Yarbage Movie Review

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Location: Kennesaw, Georgia, United States

Wednesday, September 08, 2004

Dr. Stangelove

Directed by: Stanley Kubrick

Starring:

Peter Sellers: Dr. Strangelove, The President, and Mandrake
George C. Scott: Gen. 'Buck' Turgidson
Sterling Hayden: Gen. Jack D. Ripper
Slim Pickens: Maj. T.J. 'King' Kong

I was looking for a movie to watch tonight, but could not choose one. Then I came across Dr. Strangelove. I have been meaning to give this movie a second look and found nobody to watch it with me. For some reason when black and white films are involved they just can't get interested. The problem with that kind of thinking is the fact that they miss many great movies.

I am not a huge fan of Stanley Kubrick. For the most part I just never got into his movies. I found Full Metal Jacket really good for the first half, but the second half is a bust. I found 2001 a little boring. His later work like Eyes Wide Shut did not make much sense to me. Then there is Dr. Strangelove: Or How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.
A movie that I think is Kubrick's best work. The humor throughout the movie is just great with such a serious subject. The movie came out in 1964 so I can only imagine the tension during Cold War. This movie also came out about the same time as Fail Safe. Fail Safe was the drama and Strangelove the comedy of the two, but both deal with a nuclear bomber that can't return.

What makes this movie so great is the preformances of Peter Sellers and George C. Scott. Sellers plays different parts. Captain Mandrack, the President, and Dr. Strangelove. Scott plays a general in the joint Chiefs who sees an different plan once this madness starts. There are some great lines throughout the movie.

Mr. President: "You can't fight in here! This is a war room!"

General Jack D. Ripper: "I can no longer sit back and allow Communist infiltration, Communist indoctrination, Communist subversion and the international Communist conspiracy to sap and impurify all of our precious bodily fluids."

General "Buck" Turgidson: Hello.. (whispering)look, I told you never to call me here, don't you know where I am?!?... Well look, baby, I c-, I *can't* talk to you now.. my president needs me!.. Of *course* Bucky'd rather be there with you!.. Of *course* it isn't only physical!.. I deeply respect you as a human being.. Some day I'm gonna make you *Mrs* Buck Turgidson!.. Ah, listen uh, you just go back to sleep hon, and Bucky'll be back there just as soon as he can.. Alright,.. listen, don't forget to say your prayers!! "


These are just a few. Overall this movie is just a comic masterpiece and every viewing allows you to get something new out of it. If you have yet to see this film then go out and rent or buy it today. After seeing 1941, I know now that Spielberg got many of his ideas from this movie. How Peter Sellers did not win the oscar is beyond me. Rex Harrison won the award for My Fair Lady, but really come on Sellers played three great parts.

Dr. Strangelove Score: 93

Don't forget if you have a review that you would liked published I will post it.

Monday, September 06, 2004

Wonder Boys

I have watched movies for a long time and even worked at a video store for 5 years. The problem is I never knew what to say about the films I have seen. So here it is, my try to be Roger Ebert.

Directed by: Curtis Hanson

Starring;
Michael Douglas
Tobey Maguire
Frances McDormand
Katie Holmes
Robert Downey Jr.

The first thing that drew me to this movie was Curtis Hanson. After seeing L.A. Confidential it was a natural reaction. The film finds Grady Tripp (Douglas) having his wife leave him(who we never meet) and his lover(McDormand) pregnant. Douglas plays a teacher that once wrote a great book and is living off that fame. His students all want to learn from the great writer. His live-in student played by Katie Holmes thinks the world of him. There is also an attaction that is played up there, but never fully develops.

The best character in the movie is by far Tobey Maguire. Long before Spiderman or Seabiscuit was this great role that not many people saw. This was a string of really good roles for him. He always seems to play these really lovable characters like in Pleasentville and Cider House Rules. Magure plays a James Leer a student that is troubled, but a very talented writer. The story revolves around the misadventures of Grady and James. One scene that really grabs you is the early at a party for all these writers. Grady walks outside to find young James standing out in the cold. I knew the film would be one that I would like by the last couple of lines of scene.

Grady: Do you want to go inside. It is cold out here.
James: Well it is cold in there to.

A real look at human emotion. James would rather be outside in the cold than inside with all the fake cold people. There are many other great lines throughout the movie.

Each character is developed well expect for the Holmes. She is underused in her role, but does a nice job. The cast is rounded out by Frances McDormand and Robert Downey Jr. Downey is truely a gifted actor, but it is too bad that he continues to get in trouble. Both of their characters are well thought and provide good support for the lead cast.

This was Hanson's first film since L.A. Confidential and it was a good choice. The film contains real good pacing and the it looks very crisp.

This is the part of the film that I give it a rating. I hate the star system or grades, so I am going to give it a numerical rating.

When I go to a movie all I want is to have a good time. Sometimes a film comes out that really makes an impact on me. For example: Films like Star Wars would be in the 90's.


Wonder Boys score: 85

I might revisit the score later, but for right now I think it is a good start.

Welcome to the Show

I have been thinking about doing this blog for a while now. So why I was sitting down and trying to figure out what I wanted to write about movies and my DVD collection. I will have a link to my collection so you can browse and leave comments. My new goal is to go through my entire collection and write a review for each movie I own. Along with DVD reviews, I will have other entertainment reviews from my favorite TV shows and movies that I see the traditional route. I will begin with a movie that I really find fun and very smart. I will try to at least post a new review about 2 twice a week. I also want reviews from the readers of this site. If you have a movie that you would want to review then just email me and I will post it as soon as I can.