Another year another classic movie. Released in 1954 “On the Waterfront” is another one of those movies that is best known for lines delivered by Marlon Brando. Going into it I was interested to finally see Brando playing someone that isn’t an old guy. This is the movie that really kicked off his acting career and helped make him a legend. The funny thing is that I knew nothing else about this movie, I just knew that I was about to see some Brando action.
“On the Waterfront” is about a dock that is run by the mob. Specifically it follows Brando’s character of Terry Malloy, a former boxer that has a good place in the mob thanks to his brother. However, he eventually begins to doubt his role when he helps the mob murder an informant. While this is going on Father Berry tries to bring order to the dock and get rid of the mob, but no one will talk against the mob leader, Friendly. As Terry falls in love with Father Berry’s sister Edie, the two work to convince him to turn on the mob. Eventually Terry’s brother, Charlie, tries to persuade him not to become an informant and when he fails Charlie is murdered. This all culminates in a fight on the dock between Friendly and Terry. Terry is winning until Friendly calls on help and has Terry beaten to near death. This all happens in front of the dock workers who finally unite and stand up to the mob.
While watching this movie I couldn’t help but notice some of the similarities to another great movie, “Rocky.” To me it seems that “Rocky” is simply what would have happened if Terry hadn’t thrown that fight that he was forced to throw. While the movie is very good most of that is because of the performance Brando puts in. Watching this movie it is easy to understand why he is a legend. This is the role of a lifetime and he nails it. The movie belongs to him as it is he that I remember throughout the movie. Everything else was perfectly fine, the rest of the actors are good and the direction from Elia Kazan is great, but it is Brando that really delivers in this movie.
Overall this is just a great movie thanks to the performance by Brando. If it were released today with the same level of acting the movie would be a definite nominee for an Academy Award. And whoever played the part of Terry would be nominated as well. It’s certainly one of the best characters created for the American cinema. It gets 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
The Legend of Zelda: A Look Back Part I
Most video games these days have become annualized. That means that we get a new one every year. For some of the larger games there is a two year break in between each one. There is one franchise though that has yet to follow this pattern. The Legend of Zelda. I’ve played each major home console installment of the series, starting with the 1986 original. I haven’t had the chance to play the portable ones, but that is just because I’m not really a portable gaming guy. It’s been 5 years since the last installment “Twilight Princess” was released and now I am 10 hours into “Skyward Sword.” Being the 25th anniversary I thought it would be best to put down some of my memories over the next few weeks about this great series.
I don’t remember the exact year that I played “The Legend of Zelda” (TLOZ) for the first time. What I remember most was the gold cartridge and just getting completely lost in the world. From a story standpoint the game was simple. Save the princess, beat the bad guy. But the world itself was full of puzzles. I remember burning a bush to find a dungeon entrance and wondering why I just stabbed a guy after he gave me his sword. It was a game that I kept going back to and beating over and over again. It even had a second quest that I didn’t enjoy as much as the first quest but I played through it multiple times just the same.
I was really excited for “The Legend of Zelda II” when it came out a few years later. But I was disappointed. Instead of the top down action I loved. I got a side scrolling adventure RPG. I was turned off by it and barely played it at all until a few years later when I returned to the game and got lost in what Nintendo was trying to do. Here was a new take on Zelda, full of the puzzles and action that I loved but presented in a new format that while different was still fun. After much hard work I eventually got through the game and beat the shadow version of Link. It still remains the most difficult Zelda game to be released.
Next week I’ll cover the Super Nintendo game and the cartoon. But first at the end of each of these I’ll describe my thoughts on Twilight Princess so far. I’m 10 hours in and I’ve beaten the 2nd dungeon. I’m loving the uses for the wii-mote when it comes to accessories. The golden beetle, bombs and slingshot all work great. The sword fighting is still a little waggle to win for most basic enemies, but for larger ones it takes quite a bit of patience and some skill. I’m enjoying the story so far, there are a lot of interesting characters being set up and I can’t wait for the pay off.
I don’t remember the exact year that I played “The Legend of Zelda” (TLOZ) for the first time. What I remember most was the gold cartridge and just getting completely lost in the world. From a story standpoint the game was simple. Save the princess, beat the bad guy. But the world itself was full of puzzles. I remember burning a bush to find a dungeon entrance and wondering why I just stabbed a guy after he gave me his sword. It was a game that I kept going back to and beating over and over again. It even had a second quest that I didn’t enjoy as much as the first quest but I played through it multiple times just the same.
