It was hard to believe all that Some Like It Hot' got away with in the 1950's. Sexual innuendos, cross-dressing, barely their `clothes' and more definitely made it an eyebrow-raising movie. It was risqué, but it's what made it such a funny movie. Marilyn Monroe did as excellent job at playing a dumb blonde (If she was really acting at all) and Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon did a superb job playing two cross-dressers trying to win a pretty girl's heart. Marilyn Monroe played a sweet, innocent girly-girl in an all-female band who every guy wanted, especially Joe and Jerry (Curtis and Lemmon). The two struggling musicians meet Sugar (Monroe) after they witness the St. Valentines Day Massacre and need to flee from the mob that is out to kill them. The only way to escape from being killed is to cross-dress and join the all-female band. The idea isn't too bad when they find out that Sugar is apart of the band. The girls in the band seem fresh out of seventh grade: boy-crazy and naïve, though it didn't seem to bother Joe and Jerry whose alias' while being cross-dressers where Josephine and Daphne. Even though the two guys were trying to win over Sugar while somehow remaining cross-dressers, it seemed to me that they were having a little more fun playing dress up than other guys would. I think they became too comfortable as women and it was kind of creepy, but also very humorous. While Jerry was having more success getting closer to Sugar and becoming more of her confidante, Joe was having more success in unintentionally wooing a rich yacht owner named Osgood Fielding III (Joe E. Brown). This twisted comedy made me laugh the whole way through. The mishaps and misfortunes of the characters were very inventive. I thought that the ending was very witty and although I could see the direction that it was headed, I didn't think any other ending would have been as funny. Although, it didn't take incredibly talented actors to pull off a comedy such as Some Like It Hot', it is still a movie that I would watch again and again.
Reviews
13 Reviews
The Godfather
(1972)
More movies should have these qualities
21 May 2004
The Godfather, which hit movie theatres and wowed audiences over 30 years ago, is still arguably one of the best movies ever made. Only the best writers, directors and actors could make a story about the mafia, who in the beginning seem to be cold, ruthless killers, and turn it into a group of people winning over the sympathy of nearly everyone in the audience. This film wouldn't have been as believable or worth watching if it weren't for the great cast. Their acting drew people into the movie. Marlon Brando, who played Don Vito Corleone, was introduced to the audience as the Godfather', the leader of the organized crime family. I loved how he was portrayed as an intimidating leader, but had a softer side for his grandchildren and his son, Michael, who he had a close relationship with. Throughout the movie, negotiations are made, bold-faced lies are told, families are torn apart, and several people are killed. At the beginning of the movie, the viewer feels sympathy for Michael Corleone because he seems confused and not sure if he wants to join the business. He makes up his mind to be apart of the business that will soon consume his life and because of that he changes as a person and the viewer no longer seems to identify with Michael and they feel a little bitter towards him. He looses respect from the audience. The camera angles added more attitude to the movie, giving it more symbolism. Sometimes the viewer is frustrated with the actors, knowing that if they had just made a different choice, things would have turned out the way the viewer wanted them to. That's another thing that caught my attention during this film; I found myself upset with the characters and disappointed in them as if they were actual people. I think that is a great quality in a movie. I really liked how the viewer's feelings for Michael changed in the end. It's a nice surprise when movies throw something like that in to spice things up and make the audience hope for a sequel.
