And I'm a baby boomer. Never had anything against musicals, but this was no West Side Story. Ann-Margaret was psycho over the top(her earlier years).Janet Leigh and Dick Van Dyke were wasted in this trashy teen opera. Throw in insignificant cameos(Sullivan),mamma's boy sub-plot which is too sickening to watch.("wear your rubbers"!) Oh please.....
Reviews
9 Reviews
Bye Bye Birdie
(1963)
And you thought Plan 9 From Outer Space was the worst....
4 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Tarzan Goes to India
(1962)
You've gotta be kidding........
16 October 2011
Might as well been titled "Tarzan Goes To Indiana", and it would have been just as believable. A good example of what Hollywood producers can do to a good concept. By this time they had ridden this horse into the ground and kicked the crap out of it. Naked Tarzan in a biplane with aviator goggles and cap? The first scene turned me off completely.Take Tarzan out of darkest Africa and he's no longer Tarzan(with the exception of Weismuller's "Tarzan Goes To New York"- at least he put some clothes on for that one).Throw some khakis and a pith helmet on Jock Mahoney and call him Jungle Jim, for Pete's sake!The post- Weismuller Tarzans were just a little too sophisticated for me.They lost some of the charm and mystery of the "ape-man". Don't bother with this one if you're a traditional Tarzanist.
No Spoilers Here...
22 June 2011
... we all know how this story ends. Disappointing delivery but with fascinating seldom-seen photos of the Barrow gang's antics. Some key points glossed over too quickly, such as the Joplin and Platte City incidents, mostly in the narrative by (Burl Ives??). All too choppy editing is distracting to the viewer. Lots of interesting information, interviews with still-living witnesses, and a good interview with Frank Hamilton sitting by a polygraph machine that never gets used. (?) You have to take this one as it is, but in the long run it's worth a watch and shines a different light on the Bonnie and Clyde's dubious legacy. (Don't miss the actual death scene film, shot before all the gun smoke had cleared!)
Dreamgirls
(2006)
Overrated, Over-hyped, Overplayed
6 May 2007
A disappointment. Needed to stay on Broadway where it belongs.The movie- consuming public was mislead as to the true concept of this film.A lot of oldies fans expected a biopic "loosely based" on the Supremes (thanks to the pre-release hype). This film was disappointing to that group, and having said that, those who did watch it were treated to a slow-moving, smarmy musical with less than inspired song writing. The performances were passable, but overplayed. Eddie Murphy was believable in his role, but here he is back doing James Brown from SNL. The rest of the cast doesn't merit my mentioning them here.
I purchased the DVD without preview, and I'm glad the store buys back used movies. This one's making the trip.
I purchased the DVD without preview, and I'm glad the store buys back used movies. This one's making the trip.
Town Without Pity
(1961)
Overuse of Good Music Without Pity
28 January 2007
This was all in all a great film, with riveting performances from all the cast. My problem was the weak,ineffective score, which took a great theme song and beat it like a dead horse. The opening scene and credits placed the song well, but the frequent, unrelenting repeat of the theme both instrumental and with Gene Pitney's great vocals throughout the film in quite inappropriate places "isn't very pretty" at all. Very distracting to the viewer, and certainly took away some of the film's impact.The rest of the score was passable, but nothing special. I think the intended tone of the film could have been maintained or even intensified if there were no further music in the film after the song ran with the opening credits.
The New World
(2005)
Beautifully filmed but terribly flawed....
6 June 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Probably one of the most irritating film scores I have ever heard. One chord continuous(almost sounded like looping) on and on...like sitting at railroad crossing waiting on the train to pass while your hearing the monotonous rhythm of the train.
The acting was passable, but the dialog was sometimes untenable, as most of it was the thoughts of the characters and not actually spoken. Direction and scene cuts were disjointed, and the viewer is easily confused. There are a few scenes where there is a tight shot on the character, the viewer thinks that by this expressive shot they will gain a little more insight on the characters emotions, then BAM! cut to black! If this is film art by the best, let me see some amateur stuff. The story just doesn't flow.
Terrible waste on a good story.
The acting was passable, but the dialog was sometimes untenable, as most of it was the thoughts of the characters and not actually spoken. Direction and scene cuts were disjointed, and the viewer is easily confused. There are a few scenes where there is a tight shot on the character, the viewer thinks that by this expressive shot they will gain a little more insight on the characters emotions, then BAM! cut to black! If this is film art by the best, let me see some amateur stuff. The story just doesn't flow.
Terrible waste on a good story.
The Glory of the Resurrection
(1996– )
TBN's Best Production By Far.......
