King Kong (1933)

Genre: Action/Drama
Year of release: 1933
Director:Merian C. Cooper Ernest B. Schoedsack

I was quite put off this movie as I had seen the scenes of Kong on the Empire State building and they seemed quite well annoying, what I thought was unbearable. In the first scenes of Kong I had my doubts however I got over it.

I quite enjoyed Peter Jackson's remake of this film and although I enjoyed this more I think I could have liked it more if I had not seen it as I always felt like I knew what was going to happen next and it didn't have me on the edge of my seat in many scenes, I think because of that reason. King Kong really must have been amazing when it came out it must have changed cinema for ever.

If you don't know King Kong is about a crazy director famous for filming in dangerous situations taking a group of people including for the first time in his films a girl, to a secret island to film a picture possibly with some legend god called Kong. The movie is a great story of beauty beating the beast. King Kong did defiantly not look as good as in the remake how ever for 33 it was pretty good epically in some scenes. The acting too was good however not hugely amazing in my opinion. Some of the cinematography was amazing some scenes look great, climbing the empire state building, plane going down, natives having ceremony while the characters attempt to film, Kong going through the gates.

It is slightly annoying Kong's glitchy jerky movements and the way it some times looks like a toy however I don't think the movie would be anything without it. He did not look as bad as I thought however the scene up with the planes on the empire state when I had seen it around in places had really made me not want to watch by the time that scene came around I did not even notice the special effects.

One scene that always sticks to my head is when they watch the natives do some ceremony to prepare their sacrifice for Kong through some long grass. They way some of the natives dressed as monkey danced around in circles seemed cool, why I don't know but it was. The main native's costume looked great and the way all the women looked depressed slowing dressing the doomed girl in flowers was quite sad. I enjoyed the natives in the re-make as they were quite creepy however in this it seemed more realistic and it was cool that the skipper could figure out and speak the language. The way they came onto the boat was a great scene and really was quite exciting.

The fight scene between King Kong and the T-Rex was pretty awesome I was surprised how good it looked for 33 a bit jerky but hey its the 30s. It had me cringe how he actually killed the thing and Kong style of fighting was quite cool and believable. Kong fought like a slightly dumb big monkey not sure of what maneuver he should do next similar to how the monkeys in 2001 fight. This fight in the re-make was too pretty spectacular however this one keeps it simple and I seem to enjoy it more as King Kong does not become Jackie Chan in the original.

In conclusion a great movie a classic with some special effects pretty good for its time.

9/10 my enjoyment of it 8-8.5/10

The Maltese Falcon

Genre: Mystery/Drama
Year of release: 1941
Director: John Huston

I watched this a couple weeks ago and just watched it again then and the first time I couldn't pick up on a lot of the story as it is really quite complex so there were times when I got pretty confused, however I still loved this movie Humphrey Bogart was awesome and the complex storyline I enjoyed quite a lot. The second time I understood it and therefor enjoyed it quite a lot more.

Maltese Falcon is about a Falcon statue worth a lot of money, everybody is trying to get their hands on. A Private detective takes on the task of following Floyd Thursby and after this both him and Floyd are dead, the private detectives partner investigates and uncovers many huge confusing plots to obtain one Falcon statue. Humphrey Bogart has never ceased to amaze me. I have so far always loved his characters however I have only seen 4 of his movies I do not believe this movie to be quite as good as The Treasure of the Sierra Madre and Casablanca however it is better than The Big Sleep (which is still awesome) I personal enjoy this movie slightly more than Casablanca (don't be angry hardcore fans) I can see Casablanca is a better movie and its just a matter of time before I enjoy it to its full potential. This is probably the best detective character I have seen sure Dirty Harry, Bud White, Shotgun Ed and Jack Vincennes are all very awesome I see Sam Spade as being slightly superior even if I do enjoy LA Confidential much more. The story is one that needs to be watched again just like Donnie Darko and the Prestige as the story seems quite complex, which is a good thing.

Sam Spade is a kick ass character one that always keeps his cool never gets scared and hardly goes through any emotions. He is very unpredictable and this is said quite often I am always on the edge of my set to see what crazy idea he is going to think up next. Humphrey Bogart is such an amazing actor closing in to be my favorite the only thing that holds him back is the lack of movies I have seen him in its the same with Marlon Brando. His character in Maltese Falcon always says the coolest things every scene he is in is so awesome.

I love the story in this being complex it makes you feel smart when you can figure out what is happening so make sure you are not tired and that you pay close attention. It moves very fast and story change back and forward in seconds they don't talk slow either and you never know who is telling the truth. The ending was amazing and really leaves you on a up if that makes any sense.

