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ml2348
Reviews
Crusader Rabbit: Crusader vs the State of Texas (1950)
When it first came out ....
When TV's first came out - I very vaguely remember the term "Television" - and had absolutely no idea what is was. I was in a hospital bed - recovering from some corrective operations of birth defects of the feet - very experimental at the time. But - I heard the nurses talking about "snow" and "Television", I wished them to show me these new items. Well - one day - this white stuff was falling just outside the window - she termed it "snow". Fascinating stuff indeed - laying there for hours watching this strange stuff. Wonderful - it seemed in 1948. But - this "Television" was driving me nuts - had to see what it was. When - finally - I recovered - they taught me to walk - at the age of 5. Strange time indeed. Some where in the neighborhood - someone mentioned "Television" - at a lounge somewhere. After searching & searching - in the Summer, 1950 - there was a bar with the beer logo of "Yusay Pilsen" - fascinated - I sneaked in - so small - they didn't even notice. Lo and behold - up on the counter - was a "Television" - watching it each day - they gave up trying to throw me out. One day - they put a program on called "Crusader Rabbit" - and I was enthralled. I begged our father to get a "TV". He said - he'd do better than that - he'd go to work for Motorola - local maker of TV's. He brought home a TV from work - for us for Christmas, 1950. We had the only TV for blocks & blocks. And - Crusader Rabbit was absolutely vital. Among other very early programs - we were raised on Crusader. So - if I tell you we were there at the start - well - we were there at the start. The very beginning. (ml2348@att.com)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Breakdown (1955)
Scary Enough
Boy - this one scared me - because - it shows what can happen in a blink of an eye. by the way - from personal experience - I found out what canhappen in the blink of an eye. So - I can relate to this film - very much so. Very good story line - very good casting - very good acting. It was very unnerving to watch him suffer - real psychological suffering - can almost fell it yourself. It seemed so very realistic in its filimg & acting - scared me no end. Often wondered what others would think of this movie. I enjoyed it immensely and hope others did to - wish they would write their comments - however - my only concern is - haven't seen it since mid 1950's - have never forgotten it. I only wish it could be shown again - this time - I'd tape it & watch it a lot. Please advise ml2348@att.com
The Naked Jungle (1954)
Not so Good
Well - I tried to give it my best advice - but - secretly - I was rooting for the ants - they seem to be the only ones who knew what they were doing. This movie was first viewed in the 1950's - we were still in grade school. My classmates seem to like it - but - I took a little more critical look at it - because - anyone willing to take on all those ants has got to be crazy - and - just for the record - most people encountering these ants, actually welcome them - because - these ants "clean out" the villages of bugs, rats, vermin, roaches, residue etc. So - why they stood to fight was a modern mystery to me. So - by driving away the ants - our "hero" Heston managed to keep all the bugs & rats to himself. The most RIDICULOUS line came when he says he "gave something back" to the jungle - like what - like throwing people out of work. Dismantling his plantation - now - how are the people going to make a living - not much of a living - but, at least the plantation kept them employed. So - he "gave back" unemployment - totally ridiculous story line - they could have done much better - I could have done much better. ml2348@att.com
The Outer Limits: Demon with a Glass Hand (1964)
Excellent - can't be improved
This one I liked - from the very first time it was viewed. It has power - with powerful actors & actress. You "feel" the force of the episode - and brace for the surprise ending. When first viewed - it held me spellbound -all the way to the end. We just sat there & thought about it. It was awesome that people could's imaginations could bring this to the screen with such skill. It made me jealous - how they could dream this up & I couldn't. This episode endeared me to the "Outer Limits" forever. It's really incredible they could find just the "right people" in the right scenes with just the "right lines" - When VCR's came out - saw my chance to watch these episodes over & over again - and never tire of them. But - I still remember that night in the early 1960's - when we were held spellbound by this episode - a standard by which other episodes should be judged - absolutely loved it. Thank very much for the privilege of letting me comment.
Michael ml2348@att.com
Simon, King of the Witches (1971)
Quite Interesting
Well - don't quite know what to think. Technically - it is a silly movie - but - it held my interest. For all its strange subject matter - have a liking for this film. It's hard to act on a distant theme as this one - and do it well. The special effect fit in nicely and were well done. Something of a thin plot - but not that noticeable. At least it wasn't too gory or too far out. A pleasant little movie to relax to. At least they didn't "try too hard" to make a movie of this genre. Most are silly at best - but - this fit in very well. For not having any well-known actors - they did very well with what they had. I wouldn't want to watch this one too often - but - for an occasional break - this film is ideal. There wa senough suspense to hold one's interest and wonder what will happen. It's a ob well done on a difficult theme. If you wish to discuss it - I'm at ml2348@att.com
The Highest Honor (1982)
Well - could have been a good movie.