19 April 2006
You don't have to be a dyed-in-the-wool TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network) fan to appreciate this stage production filmed at the old Twitty City in Hendersonville,TN. and aired for Easter 1996.
I no longer watch TBN due to some doctrinal and character issues involving some of the preachers they host, but GOTR is the most wonderful thing I've ever seen come out of TBN.
As executive producer, Jan Crouch casted hundreds of TBN members and assorted talent from throughout the country to perform , design sets,and sing and arrange music for this wonderful story of Christ's travels, his miracles and growing following, and his betrayal, arrest and Crucifixion.
The featured vignettes, separated by Jan Crouch's heartfelt narration, were beautifully done and it was evident to the live audience and the television viewer that some of these actors were "slain in the spirit" as they performed. No true Christian can watch this production without shedding tears. Highlights:
The Last Supper and Crucifixion scenes.
Danny York is superb as Jesus!
Betty Jean Robinson(Mother Mary) singing (her original song)to her
crucified Son after His death.
Former Motown Artist Tata Vega's performances.
Beautifully directed, wonderful to see. Needs to be released on DVD or perhaps re-aired more often.
I no longer watch TBN due to some doctrinal and character issues involving some of the preachers they host, but GOTR is the most wonderful thing I've ever seen come out of TBN.
As executive producer, Jan Crouch casted hundreds of TBN members and assorted talent from throughout the country to perform , design sets,and sing and arrange music for this wonderful story of Christ's travels, his miracles and growing following, and his betrayal, arrest and Crucifixion.
The featured vignettes, separated by Jan Crouch's heartfelt narration, were beautifully done and it was evident to the live audience and the television viewer that some of these actors were "slain in the spirit" as they performed. No true Christian can watch this production without shedding tears. Highlights:
The Last Supper and Crucifixion scenes.
Danny York is superb as Jesus!
Betty Jean Robinson(Mother Mary) singing (her original song)to her
crucified Son after His death.
Former Motown Artist Tata Vega's performances.
Beautifully directed, wonderful to see. Needs to be released on DVD or perhaps re-aired more often.
Category 6: Day of Destruction
(2004 TV Movie)
After everything else, CBS Needs This?
14 November 2004
Warning: Spoilers
Now let's see, which issue shall we tackle? Oh, how about everything under the sun!!I would have hated to be in on the planning sessions with the writers who made this made for TV bomb.So many issues, so little time...how did it ever get finished.? Here's how- everybody got their own platform for their favorite gripe and they wrote them ALL in! (Wonder what happened to the gay marriage issue- they could have put that in there somewhere...)
POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD********
Passable special effects could not make up for the embarrassing chaos of this movie. You've got the adulterous affair, the misguided teenage daughter,("my boyfriend's a criminal!) the passionate TV news reporter trying to take down nasty corrupt corporate America,etc. etc. ad nauseum.The flaky sub-plots are predictable and boring.So... is the "main message in this turkey about the "inadequate power grid" , so-called "global warming", or the dangers of using nuclear energy? Or maybe the nasty slumlords that owned the expectant couple's building? Talk about environmentalist wackos! Hell, The Day After Tomorrow" had it's share of propaganda but at least it was entertaining. Only redeeming factor in this farce was Randy Quaid's character and performance as "Tornado Tommy".
More egg in CBS's big eye!
POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD********
Passable special effects could not make up for the embarrassing chaos of this movie. You've got the adulterous affair, the misguided teenage daughter,("my boyfriend's a criminal!) the passionate TV news reporter trying to take down nasty corrupt corporate America,etc. etc. ad nauseum.The flaky sub-plots are predictable and boring.So... is the "main message in this turkey about the "inadequate power grid" , so-called "global warming", or the dangers of using nuclear energy? Or maybe the nasty slumlords that owned the expectant couple's building? Talk about environmentalist wackos! Hell, The Day After Tomorrow" had it's share of propaganda but at least it was entertaining. Only redeeming factor in this farce was Randy Quaid's character and performance as "Tornado Tommy".
More egg in CBS's big eye!
Durango Kids
(1999)
Mediocre at best
1 August 2004
This movie would have been bearable otherwise,but the kids' acting is reminiscent of a hastily produced school play, especially the fat black kid, who seems to be enjoying the camera rather than being in his character.(By the way, he got entirely too much screen time). Austin Nichols (Sammy)was believable and sincere and did a lot to salvage this feeble attempt at entertainment. What's so cool about assaulting innocent adults on a tourist train. Is that adventure? The forced tears in the jail scene was almost unbearable. Might entertain your small children, but wouldn't recommend it otherwise. Glad I got it free as a pizza premium and didn't waste money on it. Blurb on the DVD jacket seems to compare this movie with HOLES and SPY KIDS........I don't think so.
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