theshape-13 Reviews

Latter Days (2003)

A touching, well-acted love story

[8/10 · 19 March 2007]

What a nice surprise the film "Latter Days" turned out to be – a mature, humorous and heartbreaking love story featuring characters that one can become emotionally attached to very quickly. While the film doesn't come across as dramatically "hard-hitting" as other movies of this genre (BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, for example), I found myself liking this film more and more as it progressed. To be honest, I didn't want it to end.

This is the story of Aaron and Christian – Aaron is a young Mormon Elder sent by his Idaho congregation out into the world (West Hollywood, CA to be precise) to preach the Book of Mormon. Christian is Aaron's neighbor – a handsome, hard-partying young man who can pretty much have any guy he wants. When Christian's co-workers call him out on his conquests, a bet ensues - for $50, he can get the underpants of any of the Mormon guys that just moved into his neighborhood and he sets his sights on getting Aaron into bed. Little does Christian know that Aaron is a repressed young man who secretly watches Christian late at night when he comes home with one guy after another after another… A series of incidents culminates with the 2 young men passionately kissing one another. They are caught in the act by Aaron's house mates, who in turn report Aaron for his 'misdeeds'. Before Aaron can say good-bye to Christian, he is whisked off to the airport bound for Idaho to face excommunication from his sect. Christian hears of this and upon learning Aaron's plane is to be laid over in Salt Lake City for 5 hours, he races off to find Aaron. For Christian, Aaron is no longer the victim in his inane bet – he has become the object of Christian's affection. At the Salt Lake City airport, Christian finds Aaron outside & professes his love for him. Aaron, knowing he now has nothing to lose, embraces Christian and soon the young men are making love in a hotel room. The next morning, Christian awakens and finds that Aaron has left him once more without saying good-bye – the only thing left behind is a pocket watch that Aaron's dad gave to him when he left Idaho. The watch now becomes a catalyst in Christian's search for Aaron.

From this point, "Latter Days" begins its emotional roller coaster ride with the audience. We know from their beautifully romantic encounter and subsequent pillow talk that Aaron & Christian belong together – we feel their attraction as much as they do. I won't go further in regards to the rest of the film – it is something you really need to experience for yourself. There are a few twists as Christian searches for Aaron and I will admit that the film's final 10 minutes left me pretty teary-eyed. Even after subsequent viewings, I still get choked up.

Personally, I don't think the film would have worked for me if it weren't for the two lead actors. As Aaron and Christian, Steve Sandvoss and Wes Ramsey were excellent – I can't imagine anyone but them playing these characters. Sandvoss was terrific – his portrayal of Aaron is that of a haunted, tortured soul yearning to love who he wants, yet his religion tells him it is wrong. I just wanted to reach out and hug him! Ramsey took the character of Christian and turned what could have been just another "pretty boy" role into a character whose actions and lifestyle hide a man who yearns for a real chance of actually falling in love with the right person.

In short, "Latter Days" is a very good film – expect to laugh, expect to cry a bit and expect to be very entertained.

Tree for Two (1943)

One of the series funniest entries!

[9/10 · 13 October 2006]

The Columbia Color Rhapsody "Tree for Two" is one of the best of the entire "Fox & Crow" shorts Columbia produced. The story itself is pretty simple - Tree surgeon Fox, having 'delivered' a young sapling out in the forest, comes across a very dilapidated tree. Of course, this shack of a tree happens to be the Crow's home. After noting the tree's symptoms ("Termitus" & "Branchitus" among them) and rating it a 4F, the Fox attempts to save the sickly specimen. Of course, the Crow won't hear of it and attempts to stop him. Needless to say, the Crow's efforts to thwart the Fox are all for naught.

Having recently acquired an uncut reissue print, I was amazed to find out that 2 titles cards have been edited from the "Totally Tooned In" version that was syndicated in 1999. Why? I have no clue. They certainly don't detract from the film, so why were they excised? All in all, this is a very enjoyable entry in the series - I rate it a 9 out of 10!!!

Song of Victory (1942)

Very well done WWII propaganda short!!!

[9/10 · 19 June 2006]

While I was exposed to various WWII propaganda cartoons on TV while growing up in the 1970s, I didn't see the Columbia Color Rhapsody SONG OF VICTORY until just recently, having acquired a print from a private collector. Man, what a great cartoon!