Casablanca
(1942)
The best love triangle movie
29 April 2004
`Here's to looking at you, kid' was probably the most overused line in the movie, but nevertheless, Casablanca was one of the best love triangle/war movies that I have ever seen. The movie is set during WWII when people from Europe are traveling to Casablanca to try to get to America, where it was safer. This was a very hard and risky thing to do. Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman lit up the screen playing Rick Blaine, an exiled American and owner of a well-known cafe and Ilsa Lund laszlo, Rick's love interest that left him in Paris when she found out that her husband was alive. Meeting in Paris, Rick and Ilsa fall in love and plan to spend the rest of their lives together, until Rick receives a letter from Ilsa before boarding a train saying that they can't ever see each other again. Rick is torn apart, especially when he sees her again unexpectedly at his café and is obviously very bitter towards her. He later finds out that she left him in Paris because she found out her husband was alive. I really liked Humphrey Bogart in this movie. He played the bad boy, which seems to be a reoccurring role in the older classic films. Although he was perceived as a rebel who `doesn't stick his neck out for no one', he was the kind of guy who would do the right thing in the end that was best for everyone. I think he's a great actor who delivers his lines well and makes the scene seem very realistic. I thought that the movie was well done. The were many scenes in which there was mostly talking and a lot of information was given at one time making the movie somewhat confusing at times, but for the most part it was a great film. There were many parts that movies today copy, which made the movie interesting to watch. Although I am not a big fan of war/love movies, I thought that this was a classic because of Bogart and Bergman's incredible performances. Even the corniest parts such as the flashbacks and the famous line, `Here's to looking at you kid' were well done. Everyone should see this movie at least once; it's a classic that has been an inspiration to many filmmakers for many years.
Rebel Without a Cause
(1955)
Teen angst in the 1950's
8 April 2004
Rebel without a cause was about the trouble that people seem to face in their teenage years. It gave examples of teens not fitting in, peer pressure, young love, and desperation. Although this could seem like the typical views of teens and teen angst, many can relate to this 1950's depiction of teenage struggle. The movie begins with a drunken Jim Stark (James Dean) lying in the gutter of a street. He later ends up at the police station where Judy (Natalie Wood) and Plato (Sal Mineo), who he would later meet at school, are also being held. Each of them has their own problems. Jim's parents don't seem to notice that their frequent moves from city to city have an effect on Jim who seems not to have any friends. He always tries to find answers to his questions by asking his father, but never receives a clear answer. Judy doesn't receive the love and affection from her father that she once did. He refuses to kiss her and calls her a `dirty tramp'. She hangs out with the `rough crowd' at school who seem to take pleasure in knife fighting and chicken races. Plato's parents are never at home and have a maid who looks after him. He is rejected by his peers at school and instantly clings to Jim to try to become friends. This movie also show how `young love' can have an affect on teens, although it seemed to be more like infatuation than real love. The movie shows more than just the problems that teens face at school; it shows problems with misunderstanding parents and lack of self-confidence. I thought that the acting was really good from all the actors. It was funny at times, but really dramatic when it needed to be. I don't think that the movie is totally accurate with what today's teens have to face, but it did have certain points that many could identify with such as peer pressure and young love. I would recommend seeing this movie at least once to see the portrayal of teen angst in the 1950's as well as the performance by James Dean.
Rear Window
(1954)
Great actors, great plot, great story....
1 March 2004
Rear Window is a classic suspense movie without all the blood and guts.
The whole plot takes place inside L.B. `Jeff' Jeffries (James Stuart) New York apartment. He is recovering from a broken leg and is confined to his wheel chair. Trying to get through the days while not doing much besides visiting with his Stella (Thelma Ritter) his nurse and Lisa Carol Fremont (Grace Kelly) his girlfriend, he looks through the rear window to his apartment and observes his neighbors in the apartments across the courtyard. Miss Torso, Miss Loneyheart, a composer, newlyweds and a bickering couple captures his attention and Jeff is soon caught up in his neighbors' lives noticing the odd things that they do day by day. One day he notices that the wife of the man across the courtyard is no longer in the apartment and the man is packing her things. Jeff also notices that his strange neighbor is coming home at odd hours of the night with knives and ropes. Soon Jeff becomes suspicious thinking that a murder has just been committed across from his own apartment. Hitchcock used a lot of symbolism throughout the movie. When Miss Lonelyheart was depressed, she would be on the lower floor of the apartment, but when she became happier she would go to the higher floors of the apartment building. The apartment of the suspicious neighbor was dark and uninviting. The music from the composer's apartment would always start to play when Jeff and Lisa would talk about the suspicious neighbor. It was very interesting to look for the symbolism throughout the movie because it took the theme of the movie to a deeper level. Also, when Jeff is looking into all the different apartment buildings he seeing more than neighbors go through their daily tasks: he's seeing different stages of people lives. I think that is what makes this movie so interesting and captivating in a way. Hitchcock's movies have multiple levels. I would rate this movie 10/10. It is definitely something everyone should see.