I was really excited for “The Legend of Zelda II” when it came out a few years later. But I was disappointed. Instead of the top down action I loved. I got a side scrolling adventure RPG. I was turned off by it and barely played it at all until a few years later when I returned to the game and got lost in what Nintendo was trying to do. Here was a new take on Zelda, full of the puzzles and action that I loved but presented in a new format that while different was still fun. After much hard work I eventually got through the game and beat the shadow version of Link. It still remains the most difficult Zelda game to be released.
Next week I’ll cover the Super Nintendo game and the cartoon. But first at the end of each of these I’ll describe my thoughts on Twilight Princess so far. I’m 10 hours in and I’ve beaten the 2nd dungeon. I’m loving the uses for the wii-mote when it comes to accessories. The golden beetle, bombs and slingshot all work great. The sword fighting is still a little waggle to win for most basic enemies, but for larger ones it takes quite a bit of patience and some skill. I’m enjoying the story so far, there are a lot of interesting characters being set up and I can’t wait for the pay off.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
From Here to Eternity - The Oscar Project Part XXVI
After the last film “The Greatest Show on Earth” Oscar returned to honoring films that were actually good with “From Here to Eternity.” Released in 1953, the film returns to what is still one of the most popular subjects for Oscar films to this very day, World War II. No war is more represented by movies that have won the best picture Oscar. The reason is simple, the majority of stories about World War II end up being about good vs. evil. It’s a black and white depiction that allows for little controversy over why were fighting or why people had to die. Removing that, people can focus on the characters and stories that are being told.
The story focuses on several soldiers that are stationed in Hawaii during late December 1941. Obviously there is a high level of alert going on, but that stays in the background while we deal with the problems that the soldiers are having. The main plot focuses on Private Prewitt who has transferred to the company and refuses to fight in an upcoming boxing match. The company leader continuously tries to punish him until he agrees to box. Eventually this drives Prewitt to go AWOL, he eventually returns on December 7th where he is killed in battle. The attack also cancels the upcoming boxing match. During this story two love stories take place, including one that gives us the infamous love making scene on the beach with the waves crashing around them. The plot is much deeper than what I’ve described here and is full of layers that can keep anyone interested.
From a production standpoint the movie doesn’t miss a beat. Director Fred Zinnermann filled the movie with some great shots. Cuts were clean and he brought out a lot in his actors. Of course he also helped create one of the most memorable and mocked shots ever put on the silver screen, the beach love making scene. The acting is full of people that really know how to act featuring Burt Lancaster, Donna Reed, Deborah Kerr and Ernest Borgnine. Also featured was Frank Sinatra, he did a fine job in the film, but it is rumored that the way he got this role is what inspired the horse head in the bed scene of “The Godfather.” This is only a rumor and Sinatra puts in a fine performance.
This is the classic movie that you expect to win Oscars from back in the 50’s. It has classic Hollywood leading men and ladies. With an epic story and beautiful cinematography this could easily go toe to toe with many movies released today. It gets 4.5 out of 5 stars.
The story focuses on several soldiers that are stationed in Hawaii during late December 1941. Obviously there is a high level of alert going on, but that stays in the background while we deal with the problems that the soldiers are having. The main plot focuses on Private Prewitt who has transferred to the company and refuses to fight in an upcoming boxing match. The company leader continuously tries to punish him until he agrees to box. Eventually this drives Prewitt to go AWOL, he eventually returns on December 7th where he is killed in battle. The attack also cancels the upcoming boxing match. During this story two love stories take place, including one that gives us the infamous love making scene on the beach with the waves crashing around them. The plot is much deeper than what I’ve described here and is full of layers that can keep anyone interested.
From a production standpoint the movie doesn’t miss a beat. Director Fred Zinnermann filled the movie with some great shots. Cuts were clean and he brought out a lot in his actors. Of course he also helped create one of the most memorable and mocked shots ever put on the silver screen, the beach love making scene. The acting is full of people that really know how to act featuring Burt Lancaster, Donna Reed, Deborah Kerr and Ernest Borgnine. Also featured was Frank Sinatra, he did a fine job in the film, but it is rumored that the way he got this role is what inspired the horse head in the bed scene of “The Godfather.” This is only a rumor and Sinatra puts in a fine performance.
