kingrahl Reviews

Trent's Last Case (1952)

A great film with a great cast!

[7/10 · 14 January 2013]

I was pleasantly surprised by this film. I fail to understand why so many people have criticized it. I thought the entire peace of work was brilliant! Orson Welles gives a stirring and chilling performance as an insane cynical business man. I especially loved the fact that his presence remains quite strong through out the entirety of the film. The story reeks of the talent of Orson Welles. I am surprised that he did not direct the peace himself. We follow the story of a young new reporter looking for the story of a life time. He finds such a story within the home of a black widow, brilliantly played by Margret Lockwood. As i have stated many times, Margret Lockwood never ceases to amaze me with her subtle, but layered performances. She manages here to evoke a certain dismalness that cannot go unnoticed. She plays a rather mellow and unfeeling part. Frankly, her character is really not all that interesting. Margret plays her part well, but the part is very limited. The main focus is the character of Trent, a savvy and sly man who will stop it nothing to find the truth. This film is a classic murder mystery, produced in a citizen Kane manner. The flash back sequences are very well crafted, as well the plot and story structure. The other characters are also quite interesting. The character of Marlow is perhaps the victim of this tale and probably the most sympathetic of all characters. However,the ending is rather cliché and slightly destroys the tone of the film. I do recommend this film though on so many levels. If you want a good mystery story, as well as some good acting, then sit back and enjoy!

Cast a Dark Shadow (1955)

A cinematic masterpiecue!

[7/10 · 13 January 2013]

Cast a dark shadow is perhaps the most underrated film ever made. Margret Lockwood and Dick Bogarde give two Oscar winning performances in thins surprisingly dark thriller. Edward Bare is a man who has suffered great tragedy. When his wife suddenly passes away, Edward strives to find comfort and contentment where ever he possibly can. He finds such grace within the arms of Freda Jeffries, a middle aged widow who is looking for love after the death of her late husband. The two characters become entangled with one another. They need each other in a sense. Freda for the majority of the film comes off as snobbish and stubborn, but towards the end we learn that her Behavior is simply a defense against her own insecurities. This characterization i found to be very appealing. Margret Lockwood truly does manage to captivate with her multilayer performance. As the film continues, we dove deep into the mind of Edward Bear. the film portrays him as a charming, but damaged man. He is a man who seems to be trapped emotionally. He murdered his wife because she would not include him in her will, or so it seemed. To spite his monstrous act, Edward still feels great love towards his first wife. He even preserves the room she died in in her honor. His mind seems to be quit warped. In someways, Mister bear is a less extreme version of Norman Bates, who also could not let go of the past. The film never attempts to drag and always meets its mark. Edward bear eventually becomes quite mad when his former sister in law comes back into his life. the contempt he feels for her runs strong throughout the remaining scenes of the film. I must note that Margret Lockwood character remains quite clueless throughout the film and does not discover the true character of her husband until the final moments. Even then she still remains faithful and loyal to a husband who never cared for her, Who planned her demise and nearly carried his evil scheme out. Sadly, this film does end quite tragically. Irony plays a large hand within the conclusion. Edward bear manages to destroy himself in the end. Their is a certain Shakespearean air to this film and that is why i give it nine stars. The writing was great and the acting and directing even greater. This film deserves great praise and i highly recommend it.

Freaks (1932)

Not to be missed!

[8/10 · 31 December 2012]

Freaks is a not to miss film directed by the legendary Todd Browning. The film was very controversial around its 1932 release and continues to stir argument to this day. The cast was highly made up of real life side show performers. The characters depicted in this film all have various physical abnormalities. 1932 audiences were not used to such people being displayed on the silver screen, nor are they today. Freaks gives the audience a chance to see what life was like for a typical side show oddity. The story is a rather unique one and should not be taken likely. Freaks is not a film for the faint of heart. There are many suggestive and rather gruesome moments that may offend some viewers. Many scenes shot for the film were cut do to censorship laws, Thus Freaks feels somewhat incomplete. The ending is somewhat sudden and in result one does not truly receive a full understanding of the film. However, this film is worth viewing many times. The story has romance and forbidden passion. You feel for most of the characters and want to see them win in the end. The film allows each of us to reflect on what is considered to be normal and weather or not being normal is something we wish to be. The story sends a moral message, a message that states that all humans should be treated equally. I highly recommend this film to anyone who enjoys a good and well rounded peace of cinema history. Freaks is certainly not a horror film. It is a human film that expresses the various pains of man kind. Freaks reveals just how close minded most people are. The story is captivating and should not be missed.