The whole plot takes place inside L.B. `Jeff' Jeffries (James Stuart) New York apartment. He is recovering from a broken leg and is confined to his wheel chair. Trying to get through the days while not doing much besides visiting with his Stella (Thelma Ritter) his nurse and Lisa Carol Fremont (Grace Kelly) his girlfriend, he looks through the rear window to his apartment and observes his neighbors in the apartments across the courtyard. Miss Torso, Miss Loneyheart, a composer, newlyweds and a bickering couple captures his attention and Jeff is soon caught up in his neighbors' lives noticing the odd things that they do day by day. One day he notices that the wife of the man across the courtyard is no longer in the apartment and the man is packing her things. Jeff also notices that his strange neighbor is coming home at odd hours of the night with knives and ropes. Soon Jeff becomes suspicious thinking that a murder has just been committed across from his own apartment. Hitchcock used a lot of symbolism throughout the movie. When Miss Lonelyheart was depressed, she would be on the lower floor of the apartment, but when she became happier she would go to the higher floors of the apartment building. The apartment of the suspicious neighbor was dark and uninviting. The music from the composer's apartment would always start to play when Jeff and Lisa would talk about the suspicious neighbor. It was very interesting to look for the symbolism throughout the movie because it took the theme of the movie to a deeper level. Also, when Jeff is looking into all the different apartment buildings he seeing more than neighbors go through their daily tasks: he's seeing different stages of people lives. I think that is what makes this movie so interesting and captivating in a way. Hitchcock's movies have multiple levels. I would rate this movie 10/10. It is definitely something everyone should see.
Psycho
(1960)
a classic and creative film
20 February 2004
Psycho has to be one of the best and most classic horror films of all time. Alfred Hitchcock was very smart and creative about the techniques that he used which is why they have become a major part in filmmaking today.
The movie starts out with Marion (Janet Leigh) and her boyfriend Sam (John Gavin) in a hotel room. She wants to marry Sam, but neither of them have the money, especially Sam; he had to give most of his money away in alimony. When Marion goes to work, her boss asks her to deposit $40,000. Knowing that she could start a new life with the large sum of money, Marion takes off with it and the suspense begins. While she is driving down the road, the camera zooms in very close to her face, making it awkward for the audience and the screen seems to get tighter and tighter and with the terrifying music playing it has you on the edge of your seat. Not all of the techniques that Hitchcock uses are technical; a lot of what makes this such a great movie is all the twists in the storyline. When Marion arrives at the hotel she is staying at there is a huge mansion in the background that appears to be very spooky. The camera shoots up at it making the viewer feel very small and intimidated. The shadows that are seen behind the curtains were a great effect and added to the spookiness of the movie. I thought that the music was one of the best techniques. A movie isn't scary unless it has the right music. I'm sure the audience could tell that he must have been a perfectionist; there was so much effort put in to this movie beyond what most would expect.
There is so much to discuss about this movie, especially the end, but I don't want to give it away. I would rate Psycho 10/10. It was truly a classic in it's time as well as it is today.
