wildbill-23's Reviews

Casino Royale (1967)

Lovely soundtrack, but silly spy spoof material. GRADE: C

1 September 2003

Before there was Austin Powers, there was the spy-spoof film "Casino Royale" (1967). Although I'm inclined to vote for "The Naked Gun" films as funnier flicks, the only redeeming quality of "Royale" is the sultry Oscar-nominated song, "The Look of Love", which is sung by the late Dusty Springfield. When you should decide to have sex with your significant other and are in need of romance music to fit the occasion, this lovely Burt Bacharach song should do nicely.

Overall film grade: C

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20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)

THE "BIG" SEA MOVIE of the 1950s. GRADE: A

22 March 2003

Walt Disney's biggest sea film is this wonderful adventure based on Jules Verne's famous novel. The acting, screenplay, direction, sound, and special effects are all superb. James Mason's Captain Nemo is the BEST version in cinema. The sets and costumes are all realistic and impressive. The squid battle sequence is wonderfully done even by 1950's standards and no computer graphics!! Although the movie does not adhere to the novel, it still is entertaining to watch.

A PERFECT film for families of all ages. It is even better in letterbox format.

OVERALL GRADE: A

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The Deep (1977)

Bisset is the "only" treasure in this sea hunt film for buried treasure...GRADE: D

7 March 2003

Peter Benchley tries to build on the success of JAWS, but this is a lame film about a hunt for undersea treasure. The underwater scenes are good and Bisset looks fantastic in a wet t-shirt, but that's it. Robert Shaw is not as colorful in this film as he was in JAWS.

Pros: Underwater cinematography, Jacqueline Bisset

Cons: Story, acting, direction

Overall grade: D

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Westworld (1973)

Average science fiction...Yul steals the show. Grade: C

28 February 2003

Yul Brynner still haunts my nightmares when he played a robot gunslinger in Michael Crichton's WESTWORLD (1973). It is regarded as one of Yul's best remembered films from the seventies. I don't know if it was his psychotic mannerisms, or his technical garb as a android (thanks to special effects man Charles Schulthies). When his robot gunslinger came up from behind Richard Benjamin's character for a final attempt to kill him, I did jump out of my seat. Yul stole this movie from the other actors (Benjamin and Brolin). Majel Barrett (widow of "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry) has a cameo as an android hooker/madame. Crichton directs well with what material that he has. The atmosphere of the film is similar to a TWILIGHT ZONE episode - eerie. The good cinematography, in widescreen format, proves that it belongs on the big screen.

The screenplay combines western, thriller, and science fiction into one film. However, if Yul's android can drink a shot of whiskey at the bar and not be affected, but a female robot takes a sip of water and she blows a gasket??? Was she programmed to have PMS??? The technicians try to escape, but are endangered by suffocation??? They shut everything down, but the robots still function??? Were they programmed to revolt??? Give me a break. The special effects are average. If you've seen an episode of THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN called "Day of the Robot", the technical effects to create a robot weren't all that impressive. The special effects in THE TERMINATOR films were more impressive. In WESTWORLD, they took circuit boards, gadgets, and wires and put them into the body of a mannequin. I wouldn't say that it was original, but okay for it's time period. When Brynner's character catches fire, I thought that it was a VERY impressive stunt! If they remake this movie, I'm sure the technical effects will be MUCH better.

Pros: Yul Brynner, cinematography, direction, stunts

Cons: Screenplay (average), average special effects

GRADE: C

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Love Story (1970)

Cheesy love satire...GRADE: C

24 January 2003

For my money, Hollywood's greatest love story is CASABLANCA (1942). Erich Segal's LOVE STORY (1970) drew tons of people, who were mainly flower children at the time, but failed to deliver with many people later in years. Many have called it "cheesy" and I would have to agree. It is plagued by poor acting and a soap opera-style screenplay. However, the film's catch line phrase "love means never having to say your sorry" can mean different things to different people. If you've seen CASABLANCA (1942), you should notice that neither Rick nor Ilsa say, "I'm sorry for screwing up our love affair." Instead, we get "here's looking at you, kid."

OVERALL GRADE: C

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The French Connection (1971)

GRADE A cop film...prime cut!!!!

21 January 2003

When it comes to cop films, you can mention your BULLITT and LETHAL WEAPON flicks, but this film does it for me. Who cares if the film lacks excitement??? This is the life of cops on the streets. They deal with drug pushers, smugglers, and czars. Their day-to-day life is dull and monotonous. Their diet is the local pub after work. In order to catch a criminal, you have to crawl around inside the mind of a bad guy.