SONG OF VICTORY tells the story of cute cuddly little woodland creatures who fall victim to a vulture (caricature of Adolf Hitler), an ape (Benito Mousalini) and a buck-toothed hyena (Hirohito). This triumvirate bully and terrify the forest creatures, forcing them to be their slaves and bring them food. When one of their own is beaten for stealing a walnut, the animals band together to terrorize and taunt the trio with various signs of "V" for victory - the rabbits' ears forms "V"s; a woodpecker pecks the letter "V" on their cave door; the frogs croak the dreaded "DAH DAH DAH DAHHHHH". Needless to say, our furry little friends vanquish their tormentors, ending the film.

This is one of the most beautiful and daring cartoons to ever come out of the COLUMBIA/SCREEN GEMS output! The film carries 2 important names in the history of theatrical animation - Frank Tashlin and Dave Fleischer. As Tashlin's reign as production supervisor for the COLUMBIA cartoons was ending, this film was still in production. When Dave Fleischer assumed studio control, he made sure the film was completed. Fleischer received producer's credit, while Tashlin retained his credit as 'supervisor'. Kudos also to layout artist Zack Schwartz and director Bob Wickersham, 2 more unsung animation heroes whose work remains rich and impressive even today! Final kudos to musical director Eddie Kilfeather for bringing this film to life with an excellent score - the music over the end titles is quite stirring and beautiful!

With any luck, hopefully someday COLUMBIA/SONY will release its cartoon library to DVD for others to discover this wonderful cartoon.

Merrie Melodies: Starring Bugs Bunny and Friends (1990–1993)

This was a good cartoon compilation show!

[8/10 · 19 May 2006]

The syndicated MERRIE MELODIES show, which ran from 1990-1992, was a real treat for those of us who grew up watching these theatrical classics. Sixty-five episodes were produced to run 5 times a week for 13 weeks, then the cycle was rerun 7 more times over two years. Each episode naturally showcased a classic Bugs Bunny short while the rest of the program included 2 additional cartoons along with a "Hip Clip" - a short brief scene from another WB short not showcased in that particular episode.

At the time this series was put together, media mogul Ted Turner held the rights to the pre-1948 WB cartoons, so those shorts were not included. WB still had the post-1948 library to draw upon and utilized many of the films with either little or no editing done to them. The WB opening/closing titles were not shown, but the credits were presented in their original form. During this time, a few shorts that have since been banned from TV were broadcast, such as "Wise Quackers" (a 1949 Daffy/Elmer short that used slavery as its storyline) and "Caveman Inki" (featuring Chuck Jones' Negro character Inki). The program also showcased many B & W titles that WB had computer-colored (kids don't like B & W) such as "Porky's Pooch", "The Daffy Duckaroo" and the last B & W Looney Tune "Puss 'N' Booty".

All in all, this was a well-produced series - I wished I had saved all my video copies of it!

The Fox and the Grapes (1941)

Tashlin's first cartoon for Columbia/Screen Gems is a winner!

[8/10 · 21 April 2006]

The Color Rhapsody "The Fox & The Grapes" was the first cartoon produced, written and directed under the Frank Tashlin regime after the death of producer Charles Mintz. Tashlin was working at the Disney studios as a gag man when approached to assume producer duties. At the time, the Disney staff was on strike and Tashlin took full advantage of his new situation by hiring former Disneyites to work at the Screen Gems studios. Tashlin's reign was not a lengthy one, but this is one of the finest cartoons produced by the studio.

This cartoon was also the debut for the characters of the Fox & Crow, who went on to star in 23 more cartoons. The premise is ideal - a milquetoast fox (voiced by the legendary Mel Blanc) attempts to purloin a bunch of grapes dangled by a wily crow (also voiced by Blanc). The crow only wants the fox to share his picnic lunch with him, but the fox refuses. From this point, a hilarious string of attempts to acquire the grapes begins. The blackout gags are quite funny, the animation is superb and the music score by Eddie Kilfeather is top-notch!

Droopy's Good Deed (1951)

Another Avery classic!

[8/10 · 23 March 2006]

"Droopy's Good Deed" was one of the last cartoons Avery produced for MGM back in 1950 (released in 1951) before going on a self-imposed sabbatical from the MGM cartoon dept. In this outing, Spike the vagrant comes across a boy scout camp when he is booted off a freight train. A competition is underway between Droopy and another scout for Best Scout. The prize? A trip to Washington to meet with the President! Spike sees this as his opportunity and takes the other scout's place. The remainder of the cartoon is a smattering of quick black-out gags as Spike does his best to eliminate his competitor, Droopy.

Beware of current prints circulating on video and on TV - 2 very un-PC racial gags have been excised from the cartoon. While one gag (the aftermath of Spike being struck by lightning) is uncensored on the video release, the other gag (the end result of a bomb with Spike and a refined gentleman) is still edited. If one wishes to see the complete cartoon, I suggest they seek out a copy from a private collector (my print is uncut).

