Recently watched movies!

[lhb412]

7 Faces of Dr. Lao

Had to watch this when it came on this morning - being, as it is, such a big MST3K reference. It's a rather sweet family/comedy/fantasy about a magical circus that comes to an old western town. Tony Randal plays Dr. Lao in yellowface, but it's not quite as clear cut as just having a white guy play an Asian character: Lao is really a collection of historical and mythological figures (Pan, Apollonius, Medusa, and the Abominable Snowman among them) and he transforms back and forth between them to provoke reaction and teach lessons to the various folk who come to the town. It was written by Charles Beaumont, who wrote so many great Twilight Zone episodes, and while this movie isn't quite as sharp as a great Zone episode it has the feeling of one of the more friendly episodes of that series.

...and it ends with a sequence featuring a big stop-motion Loch Ness Monster!

[MekaGojira3k]

[lhb412]

Sanjuro

I love this sequel. I love how it carries over and reflects things that we loved in Yojimbo, but does so within the context of an entirely different kind of film. Before, Sanjuro was a ragged looking character in a world of scoundrels and the film was an extremely stylized, violent dark comedy. In this film it's more light comedy and we're in the refined world of the samurai upper class and the presence of Sanjuro makes for a great contrast. Also, perhaps concerned with giving the impression of glorified violence in the previous film Kurosawa feels the need to show us a different view of violence, probably more in keeping with his real beliefs. Here the nameless goons Sanjuro cuts down are just following orders and have no idea their master is bad, and we're meant to sympathize with them when Sanjuro has no choice but to kill them.

[lhb412]

Hausu


That was interesting. Sort of Tim and Eric a few decades early. No resolution, or much justification for that matter, but then again that's fairly normal for a traditional Japanese ghost story.

[MekaGojira3k]

[jellydonut25]

Goon - Sean William Scott is the up and coming enforcer on a minor league hockey team destined for a clash with the baddest badass that was ever bad, played by Liev Schreiber.
Really funny and a surprisingly good amount of characterization as well. Definitely recommended if you enjoy sports comedies.

[lhb412]

A Fistful of Dollars

Sergio Leone introduces The Man With No Name* in this western remake of Yojimbo. It's very good, but I don't think it's fully great. Leone is after all just starting out (a few awkward bits) and it's not as tight as Yojimbo. That being said, there are several things the film does very well that are original to this film and not from Yojimbo. Leone's style and Morricone's music would just get better and better from here.

Also, it shows how a good filmmaker can take almost the exact same story and even with a high degree of similarity make a good film that feels so much different from the original. People say originality is sorely lacking today, but I think the bigger problem is the lack of great filmmakers.


*some people hate that name because the US distributor dreamed it up with no input from the actual filmmakers. I think it's kind of wonderful and has a nice symmetry with "Sanjuro," which is of course and nonsense name Mifune's character gives in lieu of a real name.

[MekaGojira3k]

[jellydonut25]

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[lhb412]

Singin' in the Rain

Never seen this classic film musical before. Saw it last night at TCM's nationwide live-streaming at a local movie theater. First of all: the theater was packed! Great audience. It's easy to see why the film is so beloved: very funny, likable cast, and a large amount of impressive and distinct music/dance numbers.

Amazed that this film came out 2 years after the Bugs Bunny short 'What's Up, Doc?' That cartoons sure plays like a parody of this film (or at least this film's opening).

If TCM does one of these for The Adventures of Robin Hood or a Marx Brothers film I will loose it.

[MekaGojira3k]

[Alpha OTS]

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[lhb412]

The Bank Dick

W.C. Fields is kind of a blind spot in my awareness of classic Hollywood comedians, so I made sure to DVR this one off TCM. In it, Fields drinks, staggers, and mumbles insults through a series of comic adventures only sometimes aware of the chaos he's causing. I'm going to guess from the ending that Fields had a very cynical view of human nature.

[MekaGojira3k]

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[jellydonut25]

I remember Jim Carrey being the highlight of that film for me...I always thought he was different enough from Jack's Joker to be his own thing...

Unlike Tommy who was basically a ripoff.

I may need to watch that film again, but I just don't really want to.

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[MouthForWar]

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