The movie starts out with Marion (Janet Leigh) and her boyfriend Sam (John Gavin) in a hotel room. She wants to marry Sam, but neither of them have the money, especially Sam; he had to give most of his money away in alimony. When Marion goes to work, her boss asks her to deposit $40,000. Knowing that she could start a new life with the large sum of money, Marion takes off with it and the suspense begins. While she is driving down the road, the camera zooms in very close to her face, making it awkward for the audience and the screen seems to get tighter and tighter and with the terrifying music playing it has you on the edge of your seat. Not all of the techniques that Hitchcock uses are technical; a lot of what makes this such a great movie is all the twists in the storyline. When Marion arrives at the hotel she is staying at there is a huge mansion in the background that appears to be very spooky. The camera shoots up at it making the viewer feel very small and intimidated. The shadows that are seen behind the curtains were a great effect and added to the spookiness of the movie. I thought that the music was one of the best techniques. A movie isn't scary unless it has the right music. I'm sure the audience could tell that he must have been a perfectionist; there was so much effort put in to this movie beyond what most would expect.
There is so much to discuss about this movie, especially the end, but I don't want to give it away. I would rate Psycho 10/10. It was truly a classic in it's time as well as it is today.
A Christmas Story
(1983)
A movie that brings the kid out in all of us
27 December 2003
A Christmas Story is a light-hearted comedy about a boy wishing for the toy of his dreams. All Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley) wants is a bb gun, but no one thinks it's a good idea and they all give him the infamous one-liner you'll shoot your eye out'. He tries almost everything he can think of to persuade his parents and even Santa Claus that he should get a bb gun for Christmas. He tries the reverse psychology technique on his mom, he writes a paper about how great bb guns are for his teacher and him and his little bother Randy (Ian Petrella) go to the mall and wait in an enormous line to talk to a very impatient Santa Claus. This movie is a true reflection for many of us who wanted that special toy around the holiday season. I thought that Billingsley had great comical timing for such a young age, which really made the movie fun to watch. I also like how there was more to the movie than just a boy trying to get a toy for Christmas. The movie showed bullies that picked on Ralphie and his friends, an overprotective mom, and there was a funny scene where Ralphie slips and accidentally says the f-word and later gets his mouth washed out with soap. These scenes were all very funny and made the characters seem real. I liked how Ralphie's family wasn't depicted as being perfect and that they all had their differences, which kept the movie from being corny. I think everyone should watch this movie around the holidays. It's great for bring out the little kid in all of us and putting us in a good mood.
It's a Wonderful Life
(1946)
A classic
16 December 2003
It's a Wonderful Life makes us think about our own life and how we shouldn't take it for granted. It makes us realize what the important things are around the holidays. The movie is about George Bailey (Jimmy Stuart), a business man who takes over a bank after his father, the previous owner dies. What he really wanted to do with his life was get out of Bedford Falls, the small town he grew up in, and make a name for himself. After misplacing an $8,000 loan, he contemplates about committing suicide, but instead saves his guardian angel when he falls into a river. Gabriel, the angel, gives George a look at what life would be like if he had never been born. I thought that this was a great movie. The acting was great, and the love story wasn't corny. Stuart could portray so many different types of emotions that made the story seem real. You see his character develop from being an optimist, wanting to get out and see the world, to a desperate business man confused about what the real meaning of life is. Donna Reid played her character well also. She was Mary Bailey and always was by her husband's side being very supportive. At the beginning of the movie she was portrayed as a young girl in love with George and as the movie progressed she matured and became a loving wife and a mother. Reid and Stuart together made the movie as memorable as it is. They had great chemistry onscreen, which made the movie real and not corny. I liked how it was still in black and white and not colored and taken away from its original form. The colored versions of black and white movies just don't look as good as the originals. I would recommend this movie to almost anyone, especially those who think that they don't have anything to be grateful for or who can't seem to get into the Christmas spirit.
Miracle on 34th Street
(1947)
It makes you want belive that Santa Claus really exists
8 December 2003
Miracle On 34Th Street was a great Christmas movie. The major conflict of the movie was whether or not Santa Claus really existed.