The acting by the other characters was also quite amazing Mary Astor created a great performance Sydney Greenstreet was really cool I liked his character a lot and his acting was pretty decent. Maltese Falcon feels a lot like The Big Sleep which in my view is more complex however not quite so good also in both these two movies Bogart is a private detective and almost similar in there characters.

In conclusion a great confusing movie that you have to pay close attention to at all times, legendary acting from Bogart along with some pretty awesome acting by every one else great characters and an awesome plot with an awesome ending.

9.5/10

8½

Genre: Drama
Year of release: 1963
Director:Federico Fellini

This movie at my first glance I found quite boring and I was quite confused at what I had seen, I don't really know what I was thinking, the second time I watched I really saw what I had missed I although it stays a little tiny bit confusing I found it to be a much more normal film. This movie includes some of the best cinematography which in my opinion is only beaten by Lawrence of Arabia.

8½ is a movie about a director with a writers block, he is making a new movie which he has no idea what will be about, he is picking a cast without knowing their characters, everyone is pressuring him into making this movie and he often withdraws into his own fantasy dreams.

8½ is very original and defiantly deserves its place in history. I still get the feeling that I do not enjoy this movie quite to its full potential however. The dreams that the director Guido Anselmi has in a way seem quite random how ever so his true feelings if you look closely. The way in which they slide from reality to fantasy and back again is quite amazing. What stands out however is the cinematography many many scenes looks so incredible. The music really sets a great mood. The acting also was not bad Marcello Mastroianni created his character perfectly. The Italian Dubbing is a little bit badly done it really annoyed me the first time as some of the words do not match their mouths in a few scenes the second time I noticed it a lot less.


Wow the cinematography. Many of the scenes looked so beautiful even if they are simple they look good in an art type of way e.g laid out well, great contrast added to by the black and white this movie really is a moving Mona Lisa. Thinking back on some of the scenes increases my enjoyment of this film. The flash backs to his childhood are perfect some of the best scenes in this movie and in movie history. The first flash back to the bath house was extremely well done, I can not exactly explain why however the music really made me feel and remember this scene from the first viewing as well. The use of shadows on the wall when the nun is chasing him looked great I love the caps and hats on the school boys as well it just looks cool. Most of the best cinematography is done with long shots like in Lawrence, Seven Samurai however this movie seems to do it with a use of close and mid shots. The scene at the start when he is standing on the car is amazing, the scene in the bathroom were every thing is dark and then he turn the lights on is wonderful and the final scenes were a perfect ending to this great movie.

The music was one of the best parts to this movie, music is always important in a movie I have seen it done better in things like 2001, the Godfather however the music in this is very good. It uses a lot of very famous music which I kind of like as next time I hear those songs I will always be reminded of 8½. The music always makes me in the mood to watch the movie if it is suited properly and this movie defiantly does that the 8½ song that is played at the menu and when the whore is dancing is quite cool, and sets quite a light feeling that is almost humorous.

As the story increases my feelings for Guido really grew I felt sorry for him, him trying to make this movie and being shot down by the critic, the pressure being put on him to tell everyone their part and to give out a full script, not liking any of the people around him and earning for what he took for granted in his childhood. The Critic I must say I loved his part was acted very well and his character really pushed this movie up for me, I absolutely love the hanging scene I find this scene hilarious and thinking back on it makes me laugh which would seem very cruel if you have not seen this movie, don't worry I don't laugh at any other execution I am not that type of person. I didn't really like the actress and I think it might just be me but I found their characters too dull they were necessary however as they built on the story in the pressure put on Guido. I loved the depth in that Guido was unhappy, how he wanted things from his childhood he yearned for them as back then he enjoyed his company and had access to a girl who he was crazy about, even though he got into a lot of trouble and had lots of bad times as a child he still remain at least in my opinion happy and even that bad times he seemed to cherish once he was older. Through out most of the film he is not a child and is older self does not seem to like many of the people he is around and many of them really do not know what type of person he really is. The final scenes in this movie really leave it on a good note, the spotlight scene at the end is so incredibly perfect it is amazing. It really adds depth to the movie.

In conclusion a great film a great achievement for film history and a true classic.

about 10/10
(re-watched it today, since it had been nearly a year since I saw it I got confused again like in my first watching, just the little things I remembered the main story, I watched it again straight after (I think it is the first time I have ever done that) and extremely loved it, amazing film.)

Paths of glory

Genre: Drama/War/Crime/Anti-War
Year of release: 1957
Director: Stanley Kubrick (my personal favorite)

"I apologize... for not being entirely honest with you. I apologize for not revealing my true feelings. I apologize, sir, for not telling you sooner that you're a degenerate, sadistic old man. And you can go to hell before I apologize to you now or ever again!"