Gene Hackman plays it to the hilt as Popeye Doyle and I love to watch him do the job. He lives and eats the life of a cop - cheap pizza and lousy coffee in the extreme cold while the rich hoods eat high on the hog. This is a superb character study of a cop on the edge and no one did it better than Gene. Scheider is equally good as his partner.

A superb auto chase (which is WAY better than BULLITT) caps off this GREAT film!!!!

GRADE: A

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It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963)

Over the top comedy tries to do TOO MUCH...GRADE: C

9 November 2002

Pros: Jonathan Winters, Dick Shawn, some gags, some special effects

Cons: WAY TOO LONG, screenplay

It's all about finding a cache full of $350,000 under the "BIG W". A group of motorists find out about the money from a dying criminal escapee (Jimmy Durante, who literally "kicks the bucket"). They try to reason about how to divide the money, but it becomes every man/woman for himself/herself. They depart their separate ways and attempt to selfishly find the missing loot. It is at this point when the film lags in great length. Winters and Shawn steal the movie from veteran comic actors/actresses. Barrie Chase as the hot babe in a bikini has a cameo, but I kept saying "when is she gonna do a table dance?" This type of comedy is in the style of The Naked Gun flicks with Leslie Nielsen.

GRADE: C

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Space: 1999 (1975–1977)

"Dragon's Domain" is the BEST episode.

18 September 2002

I would have to say that "Dragon's Domain" is the BEST episode of this stalwart saga set deep in space. The episode aired in 1975, and it has hints of ALIEN (1979) written all over it. A good nail bitter!!! It also reminded me of a similar episode of Star Trek ("The Doomsday Machine") where a guilt-ridden commodore takes over the Enterprise to do battle with a gigantic machine that destroyed his ship and crew.

OVERALL GRADE: B.

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Road to Perdition (2002)

Average film noir...GRADE: C

31 July 2002

Here is a movie with all the movie cliches of previous films like THE GODFATHER, GOODFELLAS, and ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA. Hanks is no Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, or even James Cagney. Newman tries to fill the shoes of a don leader, but he was not convincing to me. The ending is like a scene from THE WILD BUNCH. The message is all too clear: you live by the gun, you die by the gun. Conrad Hall's cinematography saves this film from the trash bin.

Pros: Cinematography Cons: Bad acting, directing, and screenplay

OVERALL GRADE: C

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Soylent Green (1973)

Excellent concept, but some soap opera spoils it. Grade: C

2 April 2002

I found the premise of this film to be truly fascinating. I liked the Charlton Heston character, but I would have liked Harrison Ford to play him. Edward G. Robinson is great as Sol - his last film role. The soap opera between Heston and Leigh Taylor-Young is boring.

Will there be a remake??? If there is, Heston should play the Joseph Cotten character and Harrison Ford play the role of Detective Thorn. Gregory Peck might be good as Sol if he can remember the lines. Overall grade: C

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Gilligan's Island (1964–1992)

VERY funny entertainment for all ages!!!!!

25 March 2002

In a nut shell, GILLIGAN'S ISLAND was never meant to be taken seriously as adult entertainment. It's audience is geared toward children. Well, I remember this wonderful, zany satire of seven people stranded on a deserted island as a child, too. I still can't get enough of it - it brings out the "child" in all of us.

Hats off to Alan Hale Jr. and Bob Denver who developed their characters around Laurel and Hardy slapstick. Good support from Jim Backus, Natalie Schafer, Tina Louise, Russ Johnson, and Dawn Wells. The very best episodes occurred during the first black and white season. Even legendary movie composer, John Williams, lent a hand to the first seasons' compositions.

Since its demise in the later sixties, television has exposed children towards more violence, sex, and various adult material. Is it any wonder that the National Education Association put its stamp of approval on this television gem???

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The Big Country (1958)

Horrible DVD reproduction, but the film is average western. score: 60 (out of 100).

4 August 2001

Pros: Burl Ives, Charlton Heston, cinematography, score

Cons: Predictable story, horrible DVD reproduction, characters

Typical Hollywood western formula that finds Peck coming home to wed Baker, but runs into trouble with jealous Heston. Also, there is a feud over water rights between Bickford and Ives (excellent role). What gave me goose bumps was the score to the film. One could almost wonder if Moross' score influenced later composers, like John Williams.

Overall score: 60 (out of 100).

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All in the Family (1971–1979)

Those, indeed, were the days....

