bolobill Reviews

The Great War: 1914-1918 (1996)

Great documentary...

[10/10 · 23 October 2006]

I can't really add to the other reviews. This is one of the best documentaries I've seen, and the best on this subject. It really was a case of lions being led by donkeys. I am including a poem by Wilfred Owen (killed a few days before the end of the war in a meaningless assault) that sums up what happened:

The Parable of the Old Man and the Young

So Abram rose, and clave the wood, and went, And took the fire with him, and a knife. And as they sojourned both of them together, Isaac the first-born spake and said, My Father, Behold the preparations, fire and iron, But where the lamb, for this burnt-offering? Then Abram bound the youth with belts and straps, And builded parapets and trenches there, And stretchèd forth the knife to slay his son. When lo! an Angel called him out of heaven, Saying, Lay not they hand upon the lad, Neither do anything to him, thy son. Behold! Caught in a thicket by its horns, A Ram. Offer the Ram of Pride instead.

But the old man would not so, but slew his son, And half the seed of Europe, one by one.

Shining Through (1992)

Unbelievable!

[1/10 · 27 February 2006]

I saw Melanie Griffith interviewed when this movie first came out, and she talked excitedly about 6 million Jews being killed by the Nazis as though she had just heard of it. I have avoided seeing this movie ever since.

However, I did not avoid it long enough.

This movies stunk. It was totally unbelievable. The script was terrible. The acting was worse. It was almost as though they believed that they were making a war-time movie.

At no point are any of the characters believable. And the performances can be best summed up by the old Robert Benchley quote -- "The performance ran the gamut of emotions from A to B." The only thing that saved the careers of the main performers is probably that very few people ever saw this film.

Beware! Avoid this movie at all costs.

Top Gun (1986)

This is unbelievable.

[1/10 · 20 February 2006]

Boy oh boy! 1986 must have been a horrible year for movies. This movie ranks as one of the worst that I have ever seen. The script and performances were equally bad. All of the characters were one dimensional (in fact, they were so superficial, this script could have been written by Aynn Rand), and none were in any way sympathetic. Even the death of Goose left me totally indifferent.

Of course, the music is extremely dated (coming out at a time when most music was horrible, they were able to pick the worst of the worst), and best forgotten (in fact, I had forgotten all of these songs until I forced myself to watch this disaster).

It's best moments were, at best, mediocre.

Start the Revolution Without Me (1970)

Is Laughter Contagious?

[22 November 2003]

This film has always had a strange impact on me. When I have seen it in a theatre, the laughter from the audience is second to none. However, when watching it on video, it is boring and not very humorous.

Is it possible that slapstick must be shared with several people in order for it to be funny? Certainly, this film is an example of laughter being contagious.

The only slapstick movie that I have ever seen that is funny without being around other people is "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World."

So, see this only if you can catch it at a theatre.

They Saved Hitler's Brain (1968 TV Movie)

Mr. Bean plays Hitler's Head

[14 September 2003]

Well, what can you say about a movie like this? The best thing about it is Bill Freed, who plays Hitler's head -- sort of like a Mr. Bean with a Hitler moustache. This guy also played Hitler's head in an earlier movie, Madmen of Mandoras. And, interestingly enough, this movie also takes place in Mandoras. Boy, you hate to let a good plot line go.

Anyway, save your time and money. This is so bad that it's not even funny.

The Last Polka (1985 TV Movie)

The first, and maybe the best, of the mockumentaries.

[7 June 2003]

Simply the best of all of the mockumentaries. Candy and Levy at their best. Makes one want to take up the gelkies (with a little Russian dancing on the side), have some cabbage rolls and coffee (mmm, mmm, good!), and try and forget the Plattsburgh incident. See it, if you can find it.