This is Stanley Kubrick at his best, does not come close to 2001 but I would rank it 4th above full metal jacket and below clockwork, strangelove and obviously 2001. Paths of Glory really astounded me Kirk Douglas was an awesome actor much better than in Spartacus the way he delivered the quote above was absolutely amazing.

Paths of Glory is a movie about a group of french soldiers commanded take on a impossible task of capturing a German held point called the ant hill after attempting this the army of men fall back into their trenches with out orders, to prove a point 3 men are taken to be executed for cowardliness in the face of the enemy. The story is really quite good it makes you get quite angry at the motherfuckers that trying killing their own men just because they gave them a mission that is impossible. You could watch this movie simply for the acting as it is very much up there with some of the best of all time. The entire cast performs amazingly and convinces you of both their opinions and how strongly they stand for them. It's the type of movie were you know whats right but you can see why the bad guys do what they do although in my opinion I strongly stand for Kirk Douglas in that they should not shoot the men.

The acting was great from Kirk and I look forward to seeing some of his others maybe however some of the other characters were surprisingly good as well for instance both the major officers, the man about to be executed and who's religion was wine, the shell shocked victim even the singing German girl. The little part were played so well it was amazing.

I expected this movie to be a war movie, however this movie is more drama than it is war there are some alright war scenes that look quite cool however this movie is no saving private Ryan it is more about these soldiers picked to go on jury for cowardliness and Kirk Douglas trying to save them.

In conclusion a great classic with some wonderful acting by everyone and amazing performances from the little characters that maybe only had one line for 20-30 secs but those 20-30 seconds will always be remembered, a story that shocked me how inhuman some people can be, I was thinking nice and simple shooting movie but it is more than that and I enjoyed the ending of this movie being very symbolic and sad.

9/10

It's a wonderful life

Genre: Drama/Family/Fantasy/Romance
Year of release:1946
Director: Frank Capra

One of the most powerful movies of all time. This movie is absolutely classic it makes me want to live and fills me with happiness, the story is awesome, the acting is amazing and the overall feel from start to finish is great. You really feel the characters feel as if you are George Bailey rather than watching him, I wish they played this at Christmas over in New Zealand like they do in every other country as I could watch it every year till I die, it is truly inspirational.

George Bailey has lived his life thinking of others helping them in many ways however at a certain point in his life he wonders if it was worth it, if life would be better without him and thinks of taking his life when his guardian angel saves him and shows him what his life would be like if he had never been born. I like this type of movie where we see simple actions change the world, like in back to the future or even in some ways Donnie Darko so I knew I would like this film and wanted to watch it for a very long time and still was not disappointed.

James Stewart is always very good, rear window, vertigo and this are the only ones I have seen and he has a perfect record in my opinion, his performance in this was better than both rear window and vertigo which is not an easy thing to do. We see Stewart pull of a range of different emotions we he is happy I felt happy, when he is sad I feel sad and he gives a performance showing both of these emotion in the far extremes. This film is one of few that can really move my emotions so strongly others would include Shawshank and the Green Mile. It was not just James Stewart who acted well in this movie we also had some other wonderful acting from Lionel Barrymore, Donna Reed and well everyone each character was crafted and shaped perfectly and I loved them all.

Lionel Barrymore plays a wonderful bad guy Henry F. Potter he is greedy, mean and rich. His character was hated by everyone in the town and he wanted to own the entire town. His character does not care about people he is a fat lazy businessman who wants to be in control, have lots of money and who desires only the things he can't get as that is all that is left, after watching this movie I came to thinking why doesn't he leave the small town, and I came to think that I suits him to stay where he has power even if it is over few people that mean nothing to him. His character is absolutely classic a villain in s business man style that no one but George can stand up to.

Every scene feels new, fresh and perfected even though I had the strange feeling I had seen many of them before e.g. where he asks Mary if she wants the moon, this scene I recognized from a much much lesser movie Bruce Almighty. Where I had seen other scenes is still a mystery to me however I am not surprised as it is an extremely famous movie.

Some of the cinematography is also very good not as good as Lawrence or Citizen but some of the snowing scenes look very good. The famous scene on the bridge is pretty amazing and the final 10 minutes makes me jump up and down thinking about them and was a true experience while I watched it. The end of this movie is awesome and remembered quite greatly.

If you are ever sad watch this film, if you ever feel emo watch this film, if you like watching small people make a difference watch this movie, if you like classics watch this film, if it is Christmas watch this film, if you like great acting watch this film. I wonder if it has stopped anyone from taking their lives as it is that powerful. I bought it in the same day that I watched it.

10/10