The movie begins with Kris Cringle (Edmund Gwen) walking by a store with a man setting up a display of reindeer and notices that they are not in order. Kris tells the man politely how to fix them in the right positions, but the man gives him a strange look and goes back to work. Kris Cringle believes himself to be Santa Claus although most everyone else thinks he is crazy. Even little Susan (Natalie Wood) thinks he is a fake and doesn't believe in any fairytales'. Her mother, Doris Walker (Maureen O'Hara), taught her that to believe in fairytales' is childish and impractical. Kris is later made a part of the Macy's parade when the Santa Claus that was supposed to be in the parade is found drunk. When asked if he had ever had any experience, Kris replied, `Many times.' Doris makes him the department store Santa Claus at Macy's where he tells many people that he is the real Santa Claus.
As more people find out about Kris Cringle calling himself Santa Claus', they get upset saying that no such person really exists. Many people took it more literally and said that it would be impossible for reindeer to fly or for anyone to live in the North Pole. He is forced to take a mental examination and the doctor convinces Doris that Kris is mentally ill after he gets in a fight. Kris is arrested and taken to court and his lawyer is Mr. Gailey who starts to believe, along with Doris and Susan, the he actually is Santa Claus.
I thought that this was a really good holiday movie that focus on something that all of us as little kids went through- believing or not believing in Santa Claus. It even feels like I should believe in Santa after watching it. I thought that Edmund Gwen was a really good actor and perfect for his part. He played his role very innocently, which made him very believable as Santa Claus. Natalie Wood was a great actress who played very well the typical role of the cynical child. The acting and the plot was very well written. It was a very innocent movie that is entertaining for all types of audiences.
The movie begins with Kris Cringle (Edmund Gwen) walking by a store with a man setting up a display of reindeer and notices that they are not in order. Kris tells the man politely how to fix them in the right positions, but the man gives him a strange look and goes back to work. Kris Cringle believes himself to be Santa Claus although most everyone else thinks he is crazy. Even little Susan (Natalie Wood) thinks he is a fake and doesn't believe in any fairytales'. Her mother, Doris Walker (Maureen O'Hara), taught her that to believe in fairytales' is childish and impractical. Kris is later made a part of the Macy's parade when the Santa Claus that was supposed to be in the parade is found drunk. When asked if he had ever had any experience, Kris replied, `Many times.' Doris makes him the department store Santa Claus at Macy's where he tells many people that he is the real Santa Claus.
As more people find out about Kris Cringle calling himself Santa Claus', they get upset saying that no such person really exists. Many people took it more literally and said that it would be impossible for reindeer to fly or for anyone to live in the North Pole. He is forced to take a mental examination and the doctor convinces Doris that Kris is mentally ill after he gets in a fight. Kris is arrested and taken to court and his lawyer is Mr. Gailey who starts to believe, along with Doris and Susan, the he actually is Santa Claus.
I thought that this was a really good holiday movie that focus on something that all of us as little kids went through- believing or not believing in Santa Claus. It even feels like I should believe in Santa after watching it. I thought that Edmund Gwen was a really good actor and perfect for his part. He played his role very innocently, which made him very believable as Santa Claus. Natalie Wood was a great actress who played very well the typical role of the cynical child. The acting and the plot was very well written. It was a very innocent movie that is entertaining for all types of audiences.