22 June 2001

How many times have you heard the phrase - they don't make them like they used to? Indeed. Those were the days. As everyone knows, "All in the Family" set a precedent in American television. In an era that previously saw "Ozzie and Harriet", "My Three Sons", and "Father Knows Best", "All in the Family" was the first attempt to put societal issues into television perspective. That was a gutsy move by CBS, when you consider that "The Brady Bunch" and "The Partridge Family" were mere favorites with the younger audiences - those who loved bubblegum type of humor and knew nothing of Watergate, including me, at the time.

I didn't like Archie Bunker (Carroll O' Connor) at first. My initial impression was that he was an arrogant, pig-headed son-of-a-bitch. My father - a World War II veteran, on the other hand, idolized him. He and my mother never missed an episode on Sunday nights. I sympathized with Mike, Gloria, and Edith. How could anyone want to be associated with Archie Bunker? That was why I tuned into "The Brady Bunch" in those days, and left my folks to wrestle with "All in the Family".

Currently, the show has been running on TVLand and Nick-at-Nite and I have found myself watching those old reruns of "All in the Family". Now, I have a different view on the show, and Archie Bunker. I have liberal-educated, teen-aged children of my own. At last, I can now say...I sympathize with you, Archie. For example, my daughter's latest boyfriend is now called "Ringo", instead of "Meathead", because the boy has a zillion rings pierced on his entire body.

Hats off to Norman Lear, Rob Reiner, Carroll O' Connor, Jean Stapleton, Sally Struthers, and all the rest of the crew for bringing American values into American living rooms. Also, I found out today that Carroll had passed away. I can imagine that my dad, and many other fans of Archie around America, had a tears in their eyes, too. O' Connor didn't like the character, but played him to the hilt. Is it any wonder that he won five Emmys and a Golden Globe for the role of Archie Bunker? God bless you, Carroll.

It was the best television landmark in history that made me feel glad to be an American. "All in the Family" was, indeed, a show way ahead of its time, and will most likely live on forever. They don't make them like this anymore. Those, indeed, were the days.

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Caddyshack (1980)

Laughable farce...a winner! score: 8 (out of 10).

20 June 2001

This is truly a great comedy. Lots of memorable quotes in this one, including classic lines from Rodney Dangerfield, Bill Murray, and Chevy Chase. The movie lags considerably when the movie is about Danny Noonan and his two love interests - Maggie and, of course, the infamous Lacey Underalls. Wonderful National Lampoon type of humor! Score: 8 (out of 10).

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M*A*S*H (1970)

"THE" comedy-drama of the 1970's!!! A WINNER!!! SCORE: 10+ (out of 10).

20 June 2001

After the brilliance of Kubrick's "Dr. Strangelove", Robert Altman created another black comedy by which most comedies would be measured thereafter. My other favorite comedy-drama from the 1970's is "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". Superb screenplay, acting, direction, etc. My favorite scene is Hot Lips caught "live" in the shower. Is it any wonder that television had huge success with it as well??? Score: 10+ (out of 10).

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Gladiator (2000)

Good epic film...overall grade: 8 (out of 10).

15 June 2001

The best way to analyze this film is to compare it to another famous gladiator film, Spartacus (1960).

Kirk Douglas (Spartacus) vs. Russell Crowe (Maximus Decimus Meridius)

The winner is: Russell Crowe (by a long shot). I liked Russell Crowe in this film. His performance is what keeps the movie generated with electricity from start to finish. Although Douglas was good as Spartacus, I found Crowe's performance much better.

Laurence Olivier (Crassus) vs. Joaquin Phoenix (Commodus)

The winner is: Laurence Olivier. No actor could steal a screen performance like Olivier. Phoenix goes overboard with his character in some scenes.

Peter Ustinov (Lentulus Batiatus) vs. Oliver Reed (Proximo)

The winner is: a draw.

I liked both characters from each film. Ustinov won an Oscar for his Supporting role, but Reed was equally impressive, too.

Direction: Stanley Kubrick vs. Ridley Scott

The winner is: Kubrick (by a long shot).

Special Effects: The winner is Spartacus. One example is the mammoth battle scene towards the end of the film. Gladiator is littered with computerized special effects.

I feel Spartacus still holds my interest as best gladiator film ever made. The only thing that holds Gladiator together is Crowe's performance.

Spartacus: 8.5 (out of 10). Gladiator: 8 (out of 10).

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Seconds (1966)

10/10

Fascinating Hitchcock-type of film...a winner! score: 9 (out of 10).

