Reviews

Date: August.12, 2012 -First Time Watch- Continuing my journey through Frank Sinatra films I watched 'Pal Joey' next. In it Sinatra plays Joey Evans, a lady's man who wants nothing else then to run his own joint. He soon finds himself in the middle of two women, Linda English (Novak) a show girl and Vera Simpson (Hayworth) a wealthy widow. If you ask me, you couldn't go wrong with either women. I'm not a big musical person but I rather enjoyed this one. It didn't have too many musical numbers and the acting was really good. I especially love the scenes between Joey and Linda at the house where they're renting rooms right next to each other. Also a nice touch was the little dog that becomes Joey's after Linda pulls a bad trick on him. I really did like this movie and Frank Sinatra is quickly becoming one of my favorite actors.

Date: 27 July, 2012 -First Time Watch- Having just seen 'From Here To Eternity' and loving Frank Sinatra in it I decided to watch another Sinatra film. Since I was unable to find 'The Tender Trap' co-starring Debbie Reynolds I decided 'Suddenly' instead. The story did sound somewhat usual; President is coming to town and Sinatra plays an assassin that tries to get him. The ending is predictable but I decided wanted to see it. Sterling Hayden plays the sheriff in the small town of Suddenly. He is good friends with widow Ellen, her son Pidge and Ellen's father-in-law Peter. Ellen lost her husband during World War Two and has really not moved on. I understand it's hard to lose someone so close to you like a husband in such a tragic way, but for goodness sakes Ellen just won't let it go! She's definitely overbearing to her son, who wants a play gun but she doesn't want him to have it since she's afraid it'll lead to violence. I agree with her father-in-law: "Stop acting like a woman Ellen". Moving on. Anyways, Sinatra arrives in town with his two assistants (dumb assistants might I add I would have picked smarter people to help me out) and takes Ellen, Pidge, the sheriff, and Peter hostage. You see there house overlooks the train station, the perfect spot to shot the president. Thus beginning a rush against time to stop Sinatra and save the president. There has been tons of movies about this topic and you always knows how it ends; the president is saved and the bad guy dies. This movie is no exception. Yet I really liked this movie more then the others. For a few reasons; 1) The acting was a lot better then most movies (Sinatra was really good, I think he could become one of my favorite actors) 2) It wasn't very long (I get tired of movies that go on and on and on) 3) The dialogue was so much better then most movies! Those are the three reasons why I gave this movie such a high rating. Now, is it for everyone? No, most likely only die hard Sinatra fans will love this movie. Or people like me, people aren't die hard Sinatra fans but love older movies with more interesting dialogue. If you're a person who loves things blowing up and enjoy movies that are longer then an hour and fifteen minutes then I suggest you watch another killing the President movie. Overall this movie is not too bad I would recommend it.

8/10

Date: 27 June, 2012 -First Time Watch- Like everyone else, I was interested in seeing 'The Avengers' so I finally went to go see it after it came out over a month ago and has grossed over six hundred million. After the movie was over, I realized it wasn't as good as I thought it would be. The storyline was like ever other action movie. Bad guy wants something. Some complications between the group. Lots of cars flying around. Good guys win. Why does this movie do better? Don't ask me. I'm not saying the movie was terrible, it was enjoyable for the most part (Downey had some awesome one liners!) but it wasn't spectacular. If you want see this movie, definitely go see it at the theaters. If you want till DVD, I'll think you'll be disappointed even more since you weren't in the theater to get the whole experience. Overall, seven out of ten stars.

7/10

Date: 26 June, 2012 -First Time Watch- I had been waiting to see 'From Here to Eternity' for several weeks. Being a big old Hollywood movie fan, this was near the top of my list. It has a perfect cast; Burt Lancaster, Deborah Kerr, Frank Sinatra. So, I had high hopes. Might I say, I was not at all disappointed! It was everything I expected and then some. I'm so going to buy this movie. It's one of my all time new favorites. How this movie played out, though, surprised me. As expected I loved Sinatra's character. He was awesome! A fun loving character you wouldn't mind being around. Of course, most of the times, your favorite characters are killed off, which of course happened to Sinatra's character. That made me kind of upset, to be honest. I was also shocked that Montgomery Clift's character was killed off at the end. That was really sad since he was mistaken as a Japanese from far away and was therefore shot several times. Then, I also thought Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr would end up together. Wrong again. Yet, it doesn't matter. Movies that have surprise twists and turns make it all the more enjoyable. Absolutely amazing and I highly recommend it.

10/10!

Date: 26 June, 2012 -First Time Watch- I would have never picked out this movie by myself. Yet, I was forced to watch it since it was my sister's night to pick a movie for the family to see. Being a big vampire-werewolf fan she picked this movie, which would be alright for me since I'm a huge old Hollywood fan and I enjoy watching old movies. Well, I enjoy watching old movies just not this one. To begin, I found it interesting that while the story takes place in the 1800s, the people all wore 1930s clothing, making them look out of place with the setting. Different idea (one that upset my sister might I add) but not terrible. Then we go to Dracula's castle. I have to say, I couldn't stand Dracula's accent. It was to apparent and it seemed like Bela Lugosi was trying to hard. Then again, actors back in the 1930s did overact most of the time. Renfield, the poor guy who visits Dracula, then walks through a spider web. Dracula says he has a small spider going around. Small!? That web was huge! Looks like the spider who made it could eat a small dog! Dracula then took Renfield to his room for the night, which Dracula gives a long and awkward speech about. He then takes Renfield's suitcases and goes to another room. The door opens by itself! If I was Renfield, I would be scared. What door opens by itself? By the end of the night, Renfield becomes Dracula's slave so it really doesn't matter. Dracula and Renfield go to England aboard a ship and Renfield is found and put into a mental institution. Not a good one might I add. Renfield escapes like ten times! A bunch of other weird things happen throughout the movie, might I add but I don't feel like adding them. However, I will mention the funniest part. When Mina is visited by the bat, you can see the string the fake bat is on! Come on! And it doesn't even move! What the heck? After watching the movie, I was relieved. But, here's the thing about old movies that I've learned. You can't judge it on the year you're watching it in, but on the year it came out. And I guess for the year it came out in, 1931, it was good. I mean, brilliant since I read afterwords that when people first saw it, some fainted in horror. I almost did too. But, in a different way.