There is one big, big lesson EVERY warrior needs to learn before doing battle - never, as in NEVER - volunteer information. John Howard's big mouth got them all killed. It freaked me out that he would volunteer anything to the enemy - the truth will NOT set you free. Up until his faux paux - it had the making of a good movie. Showing both sides of the coin was good & incisive. But - the ultimate deterioration of this movie came when Howard admits everything - as if a "confession" will help matters. If it weren't for that stupidity - it would have been a good movie. At best - I can only stomach parts of this movie - and stop at the dumb part. WHat else can I say - he cooked his own goose & his team mates with him. The guy i dumber than dirt - if that's at all possible. Care to talk - I'm at ml2348@att.com
Das Boot (1981)
Wunderbar !!
Well - a very exciting movie with very good attention to detail. I liked the German with English subtitles - the dubbed version didn't have the impact their language provides. Some beautiful scenes and some very scary scenes. J. Prochnow was the perfect choice for the Kapitan. What was also very good - was the dialog in which they criticize their own leaders & make no pretense about their doubts about the war. The ending bothered me in that the boat he loved sank before his very eyes. But - in the German Navy - the submariners suffered the highest casualty rate. Of the 35,000 submarine sailors - barely 4,000 ever survived the war. But - this is a movie I could watch over & over again. Cannot say that about too many other movies. Very good directing & cinematography. Wish they'd make more films like this. Want to discuss it - I'm at ml2348@att.com
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Waste of Electricity
Well - same comment I made on "Rosemary's Baby" seen around the same time. I didn't like this movie then - and like it even less now. The passage of time only deteriorated my opinion of this film. Because - it is nonsense - what else can I say. Perhaps psychologists can see imagery that I don't care about - but - it is silly at best - very boring at worst. If they going to use electricity - at least use it on something worthwhile. It takes forever to get through some scenes to prove some silly point - maybe giving apes some intelligence. But - what's the point. The Monolith and its meaning are too esoteric for most audiences - it is just sheer cartoonish. I gave this a 2 rating - which is way more than it deserves. I will never be a psychologist and don't intend to deduce the hidden meanings of esoteric movies. They're not worth it. Care to reply - I'm at ml2348@att.com
Serpico (1973)
Could they make a dumber movie ??
Mel Ginson put it perfectly in hi smovie "Payback" -- "Crooked cops - do they come any other way? If I had been born any dumber - I could have been one of them!" Describes Serpico to a Tee. Because - he was dumb - dumber than dirt. He had an inside track on dishonest cops - all he needed to do was - keep his mouth shut - go to the Feds - go to the IRS or the N.Y. Attorney General - he could have busted ALL of them. Instead - he acts like a twerp - trying to be "honest" - couldn't make a more ridiculous movie if they tried. I ust rue all the electricity & Union wages wasted on this piece of crap. Just for once - just once - I'd love to see a cop movie with people acting intelligent. If I wanted to watch dumb people acting - I'd run down to work - at least I'd get paid for it. It was so aggravating - i regret the day I ever spent any dollar on it. Certainly - hope to NEVER see it again. Want to talk about it - I'm at ml2348@att.com
Rosemary's Baby (1968)
Could have been done better
It was hoped that the passage of time would have improved my opinion of this movie. However - it made it worse. Because - Mia Farrow did a lot of acting like a dazed space cadet. Now - it's appropriate for this movie - however - It also gets on my nerves too much. Perhaps - a few short scenes of spaciness would do - then - snap out of hit and hit back! The movie "Exorcist" does this nicely - making it more of a chess game between good & evil. At the time I first saw "Rosemary's Baby" - it aggravated me that all the electricity & Union wages were spent to show a spaced out girl. I could run down to work - see all the spacey people I want & get paid for it !! That could have been kept to a minimum. At least "The Exorcist" people snapped out of it.
Also - it was VERY bothersome at the time that lies & deception seem to be useful to get things done. Regardless how true this is - just for once - I'd love to see truth & honesty gets things done. Tons of movies are made with the use of lies, dishonesty, deception, disloyalty & etc - even when I was little - it was aggravating to watch bullies & liars get their way on screen. Even with a "Hollywood Ending" - it would be nice to view movies with the best forces being honesty & truthful dealings. (perhaps - I'll never become a lawyer).
But - with the passage of time - my view of this movie deteriorated badly - never want to see it again. Views of the Dakota were good - some good scenes - but - it was a terrible waste of perfectly good electricity. Want to reply - I'm at ml2348@att.com