This is the classic movie that you expect to win Oscars from back in the 50’s. It has classic Hollywood leading men and ladies. With an epic story and beautiful cinematography this could easily go toe to toe with many movies released today. It gets 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Monday, November 21, 2011
The Vampire Diaries Season 1 Review
I do not like “Twilight.” To be fair I haven’t read any of it. But, nothing there appeals to me. I know it’s about vampires and werewolves , but it is also about brooding and a chick that can’t make up her mind. I’m a Buffy guy. Like many people my exposure to vampires comes from a blond cheerleader who can kick butt and crack a few jokes while doing it. Buffy is my vampire universe, a place with less brooding and where vampires don’t bloody sparkle. That being said, I haven’t jumped into any of this latest vampire crazes offerings. Lately though I have heard good things about the CW show “The Vampire Diaries.” So, I sat down and worked my way through season 1.
“The Vampire Diaries” isn’t Buffy, but from what I understand it isn’t “Twilight” either. It is somewhere in between. It focuses on the tale of two vampire brothers and a girl. There is lots of brooding and pining, but were the show really succeeds is in two areas. The first is that stuff happens. Main characters die, people change allegiances and people get turned into vampires. The plot of each episode moves along the general arc of the story giving people a fun ride. Second the plot relies on the history of the vampires. These guys have been around for 150 years, it’s nice to see that the stuff that they did before matters.
The biggest thing the show is missing is humor. Buffy captured so many people because it made you laugh in addition to telling a great story. There isn’t a lot of humor in “The Vampire Diaries” but the shows dark nature makes it so that comedy wouldn’t fit. Then there is the brooding. The main vampire brother, Stefen, broods too much. Even when on human blood, he was brooding. I understand that the ladies like them a good brood, but get over yourself.
For those who have been looking to get another dose of Buffy goodness “The Vampire Diaries” is a solid option. The first season gets 4 out of 5 stars.
“The Vampire Diaries” isn’t Buffy, but from what I understand it isn’t “Twilight” either. It is somewhere in between. It focuses on the tale of two vampire brothers and a girl. There is lots of brooding and pining, but were the show really succeeds is in two areas. The first is that stuff happens. Main characters die, people change allegiances and people get turned into vampires. The plot of each episode moves along the general arc of the story giving people a fun ride. Second the plot relies on the history of the vampires. These guys have been around for 150 years, it’s nice to see that the stuff that they did before matters.
The biggest thing the show is missing is humor. Buffy captured so many people because it made you laugh in addition to telling a great story. There isn’t a lot of humor in “The Vampire Diaries” but the shows dark nature makes it so that comedy wouldn’t fit. Then there is the brooding. The main vampire brother, Stefen, broods too much. Even when on human blood, he was brooding. I understand that the ladies like them a good brood, but get over yourself.
For those who have been looking to get another dose of Buffy goodness “The Vampire Diaries” is a solid option. The first season gets 4 out of 5 stars.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
New Fall Season - The Conclusion
It’s been a while since my initial Fall TV reaction but a few more shows have debuted that are worth noting. After this we will examine new shows as part of the Winter television season. So, on we go with the New Fall Season Part IV.
Terra Nova – This show has really grown on me. It has the type of adventures that I would expect from a television version of Jurassic Park. It’s surprising how quickly I have started to care about the family members so that the mystery isn’t what is driving the show. It’s the characters and that always makes for good television. It’s a little unfortunate that we only get half a season this year, but hopefully the ratings stay good enough to warrant a return in the future.
American Horror Story – I hated the premiere episode and was prepared not to watch it again. But, then I heard that the episodes were getting progressively better. So I checked them out. And they were better, much better. In fact this has become one of my favorite new shows. It is so creepy and campy and that makes it fun. True, it makes no sense for these people to be in this house and to stay there, but there is enough fun going on that I almost don’t care.
Chuck – Back for the final season. Chuck is just silly fun spy stuff. And that is all I want from it. The show has been near cancellation so many times and so much has had to happen that it feels right for this to be the end. Obviously it is a little late to jump on now. But give this show a chance on DVD or in syndication. You won’t regret it.