The Lady Vanishes (1938)

Not a Masterwork

[6/10 · 26 December 2012]

The Lady vanishes is a unique film to say the least. The pacing is a little slow in the beginning, and the plot stretches itself a little too thin. The hotel scenes were rather pointless to the plot. I found myself bored and even dulled at times. The atmosphere was rather weak and the music did not seem to stimulate a response. However, there are performances to be admired in this film. Margret Lockwood's acting surprised and entertained to the very end. She carried the film quite well and managed to evoke sympathy. Her performance is the number one reason a viewer should watch the Lady vanishes. There are also many other quirky and unique characters that give the film a sense of substance and depth. The search for Miss Froy is a long and suspenseful one. Hitchcock succeeds in the fact that he managed to make the middle of the film somewhat adventurous and interesting. However, the last 30 minutes fail to reach a satisfying conclusion. The actions of the characters become predictable and the film becomes tedious.I recommend this film to who ever loves the works of early Hitchcock. The lady vanishes is no masterpiece, but the story does manage to entertain and captivate.

Smallville: Finale (2011) Season 10, Episode 21

Awful way to end!

[5/10 · 19 July 2011]

what a disappointing way to end a show i have loved for so long! the finale was a PEACE OF GARBAGE! the first hour was full of Louis and Clark will they or wont they get married crap! i honestly did not care wither they did or not! and this plot should have in no way been included in the finale. it should have already been resolved before hand. secondly Lex freaking Luther returned for nothing! the character was not done Justice my friends was not. not only was he just in 2 major scenes but his Freaking memory got wiped. a entire shows worth of good character development destroyed! he might as well not even been a character if nothing he did counted after all! how can he be superman's arch nemesis if he does not remember what made him evil in the first place! Freaking doesn't

make any sense. also i was cheated out of seeing Clark in the full superman suit! it just showed little cg i man floating around from a distance. or so up close you could only see the cape fluttering behind him. no full frontal shot not even one! at the end Clark opened his shirt to reveal the s on his chest but nothing more. rip off! 10 years of my life wasted. the only good scenes where between Clark and Jonathan Kent. and when Lex killed Tess. i just saw it coming! sadly he got his memory's wiped out randomly by some type of memory wipe cream she put on his face before she died. again completely stupid! when i go back and watch good episodes of this show i will always feel a little down knowing how awful everything turned out!

The Dark Knight (2008)

the best film i have ever seen!

[6/10 · 19 July 2011]

This is my favorite film of all time. note i never give anything 10 out of 10 because i always think things can do better. but a 9 is rare for me as well.the dark knight has a strong beginning a strong middle and a strong end. Heath ledgers performance as the clown prince of crime is one to be remembered. i honestly did not think he was a good choice when i first herd the casting news. boy was i wrong! the best joker ever! bale was also great! the sequel so-passed the original in ever way. in plot in direct in acting everything! the only thing i found wrong with this movie was i thought they spend two much time in china and i didn't really see a purpose in that. but that is just little nit picky things. one of the best films ever made truly! best batman film ever made! it really captures the essence of who batman is. he his pushed to his absolute limit. lines between good and evil are blurred and the heart of Gotham city is on the line. you cant miss this great film!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)

good but disappointing

[7/10 · 18 July 2011]

Harry potter and the deathly hollows part 2! a good but disappointing film in my eyes. note i never read the books. so my complains in this review will be nothing based upon that. first the good. good 1 the film picks up where the other left off. 2 Voldermort is in a lot of scenes. 3 snape has emotion. 4 a lot of people die! 5 some great Battles. the bad. 1 everything was two rushed. 2 snape memory's went by way too quickly. 3 there was not connection between any of the characters. 4 two much action. 5 Voldermorts death was ridiculous! Bellatrix even more so! they died way two easily! 6 two many off screen deaths. 7 Harry not dieing after being shot with the death curse was completely ridiculous! it completely ruined the tension i was feeling after i thought he was no more. 8 if harry had to come back it should have at least appeared he was dead until the very last second before he fought you know who. in stead the audience already new he was alive almost right after he had been shot. 9 harry has kids with jenny. corny ending! again still a enjoyable film. but i expected something better for a finale!