29 May 2001

Warning: Spoilers

Here is one of those classic films that just didn't make it to Oscar. And it's a damn shame, too, considering the cast, director, screenplay, and cinematography. This is the type of film that one might expect to see on an episode of The Twilight Zone, but the excellent James Wong Howe cinematography proves that it belongs on the big screen. I have seen many performances of Rock Hudson (i.e. "Giant" and "Pillow Talk") in my time, but this one is his BEST and why he wasn't nominated for an Academy Award is beyond me.

This is the type of film that echoes the hysteria of Frankenheimer's The Manchurian Candidate (1962). With a name like "Seconds", one might just think that the movie is about time travel, or anything related to time, itself. In this film, there is no brain washing or time travel, but simply one man's desire to be given a "second" chance at life.

****WARNING: MINOR SPOILERS****

Arthur Hamilton (John Randolph - excellent performance), is a bored, wealthy bank executive, He lives a dull relationship with his wife (Frances Reid). Hamilton has been hounded by phone calls that are coming from a friend who died. He is given the address as to the location of the phone prowler by a mysterious man at a train station (Frank Campanella). After Hamilton is transported secretly from location to location, he is taken to the whereabouts of The Company. One of The Company representatives (Jeff Corey) offers Hamilton the chance of a lifetime - he will have his identity erased and be given a new body and life of his choice. Hamilton accepts the offer for a price.

After the plastic surgery, Hamilton is given the "second" identity of Antiochus "Tony" Wilson (Hudson), a successful playboy-type painter. When Wilson finds this "second" life to be much worse than his original existence as Hamilton, he wants to reclaim his former existence - but, again, for a price.

"Seconds" was unjustly ignored by Oscar or even the Golden Globes. It was one of the top five films of 1966. The plot is slow paced, but other classic movies like "Vertigo" (1958) and "The Conversation" (1974) suffer the same fate as well. I love movies like these because it lets you explore the characters more in depth.

Strengths: Characters, screenplay, direction, cinematography, score. Weaknesses: Sluggish, you need to pay attention to this one!

Is it worth the wide screen DVD purchase? You bet. Score: 9 (out of 10).

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Jesus of Nazareth (1977)

Excellent mini-series...one of the BEST on television. Score: 9 (out of 10).

9 May 2001

It has amazed me that this television mini-series did not receive a single Emmy nomination. There are many great performances from Powell, Bancroft, Borgnine, Steiger, and especially Holm. There are some minor flaws with historical adaptation, but the movie stays on track with bits and pieces from all four Gospels of the New Testament.

Some have argued that Powell's performance of Christ as restrained. I found his performance the most convincing of any portrait of Christ in cinema history. The depth of his depiction of Christ is powerful. For example, when Jesus enters Jerusalem and reacts to the sinners in the Temple, Powell gives his character major depth and forcefulness. Also, Powell's performance comes off as sympathetic. When Mary Magdalene kisses Christ's feet, Zeffirelli pulls off a brilliant touch of the camera between Bancroft and Powell. Powell's depiction is slow to answer around his followers, which is perfectly done. Finally, Powell's performance is hauntingly realistic.

Overall: 9 (out of 10).

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From Russia with Love (1963)

The ultimate Bond film....a superb winner!!! score: 8.5 (out of 10).

15 January 2001

Although some will argue that "Goldfinger" (1964) is the best Bond film, I would tend to disagree. However, I do think that "Goldfinger" is second best. Sean Connery will forever be known as the ultimate James Bond. No one will EVER take his place. This movie has all of the cliches of a typical Bond movie - hot women, diabolical villains, super agent gadgets, etc. The one thing that I found fascinating about this movie over all the rest is the atmosphere, which is different than any typical Bond movie. For example, in "Goldfinger", you have Oddjob - a man with a deadly hat, and Pussy Galore, with a name only mother would love to hate. In this movie, there isn't that level of super agent spoof, unless you count the exploding briefcase. Also, Robert Shaw is SUPERB (one of the BEST Bond villains in my book). His piercing eyes alone tell the audience - "Don't mess with me." Shaw would again appear in another Connery film - "Robin and Marian" (1976) as the Sheriff of Nottingham. His greatest success, however, was as Quint in "Jaws" (1975), a role for which he should have received a Best Supporting Actor nomination. Score: 8.5 (out of 10).

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Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

Kubrick's BEST film...A SUPERB WINNER!!!! SCORE: 10+ (out of 10).

15 January 2001

Warning: Spoilers

"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here. This is a war room!!," explains President Muffley, in one of the best nightmarish comedies ever produced on film.

Strengths: direction, acting, screenplay.

Weaknesses: special effects (minor weakness).