Garden Gopher (1950)

Another Avery gem!

[7/10 · 23 March 2006]

In another short Avery completed before taking a self-imposed hiatus from the M-G-M cartoon department, "Garden Gopher" is a very fast-moving and very funny cartoon! Spike is burying a bone in his yard when the bone keeps popping up from the ground, courtesy of an unappreciative gopher. Soon a battle of wits ensues as Spike attempts to get rid of the gopher with cigar smoke, gun powder, a rifle, a cannon, hot peppers and finally dressing up as a female gopher! The best gag in the cartoon is now excised from most existing prints of "Garden Gopher" - Spike fills the gopher's hole with blasting powder, not knowing the gopher has spilled grease under his feet. As Spike attempts to flee from the ensuing explosion, the powder explodes and the aftermath leaves Spike doing a un-PC slow shuffle akin to a tar baby. As with "Droopy's Good Deed", one might want to seek out a print from a private collector to see the whole cartoon.

Absolutely Fabulous (1992–2012)

One of the best Britcoms ever made!!

[22 March 2006]

"Absolutely Fabulous" is, without a doubt, one of the funniest shows to ever come across the pond from the U.K.! Apparently, the sitcom's subject matter and flat-out political incorrectness made it too edgy for local PBS stations to run. Instead, the cable channel COMEDY CENTRAL acquired the initial US rights from the BBC in the mid-1990s. The rest is history.

AB FAB (as we fans refer to it with affection) is the saga of Edina Monsoon (Eddy) and her fabulous pal Patsy Stone. Eddy & Patsy do everything in life to excess - drink, smoke, party. While Eddy has a PR firm (she represents LuLu) and a shop, her main income comes from the alimony her two ex-husbands give her. Eddy lives in a nice home in London's Holland Park area with her stuffed-shirt daughter Saffron (Saffy) who is the opposite of Eddy in every way. Patsy, on the other hand, has a flat above Oddbins, a liquor store. Also on hand was Eddy's bubble-headed assistant Bubble and her widowed mother (referred to as 'Gran' by Saffy) AB FAB was an instant hit here in the US - the initial 3 series of 18 episodes (6 eps in 1992, 6 in 1994 & 6 in 1995) were played to the hilt by Comedy Central. Roseanne the comedienne even bought the rights to update the series for US television, but nothing ever materialized. In 2002 Comedy Central, in joint production with the BBC, produced 6 more AB FABS eps. In these new episodes, viewers learned that in this post-9/11 world, Eddy and Patsy hadn't changed a bit. In 2004, the cable channel Oxygen teamed with the BBC and had another series of 7 episodes produced. There were also 2 AB FAB specials produced as well.

Sin is in, Sweetie!!

Halloween II (1981)

Better than expected sequel!

[7/10 · 16 March 2006]

HALLOWEEN II is one of the horror genre's better sequels. What is unique about this sequel is that it starts up right where the original HALLOWEEN ends - something that has not been done since 1935's BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN. We get the last few minutes of the original, with Dr Loomis firing 6 slugs into Michael Myers, who proceeds to plunge from the balcony of the home where Laurie Strode was babysitting. One moment, Michael is there; the next - gone!!! It is at this point that the audience gets what the movie's tag promises - "More of the Night HE Came Home"! Michael is up and about, bullet-riddled and driven to finish off the one that got away - Laurie Strode! Laurie is whisked off to Haddonfield Memorial while Dr. Loomis is still in hot pursuit of the masked killer. Michael eventually finds his target, but not without leaving a trail of bodies. There is a method to Michael's madness, but I won't tell - you have to see the film for yourself.

HALLOWEEN II, while filmed 3 years later than its predecessor, has most of the same production team that worked on the original. While it lacks some of the suspense and tension of the first film, it more or less makes up for that with a fair amount of gore. While terror and suspense were OK in 1978, it was now the 1980s. Due in part to Friday THE 13TH's success, movie audiences now wanted gore FX along with the death scenes. This movie certainly has them...

All in all, I like HALLOWEEN II. It really is one of the better slasher sequels out there.

Halloween (1978)

One of the scariest movies ever made - a real classic!

[9/10 · 16 March 2006]

One of my all-time favorite fright flicks!! I was 13 when HALLOWEEN was released in 1978 and the local film critics here in my area, the late Gene Siskel & Roger Ebert, praised it highly. The movie poster itself was scary! Of course, being the 13-yr old that I was, I pestered my older sister just enough for her to give in and take me to see it. To this day, I'm glad she did - my love for horror films had started!

