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The Silver Chalice (1954)
It's not really a movie
I will start by saying that I found this movie entertaining in a very untraditional way. It had none of the cohesiveness, realistic sets, and quality camera work usually characteristic of a movie, but it still managed to keep me entertained for approximately two hours. Without a doubt, I have to say the reason is Jack Palance's Simon the Magician. As an actor, he may have made the only plausible decision to keep the film from being an absolute snoozer. He perhaps realized the entire thing was supremely cartoonish and he turned Simon into a cartoon character with his over-the-top performance.
Other than that, like I said, The Silver Chalice isn't really a movie in my eyes, or at least not one ready to be released. The direction was pitiful, the writing equally bad, the set design was ridiculous, and most of the performances were lifeless (only Pier Angeli and Jack Palance seemed to actually be giving some sort of performance). It is no small wonder why Paul Newman found such enjoyment in ripping the film to shreds whenever possible. His performance might have been the worst of the bunch, as he was by no means believable in the role of Basil--a Pagan Greek seeking to see the face of Jesus.
On a side note, there was one casting decision that left me completely baffled. A young slave girl is played by Natalie Wood and through some odd twist of fate the girl grows into Virginia Mayo. This would be akin to having a young Mickey Rooney portray the teenage version of a Frank Sinatra character. Regardless of any changes in the aging of a person, their natures (the unconscious make-up of an actor) do not allow them to play the same character in a convincing fashion.
There's much more to be said about this film, but I will leave some mystery for those of you interested in watching Paul Newman's debut film.
The Dick Van Dyke Show: That's My Boy?? (1963)
A Study in Comedy Excellence
Based on the trivia, the show's ending caused an exceedingly long laughter that had to be edited out of the final TV product. After watching it, I can easily understand why this happened. The story centers around the premise of Rob (Dick Van Dyke) believing that he and his wife, Laura (Mary Tyler Moore), have brought home the wrong baby. It's structure is very similar to that of a good boxer's at his best. The writers(Sam Denoff and Bill Persky) strategically soften the audience with a series of smaller funny moments before delivering the knockout blow. The ending is absolutely perfect. If there is one example of how to write comedy,this is it.
Man of Steel (2013)
Promising, But Unfinished
After watching Man of Steel, I can't help thinking that I was watching what could have been a great movie. However, it comes off as average at best. That can be attributed to the lack of following through on story points which really brought the audience in. Another problem was the choppy and unnatural photography exhibited in the beginning and at various times throughout the film. On the other hand, what this movie does well is shed a new light on the well-documented story of Superman. Henry Cavill fits very well into the shoes of the beloved super hero. Except he is not a beloved super hero in this film; he is a man that the world is not quite ready for. Very much a stranger in a land of fearful people. Had the film a greater level fluidity to it and better writing, this could have been wrapped up much better in the last part of the film. Also, Lois Lane (Played by Amy Adams) actually knows the identity of her savior and helps him defeat the vicious General Zod and his men. The problem with this character is the lack of fire and spunk befitting of Lois Lane. That is another problem in the script and possibly with the director. She is just a side-note in a story that she should have her as one of the centerpieces.Russell Crowe steps into the shoes of Jor-El and does a fair job. He does what he can with the material. In conclusion, their is a lack of finish on this supposed finished product.
The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961)
Fantastic in Every Way!
This show is far and away my favorite TV Show. It is filled with an excellent combination of laughs, romance, and class. All of which is a testament to the writing of Carl Reiner, who based the series on his experiences as writer of the Sid Ceaser shows of the 1950s, his writing staff, and the outstanding cast. The show follows the life of Rob Petrie, writer of "The Alan Brady Show," his staff, Buddy and Sally, and his family. Dick Van Dyke's many talents shine through in the vehicle that made him a star and, along with Mary Poppins, is his main claim to fame. Then there is Mary Tyler Moore, who portrays Rob's wife, Laura. Her charm and beauty light up the screen, and it is clear, early on that she is the perfect on-screen match for Van Dyke. Of course, this review would be incomplete if it did not contain Buddy and Sally. Buddy Sorrell, played by Morey Amsterdam, and Sally Rogers, played Rose Marie, are the quick-witted wisecracking writers that work with Rob. Buddy, "The Human Joke Machine," is constantly bouncing one-liners around the office and at their bald Producer, Mel Cooley played by Richard Deacon. Sally, not to be outdone, dishes out her share of snappy remarks within the confines of their small office. As for the rest of the characters, there's the Petrie's son, Richie, their neighbors, Millie and Jerry Helper, and the boss, Alan Brady. Of these, Alan Brady played by the show's creator Carl Reiner, has the smallest part, but he manages leave the greatest impact. From his scene with the toupees to forcing Rob to fix-up a bad play, Brady always manages to get laughs. The Helpers also play a major part and the show wouldn't nearly be as good without their inclusion. All of these points make for a great show, but there is one more aspect that puts it over the top. This show portrays a husband and wife who are genuinely attracted to each other. While that may not sound remarkable now, but back in the early 60s that was entirely new ground for mainstream television. One of my favorite lines comes from the episode "The Man From Emperor." Rob tells his old army buddy, who is based on Hugh Hefner, that "Marriage, like a lot of other things, has boundaries and to some guys those boundaries represent walls and that makes marriage a prison to them but to other guys those boundaries hold everything that's good and fun in life." Now, for whatever reason, TV shows cannot capture the level of enjoyment that Rob and Laura have just being around one another. In short, this show is absolutely wonderful. It's mixture of laughter and heart, set it apart and it amazes me that "The Best TV shows of All- time" lists do not have The Dick Van Dyke Show at Number 1.