******WARNING: MINOR SPOILERS******

Here is a movie that many people will rant over for generations to come. It is my favorite Stanley Kubrick film. There is terrific acting from Scott, Hayden, and, of course, Peter Sellers. Why Sellers never received an Oscar for his performance is beyond me. For example, President Muffley's phone conversation with the Soviet premiere, is one for the record books - one of the funniest lines of dialogue that I've ever seen in cinematic history. Also, there is great support from a young James Earl Jones, Slim Pickens, and Keenan Wynn's hilarious Colonel "Bat" ("I think you're some kind of deviated prevert. I think General Ripper found out about your preversion, and that you were organizing a mutiny of preverts!!") Guano. Finally, the screenplay and director should have received Oscars, too.

Originally, Kubrick wanted the film to end in a pie fight. I'm glad that he changed his mind. The ending, where Strangelove tries to control his mechanical arm, doesn't quite work. The special effects that showed a toy replica of a B52 flying over Russia isn't convincing either. However, these were minor errors and did not affect my rating for this film masterpiece. SCORE: 10+ (out of 10).

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The Wild Bunch (1969)

TOP NOTCH WESTERN...A SUPERB WINNER!!!!...SCORE: 10+ (out of 10).

30 December 2000

There are many great westerns, such as "High Noon", "The Searchers", and "Shane", but this movie ranks up to the top alongside Howard Hawks' "Red River" (1948). It has a level of realism that most westerns lack tremendously. The wild west was just like it says..."wild". There was nothing "pretty" about it at all when you consider that the United States went through a major civil war during the 1800s. I loved the character study with this movie. It should have won a ton of Oscars, but as everyone knows, it went through a ton of criticism over its treatment of violence. Only three years later, Francis Coppola would create "The Godfather" with a level of violence comparable to this movie. I almost felt that I was watching a variation on "The Godfather" because, in that movie, Coppola let the audience eavesdrop into the lives of a crime family. Sam Peckinpah is doing the same here. This is a movie that will stand the test of time forever. Its message is clear - all humans are equally capable of being good as well as violent. Score: 10+ (out of 10).

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Ulee's Gold (1997)

Fonda's great performance of a later day Tom Joad...score: 8 (out of 10).

18 December 2000

After seeing this movie, I could not help but notice that Peter Fonda resembled a later day version of Tom Joad - a character that his father, Henry, played in "The Grapes of Wrath" (1940). Fonda deserved the Golden Globe for this movie. I liked the depth of his character, Ulee Jackson. The story is sluggish at times, but the performances shine from start to finish. Score: 8 (out of 10).

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Star Trek (1966–1969)

The best science fiction show on television...ever.

16 December 2000

Gene Roddenberry struck a gold mine when the show went off the air in 1969. Soon thereafter, the show would coin the word "Trekkie" for its massive amount of fans. It was better than "Lost in Space". It had better writing, special effects, and acting. A zillion types of merchandise were sold, including toys and lunch boxes. Captain Kirk, Spock, and Dr. McCoy became household names. I can almost guess what William Shatner might say about his career with "Star Trek" - "the show became...bigger than...BIG." "Star Trek" spawned many sequels, including the ever popular, "Star Trek: The Next Generation". My favorite S.T. episodes are "The Corbomite Maneuver", "The City on the Edge of Forever", "The Devil in the Dark", "Space Seed", and "The Doomsday Machine", just to name a few. Overall score for these shows: 8.5 (out of 10).

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Lost in Space (1965–1968)

Children might enjoy it..."Reluctant Stowaway" is best...score for that episode: 7.5 (out of 10).

16 December 2000

When I was a kid, I barely remember this show. The only character that stood out was the robot. Now, after the show has been out of syndication for so many years, it has developed a cult of enthusiasts, like "Star Trek". The first seven episodes are probably the best, especially "The Reluctant Stowaway". The special effects were good for its time. Even legendary movie composer, John Williams, lent a hand to some early soundtrack episodes. Budget cuts during the three year period made the show less and less interesting - almost to the point of absurd silliness. Even "Star Trek" had suffered the same fate during its final season as well.

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The Haunting (1963)

Classic horror film...A WINNER!!!!! Score: 9 (out of 10).

4 December 2000

I reviewed this movie before and gave it a 7 out of 10. I saw it again several times the other night. I have to adjust my rating for this film. I will say this...I did not see the forest for the trees on this movie. Excellent acting (Bloom and Harris were overlooked for Academy Award nominations), film editing, direction, score, and cinematography. Final score: 9 (out of 10).

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