you will be moved.

If you think you know Columbo from the long running series, this will be a treat - this Columbo, the original pilot, is not the curious, crumbled character he later gets written as. This Columbo is shrewd, mean, and actually well dressed (at times). The battle of wits between Columbo and Gene Barry is edge of the seat drama, especially if you are used to the "just one more thing" Columbo.

The ending is a little contrived, perhaps the pressures of prime time TV. These were the glory days of NBC Mystery Sunday, and Columbo was the most successful.

Don't miss this one you'll appreciate Peter Falk all that much more!

Thank God for Thandie who has the only interesting dialog. The rest of the self-affecting patter is in hushed tones, thru the fourth wall too often. Maybe I fell asleep a few times but I couldn't tell anyway. Can't go wrong with Ms Ferguson's hair and Mr. Jack man's chest, but, well, if you're on a trans-pacific flight maybe it is worth background viewing.

A delight! Visually and audibly, riveting if a comedy can be one. You have to lay yourself go - suspend disbelief - and enjoy the ride! The references are probably beyond anyone's comprehension but if you love movies you'll love the challenge.

Watch every part of every scene and appreciate the filmmakers.