Hannah and Her Sisters
(1986)
Watch it once and you're good to go (possible spoilers)
24 November 2003
Warning: Spoilers
This movie was quite different from any other movie that I have seen before. It was pretty quirky, with a lot of dry humor. The cheap jokes, the lustful desires of Elliot and the hypochondriac (Woody Allen)made the movie kind of weird, but interesting to watch and entertaining in some ways. The movie is about three women who are sisters trying to have successful love lifes. Hannah (Mia Farrow) was once married to the infertile Mickey,but then was divorced and Hannah got together with Elliot. The first scene of the movie shows Elliot lusting after Leigh, Hannah's sister, who is in a relationship with another man. Leigh and Hannah's sister Holly is a former drug abuser who claims that she has been sober for a while now, although you wonder if that is really the truth. Elliot and Leigh have an affair and leigh's boyfriend finds out, but somehow Hannah never does. The affair is ended so Elliot doesn't jeopardize his marrage with Hannah. Somehow Mickey and Holly are set up on a date where at first they have a horrible time, not connecting in anyway, but later the two get married and Holly becomes pregnant, making you wonder since Mickey was infertile when he was married to Hannah. Was it because Holly was his true love? Who knows. The movie has three Thanksgiving day scenes. It's interesting that the movie only focuses on the Thanksgiving holiday, even though the movie's plot goes through three years. I think it was supposed to signal that the movie shows how one should be thankful for the relationships they have, although it is never made quite clear. The best part of the movie was when Mickey thought he had a brain tumor all because he was losing his hearing. He made a huge deal about it and it turned out to be nothing. His character was very unique. Even though with all the twists and turns and multiple stories that this movie contains, it was worth watching it to some extent as in seeing it once is sufficient.
The Searchers
(1956)
typical western
17 November 2003
The Searchers is a good example of a western movie. Most of the westerns that I have watched before never seem to have a plot that can be followed, but this movie actually had a storyline, so right at the start I was impressed.
The movie's plot is based on trying to get Ethan Edward's (John Wayne) niece back from the Comanche Indians after she is kidnapped and her family is attacked. The movie definitely had a racist point of view of the Native Americans. Ethan doesn't get along with Martin Polly (Jeffrey Hunter) the boy that his family has adopted because he found out that he is part Native American. He also plans to kill Debbie once he finds her because she was raised by the Comanche Indians. This racism was not too uncommon during this time because many were prejudice towards the Native Americans, thinking that they were uncivilized people.
Although the plot for The Searchers was a good idea, it could have been played out a lot better. The movie was so slow at times I would have a hard time following along and I'm sure that at some points in the movie I wasn't the only one in the audience that had a hard time paying attention. I was excited to see a John Wayne movie because I knew he was a very popular actor that most everyone knew and loved, but after watching this movie, I am still wondering what the big deal about him is. His lines were very cut and dry and seemed like he had very few emotions during the movie. I don't think his character went into depth like it could have. For being built up as such a great actor, I think this was a poor portrayal of Wayne's ability.
There were some funny parts in the movie that I enjoyed. Some of them were just times when the movie was corny and others were intended to be humorous moments. I really liked the romance, or lack there of, between Lori Jorgenson (Vera Miles) and Martin Polly. Its like she wanted him to like her, but she felt like she had to push him away sometimes because the way he acted, or what he did or didn't do. She was a complicated person. The best scene in the movie was when Lori's fiancé, who had the very unreal southern accent, fought Martin Polly. What made the fight scene funny was that it didn't seem like they were fighting the way that people would fight. It looked like some kind of Kung Fu when Martin Polly kicked Lori's fiancé in the face. That scene had many laughs from the audience, including myself. Also, during the hunt for Debbie when they were in the desert, Martin Polly somehow found himself married to a Comanche Indian who would follow him around wherever he would go. He decided to take a nap and she got into bed with him and he pushed her out of bed. She rolled down the hill really far and kept going, seeming unreal, but definitely funny. I think that the corny scenes in older movies are what make them worth while.
The overall grade that I would give this movie is a B. It did lose my interest at times, and I thought that John Wayne's character could have had more depth, but it was still a good western movie because it had a plot, which most westerns seem to lack.