4/10

Date: 26 June, 2012 -First Time Watch- When I saw the first 'Sherlock Holmes' I didn't like it. I found that the accents were so apparent that it was hard to understand what was coming out of anyone's mouth. Yet, at the urgency of my sister, I watched the second one. Much better. The accents were so apparent and you could understand the characters better. I seemed to like the characters more in this one too. While I was shocked Rachel McAdams' character was killed off right away in the beginning, I was happy with bringing Noomi Rapace in. I think she was very good and I look forward to seeing her in other films. I found Watson more enjoyable to, though I can't understand for the life of me why he wouldn't be more upset by the two faked deaths of Sherlock Holmes. I mean, Watson thought he was dead those two times and he didn't seem that upset. If that was my friend, I would be devastated. Which reminds me, I was kind of let down that Watson's dog wasn't in it more. I think he is so adorable! Then again I'm a dog person so I think about every dog is adorable. I also liked the villain more. He seemed like he was out to destroy the world. I also liked how the movie went to different cities instead of just staying in boring old London. Because, let's admit it, staying in just one city can sometimes be boring. Overall, this movie scored eight out of ten stars for me simply because while I really did enjoy it, it's not one of my favorites and it was just your average action movie. Not a lot of emotions, just guns blazing and the good guy coming up on top.

8/10

Date: 18 June, 2012 -First Time Watch- E. T. is one of those movies that you regret not watching earlier. It took me fifteen years to finally watch this movie and I have to admit, I am short of mad at myself for not doing it earlier. Everyone knows the story. Little E. T. is left on planet Earth and soon meets Elliott, a boy who desperately needs a friend. Along with his older brother and younger sister (Drew Barrymore was so adorable as a child!) they embark on a quest to get E. T. home. If there's one thing I want to make clear in my review it's that E. T. is one of the sweetest and cutest aliens ever!! My favorite scene was by far when he went downstairs, while everyone was gone, and drank tons of beer that also affected poor Elliott. Then, the selfish humans came. Can't people just leave little E. T. alone? He didn't do anything wrong. I was almost near tears after it appeared E. T. was dead but what kind of story would that be if our innocent little alien friend died? Not a good one. E. T. rose again and made it back home. A sweet, sweet ending. So, in conclusion, I would suggest this movie to people. However, the reason why I only gave this movie a eight out of ten was because it was slightly predictable.

8/10

Date: 15 June, 2012 -First Time Watch- After finishing the book 'Water for Elephants' I decided to watch the movie, thinking it may not be as spectacular as the book (though I admit the book was kind of disappointing. To my surprise, I actually really liked it. I liked how the movie began when Jacob went to the circus at the end of the book and began telling the story to the circus owner instead of doing flashbacks as Sara Gruen did in the novel. The only hard part about this movie was Rosie. That poor animal. How can any home just keep hitting and stabbing a poor animal? I for one was very happy when Rosie killed August in the end. That was very enjoyable since August deserved it. I thought Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz all did a fantastic job and were enjoyable to watch. One thing that did bother me about the movie adaption is that Walter wasn't in it as much as the book. Walter was my favorite character in the book so I was kind of disappointed that he wasn't in the movie as much. Overall a well done movie that deserved more recognition that it got. I didn't give this movie a ten because it is not one of my favorites.

9/10

Date: 9 June, 2012 -First Time Watch- Whoa. That's about what sums up Johnny Cash's life. The things the man had to go through our mind blowing. After losing his brother Jack in a death that haunts him forever, Johnny joins the military and is stationed in Germany. For the next couple of years, Johnny climes the ladder of fame and hits every road block imaginable, from drugs to martial issues to struggling with his feelings for a woman he may not ever be able to have. Joaquin Phoenix was brilliant!! He has an amazing voice and was definitely on the top of his game when he did this movie. Which is why it bothers me that the Academy did not give him the Oscar! He deserved it! He also sounded exactly like Johnny Cash! Not to say Reese Witherspoon wasn't good, but if I had to pick between the two I would definitely give the Oscar to Phoenix. Overall this movie is amazing and definitely worth checking out.

Date: 9 April, 2012 -First Time Watch- Let me first begin by stating that I have seen the 1982 version of 'The Thing'. That was excellent. So, why I found out that this movie was a prequel, I decided to give it a chance. Terrible mistake. Yes, it's a prequel but a bad one at that. Everything they did was copying what happened in the 1982 version. Like the blood test. Though,they didn't use blood in this version, they instead used metal found in the mouth of everyone. One question, what if they never had a filling? And what the heck happened to the chick at the end? Did she freeze to death? No, this movie sucked and so not worth it.

3/10