The story is simplistic in itself - on Halloween 1963, 6-yr old Michael Myers murders his older sister with a large butcher knife. For 15 years, Michael is kept institutionalized until one night - October 30, 1978 to be exact - he escapes and returns to his hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois to relive his crime again and again. Hot on his trail is Dr. Loomis, who tries to 'stop the evil'.

Until THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, HALLOWEEN was praised as one of the most successful independent films produced. One does not notice that the film was shot on a shoestring budget, nor does one care. While there is much talent in front of the camera (Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis), it is the behind-the-camera talent that really stands out. Dean Cundey's photography is incredible and really sets the scary mood Carpenter creates. Using blue light to simulate moonlight in the night scenes was just a stroke of genius! Ray Stella's use of the Panaglide is great - the stalk/chase scenes when seen in their original widescreen format are tense!! Yes, many ripoffs and sequels came and went in HALLOWEEN's wake, but the original is the best!! I wholeheartedly suggest that viewers watch this film in its widescreen format and not in alternate pan-and-scan versions!

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

A hauntingly beautiful love story that will stay with you!

[9/10 · 14 March 2006]

I entered the screening of BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN with the most open of minds and left emotionally drained. When a movie can do that to you, then you know you have been deeply entertained. BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN has been constantly referred to as a 'gay cowboy' film, but that unfortunate label doesn't even begin to describe the film.

In their star-making & Oscar-nominated performances, Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal portray Ennis & Jack, two sheepherders hired to watch over a flock of sheep on the movie title's mountain. The two men are polar opposites - Ennis is the mumbly, quiet chain-smoker engaged to be married while Jack is the younger, idealistic one. One cold night, Jack has Ennis sleep in the tent so Ennis doesn't freeze and from that point the real story begins. The attraction the two men feel is foreign and scary to both of these good ol' boys. Their physical encounter is passionate & aggressive - something Jack & Ennis have never experienced with others. It is on this night that the men form their 'bond' - a love for one another that cannot be spoken of to others, yet they deny themselves the chance to be together. The fateful day comes when their jobs end and both men go their separate ways and attempt to live 'normal lives. Ennis marries Alma and has 2 girls; Jack also ties the knot and sires a son. Over the course of 20 years, the men meet up and unify their bond. Of course, with any great love story ultimately comes tragedy...To label BROKEBACK the 'gay cowboy' film is ludicrous, in my opinion. This is a film of raw human emotion, pure and simple. Everyone wants love - everyone wants to be in love. The love between Jack and Ennis is tangible and powerful, yet these two plain ordinary men cannot explain it, even to themselves. Their actual conversations are few and far between, but in the case of Ennis, his silence speaks volumes! The performances in this film is really what blew me away. Heath Ledger is a revelation - his Ennis Del Mar is a tortured soul, a man who cannot have the love he wants. Jake Gyllenhaal is very good in the less showy role of Jack Twist. Michelle Williams and Anne Hathaway are dead-on as the respective wives of Ennis and Jack.

This movie deserves its long life! As the film's tag line says - "Love is a Force of Nature". I will carry this movie with me for a long time to come.

Off Again, on Again (1945)

Another remake of an earlier Charley Chase short

[5/10 · 19 January 2006]

OFF AGAIN, ON AGAIN is a near scene-for scene remake of a classic 1937 Charley Chase short, TIME OUT FOR TROUBLE. Shemp and his fiancé are engaged to be married. After Shemp saves a gangster's girlfriend from a near-fatal accident, a photographer snaps their picture and it ends up in the daily paper with an erroneous byline. After seeing the paper, Shemp's fiancé calls off the wedding, leaving our hero so destitute that he plans to bump himself off. After several unsuccessful attempts, Shemp calls on the gangster to 'snuff out his candle', so to speak. However, Shemp has a change of heart when his former fiancé returns and admits it was all a misunderstanding. Shemp frantically tries to save himself from extermination. Again, Dick Curtis plays the role of the gangster.

Society Mugs (1946)

Pretty decent remake of a classic Stooges short

[6/10 · 19 January 2006]

SOCIETY MUGS with Shemp Howard and Tom Kennedy is a near frame-for-frame remake of the classic 1938 Three Stooges comedy TERMITES OF 1938. Shemp & Tom are exterminators who are accidentally called upon when a society matron's maid dials their phone number instead of an escort service. Shemp & Tom show up dressed to the nines, not knowing that they were wanted as escorts. The fun begins after the fancy dinner, when the boys separate and proceed to violate the guests and turn the fancy house into a shambles. Although COLUMBIA continued to re-tool and remake earlier comedies that had starred other acts, they continued to produce fresh material as well for their 2-reel comedies. All in all, a decent short, but still a faint reminder of the original short w/Moe, Larry and Curly.