The movie's plot is based on trying to get Ethan Edward's (John Wayne) niece back from the Comanche Indians after she is kidnapped and her family is attacked. The movie definitely had a racist point of view of the Native Americans. Ethan doesn't get along with Martin Polly (Jeffrey Hunter) the boy that his family has adopted because he found out that he is part Native American. He also plans to kill Debbie once he finds her because she was raised by the Comanche Indians. This racism was not too uncommon during this time because many were prejudice towards the Native Americans, thinking that they were uncivilized people.
Although the plot for The Searchers was a good idea, it could have been played out a lot better. The movie was so slow at times I would have a hard time following along and I'm sure that at some points in the movie I wasn't the only one in the audience that had a hard time paying attention. I was excited to see a John Wayne movie because I knew he was a very popular actor that most everyone knew and loved, but after watching this movie, I am still wondering what the big deal about him is. His lines were very cut and dry and seemed like he had very few emotions during the movie. I don't think his character went into depth like it could have. For being built up as such a great actor, I think this was a poor portrayal of Wayne's ability.
There were some funny parts in the movie that I enjoyed. Some of them were just times when the movie was corny and others were intended to be humorous moments. I really liked the romance, or lack there of, between Lori Jorgenson (Vera Miles) and Martin Polly. Its like she wanted him to like her, but she felt like she had to push him away sometimes because the way he acted, or what he did or didn't do. She was a complicated person. The best scene in the movie was when Lori's fiancé, who had the very unreal southern accent, fought Martin Polly. What made the fight scene funny was that it didn't seem like they were fighting the way that people would fight. It looked like some kind of Kung Fu when Martin Polly kicked Lori's fiancé in the face. That scene had many laughs from the audience, including myself. Also, during the hunt for Debbie when they were in the desert, Martin Polly somehow found himself married to a Comanche Indian who would follow him around wherever he would go. He decided to take a nap and she got into bed with him and he pushed her out of bed. She rolled down the hill really far and kept going, seeming unreal, but definitely funny. I think that the corny scenes in older movies are what make them worth while.
The overall grade that I would give this movie is a B. It did lose my interest at times, and I thought that John Wayne's character could have had more depth, but it was still a good western movie because it had a plot, which most westerns seem to lack.
Citizen Kane
(1941)
an example of a unique and well done movie
17 November 2003
The movie Citizen Kane was loosely based on the life of William Randolph Hearst. The movie begins with the death of Charles Foster Kane, who was the editor of the New York Journal. He says the name rosebud and drops a crystal ball, which falls to the ground a shatters. News clips are shown about the different occurrences in Kane's life depicting how Kane acquired his fortune. Throughout the whole movie reporters are trying to figure out what the word rosebud meant and why it was the last word he said before he died. The reporters find people who knew Kane throughout his life trying to get information from them that would put some sense to Kane saying `rosebud' as his last word. Many of the stories told by the people interviewed show the audience a lot about his life through flashbacks. One of the opening scenes is that of Kane's mansion called Xanadu. It has a sign that says `no trespassing' that is hung from the outside gate. The shot is very dark and gloomy, hinting that maybe Kane's life was the same way. He was a very power-hungry man that went from being at the top to rock bottom. Many other movies have definitely taken note to style and effects of this movie. The camera work, lighting, acting a music contributed to making Citizen Kane one of the best American movies of all time. Orson Welles deserves all the credit that he receives from this movie. He was the leading character, producer and director; basically a one man show that still many of us appreciate. I thought that this movie was well done. It had so much symbolism that made the movie unique, although if you didn't know what was symbolic during the different scenes it would be hard to follow, but most of the symbolism is easily recognized. One of the best symbolic scenes that also foreshadows is when Kane is at the top of the stairs and he is told that he lost his position and as he walks down the stairs the camera is shooting from at the top and it looks like a spiral showing that Kane's life and career are out of control. Citizen Kane was very dramatic and all who took part in the movie played their roles well. The characters seemed very real and believable making this movie very memorable. This film has features that every movie should try to incorporate; symbolism, great actors, interesting storyline, excellent camera shots, lighting and sound techniques. I think everyone should see this movie at least once in their life time because it is one of the greatest American movies of all time.
Entertaining, but hardly accurate
16 October 2003
Even though the movie is not historically accurate at all and most of the romance scenes were dreadfully corny, it was still well worth the comic relief. I would recommend watching it again just for pure entertainment but not for the historical accuracy or educational purposes. It was a mix of several different genres mainly western and romance. The whole point of the movie was to portray Custer, played by Errol Flynn, as an unskilled General leading his regiment in the battle at Little Big horn also known as Custer's last stand because he ultimately ended up dying. If there was one reason that this movie should be viewed more than once it would be to watch the comical romance blossom between Custer and his wife Libby, played by Olivia De Havilland.
The movie starts off with Custer at West point and ends at the battle of little Bighorn when Custer's regiment tries to take on thousands of Native Americans with the just the few hundred men his regiment contained. In history Custer was quoted saying that `The only good Indian is a dead Indian,' so if the movie had been based on that quote, it would have been depicted in a totally different way. In history Custer is very arrogant, thinking that this will just be another win that he can boast about. He probably wasn't thinking that this was the last battle that he would be fighting. Of course in the movie Custer was portrayed as courageous and heroic sometimes being a troublemaker and going against authority, but always with good intentions. Before he left, he gave Libby his watch, knowing that he was going to die and sure enough in one of the last scenes that's exactly what happens. That was the worst scene in the whole movie. I would have thought that all the work that was put into the movie making Custer look so gallant and brave, the fight scene would have been more action-packed and suspenseful. It seemed like someone had just run out of time and wanted to end the movie as quickly as possible. I thought that it was a lot of work for a two-hour movie to not have a good ending.
Even though the script was corny and the romance was rushed between Custer and Libby, Olivia De Havilland made the best out of it. She was an interesting character, but seemed really narrow minded. I'm sure that if that script had been written true to history her character would have definitely had more depth and the storyline would have been more interesting. I did have a favorite character. I would have so say that Callie, Libby's maid, made the movie all worthwhile. Her quirky personality made me laugh and enjoy the movie more. Without her the movie would have been an absolute lost cause.
Besides being historically inaccurate, the movie was entertaining. I would only recommend this movie to those who like historical fiction because this movie is totally skewed when it comes to portraying what happened in real life.
The movie starts off with Custer at West point and ends at the battle of little Bighorn when Custer's regiment tries to take on thousands of Native Americans with the just the few hundred men his regiment contained. In history Custer was quoted saying that `The only good Indian is a dead Indian,' so if the movie had been based on that quote, it would have been depicted in a totally different way. In history Custer is very arrogant, thinking that this will just be another win that he can boast about. He probably wasn't thinking that this was the last battle that he would be fighting. Of course in the movie Custer was portrayed as courageous and heroic sometimes being a troublemaker and going against authority, but always with good intentions. Before he left, he gave Libby his watch, knowing that he was going to die and sure enough in one of the last scenes that's exactly what happens. That was the worst scene in the whole movie. I would have thought that all the work that was put into the movie making Custer look so gallant and brave, the fight scene would have been more action-packed and suspenseful. It seemed like someone had just run out of time and wanted to end the movie as quickly as possible. I thought that it was a lot of work for a two-hour movie to not have a good ending.
Even though the script was corny and the romance was rushed between Custer and Libby, Olivia De Havilland made the best out of it. She was an interesting character, but seemed really narrow minded. I'm sure that if that script had been written true to history her character would have definitely had more depth and the storyline would have been more interesting. I did have a favorite character. I would have so say that Callie, Libby's maid, made the movie all worthwhile. Her quirky personality made me laugh and enjoy the movie more. Without her the movie would have been an absolute lost cause.
Besides being historically inaccurate, the movie was entertaining. I would only recommend this movie to those who like historical fiction because this movie is totally skewed when it comes to portraying what happened in real life.
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