Calling All Doctors (1937)

So-so Columbia/Charley Chase comedy

[5/10 · 21 December 2005]

The second of 2 Chase comedies directed by Charles Lamont, CALLING ALL DOCTORS is not one of the comedian's better COLUMBIA shorts. Charley plays a hypochondriac and germaphobe who's convinced that he is a very sick man. His wife and co-workers, tiring of his antics, dream up a scheme to convince him that he is actually sick!! As the scheme plays out, a wacky sanitarium escapee appears and pretends to be a doctor, confusing both Charley and his conspirators! While amusing in some spots, the comedy comes off as quite predictable. A nice time-waster, but definitely not up to Chase's standards. Lamont would later become the director of Abbott & Costello features.

Man Bites Lovebug (1937)

Another great Charley Chase short

[8/10 · 21 December 2005]

Another good COLUMBIA/Chase short that needs to see the light of day once more. Here he plays Charles Clayfoot Chase, an author who has written a book on marriage. While visiting fellow fraternity brother Theodore and his wife Imogene, Charley is coerced by Theodore to make moves on Imogene in order to make it as though Theodore is jealous. Imogene overhears her husband's plan and turns the tables, falling all over Charley. Meanwhile, Henry the manservant presumes Charley is up to no good and tries to intimidate our hero with a menacing knife & with a handgun served up at dinnertime. All in all, another funny Chase comedy with great Del Lord direction!

The Grand Hooter (1937)

Charley's first COLUMBIA two-reeler!!

[8/10 · 21 December 2005]

In his first two-reel comedy for COLUMBIA after being dumped by the Hal Roach studios, Charley plays a married man who prefers hanging with his lodge pals the Hoot Owls than staying home with his wife. Attempting to mend fences, Charley takes her on holiday to a swank hotel where, after a comedy of errors, he is pursued by a jealous husband whose wife received love letters from one of Charley's fellow Hoot Owls! I found this to be a really good comedy short which benefits from Del Lord's fine direction and Charley's comedic timing - he evens get to sing in his first film for the studio!!! THE GRAND HOOTER was remade years later almost frame for frame as a Shemp Howard vehicle, OPEN SEASON FOR SAPS.

Time Out for Trouble (1938)

A very funny Columbia/Charley Chase short!

[8/10 · 21 December 2005]

While shopping with his fiancé Edith for their wedding cake, Charley saves a mobster's girlfriend from an near-accident. A photographer gets their picture and once the picture hits the papers with a misleading headline, Edith jilts Charley. Having nothing to live for, Charley tried unsuccessfully to bump himself off! When he inadvertently learns that the mobster and his girl live in his building, Charley persuades the mobster to rub him out, albeit without his knowing when it will happen. Edith learns the truth about the photo and makes up with Charley. Now Charley has to let the mobster know that he doesn't want to be rubbed out anymore and the real fun begins!! A funny film from the start to end, with great sight gags and an array of Columbia stock players in bit roles. Another great Del Lord comedy!

The Wrong Miss Wright (1937)

Fast-moving COLUMBIA comedy short!

[8/10 · 21 December 2005]

One of 2 Charley Chase shorts directed by comedy veteran Charles Lamont, THE WRONG MISS WRIGHT finds Charley in a dilemma - he finds true love on a boat from China to the US, but has only come back to the States due to an arranged marriage. Diggles, his manservant, persuades Charley to act crazy in order to get out of the arrangement - then he can marry his shipboard romance. Unbeknownst to Charley, his shipboard romance is actually the girl he is supposed to marry! The fun begins when Charley arrives at the home of his arranged intended!! Having never seen the original short, this remake is quite funny. As usual, stock player Bud Jamison stands out in his role as manservant Diggles.

The Big Squirt (1937)

Pretty funny Chase two-reeler

[7/10 · 21 December 2005]

Charley is a drugstore soda jerk who passes the workday reading detective magazines. His 'natural instincts' naturally get him into trouble as he fingers everyday citizens as wanted criminals. When his mother-in-law identifies gangster Lucky Lapiddus, Charley becomes more determined to catch a crook. When Lapiddus is set free and vows vengeance on Charley's mother-in-law, Charley teams up with Murphy the beat cop to trap Lappidus. Needless to say, the plan backfires and Charley ends up running from the law himself!! Columbia stock player Bud Jamison has a very funny role as the cop who goes along with Charley's suspicions. All in all, another funny Chase two-reeler. Those with good eyes with notice a former OUR GANG member as one of the kids in the beginning.