Fringe – Back again in the Friday night slot of doom. The season has created a new world for us, and while it has been fun getting to know this world, much like when Olivia was kidnapped last year, I’m ready to move on and get something going. The problem with focusing on the disappearing Peter is that we know he will eventually come back. Removing a lot of tension from the storyline. So him coming back isn’t satisfying we need something else to really move the story along.
Once Upon a Time – From some people connected to Lost comes an okay television show. The show is interesting. It’s fun to see a twist on fairy tales, but the plot seems to be to stagnant at the moment. We have a town full of these characters and we want to see them be these characters not regular people. Move it along Once Upon a Time or you will start losing viewers.
Terra Nova – This show has really grown on me. It has the type of adventures that I would expect from a television version of Jurassic Park. It’s surprising how quickly I have started to care about the family members so that the mystery isn’t what is driving the show. It’s the characters and that always makes for good television. It’s a little unfortunate that we only get half a season this year, but hopefully the ratings stay good enough to warrant a return in the future.
American Horror Story – I hated the premiere episode and was prepared not to watch it again. But, then I heard that the episodes were getting progressively better. So I checked them out. And they were better, much better. In fact this has become one of my favorite new shows. It is so creepy and campy and that makes it fun. True, it makes no sense for these people to be in this house and to stay there, but there is enough fun going on that I almost don’t care.
Chuck – Back for the final season. Chuck is just silly fun spy stuff. And that is all I want from it. The show has been near cancellation so many times and so much has had to happen that it feels right for this to be the end. Obviously it is a little late to jump on now. But give this show a chance on DVD or in syndication. You won’t regret it.
Fringe – Back again in the Friday night slot of doom. The season has created a new world for us, and while it has been fun getting to know this world, much like when Olivia was kidnapped last year, I’m ready to move on and get something going. The problem with focusing on the disappearing Peter is that we know he will eventually come back. Removing a lot of tension from the storyline. So him coming back isn’t satisfying we need something else to really move the story along.
Once Upon a Time – From some people connected to Lost comes an okay television show. The show is interesting. It’s fun to see a twist on fairy tales, but the plot seems to be to stagnant at the moment. We have a town full of these characters and we want to see them be these characters not regular people. Move it along Once Upon a Time or you will start losing viewers.
Monday, November 14, 2011
The Greatest Show on Earth - The Oscar Project Part XXV
“The Greatest Show on Earth” is often referred to as one of the worst winners of the Best Picture Oscar, so it wasn’t something I was really looking forward to watching. Released in 1952 the movie was the 25th picture to win the big award. Half of the movie is a thrown together story and the other half is an exhibition of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus. It makes for a very different movie than what people today are used to.
The movie focuses on Brad Braden as he tries to keep the circus in the black by hiring a big name star, Sebastian to take the center ring over Holly. A love triangle develops between Brad, Sebastian and Holly that also involves both Sebastian and Holly adding more dangerous elements to their routine until Sebastian is hurt. Also going on is a story about crooked carnival games and a doctor that mercy killed his wife and is now on the run as a clown. All of these stories come to a head when the circus trains crash into each other. The movie ends with a big show out in the open. Overall the movie just isn’t good. The plot that is there is just used to move us from circus act to circus act with little motivation to move the actual plot forward. The circus acts were interesting to watch, but don’t compare to the circus acts that we see today.
From a production standpoint this is also the tale of two movies. The circus acts were well presented but just outdated and the plot part of the movie was just filmed as a lazy side note. Each scene was just point a camera and have them act. Then there are the special effects, I realize it was the 1950’s, but they could have done some better cuts to make them more effective. I found Sebastian’s fall where we see the ground give way like a net would to be pathetic and the train crash looked so much like a toy train crashing that I couldn’t take it seriously. With a cast featuring Charlton Heston and James Stewart I would expect the acting to be above par but there was so little for them to work with that you could have thrown the all of the world’s best actors in there and it wouldn’t be special.
This movie just does not work in today’s world. If a similar movie were made it would not be an Oscar picture. It would be either a summer blockbuster if they went over the top or it would be made into one of those 3D concert type films. Don’t waste your time watching this go to the real circus instead. It gets 1 out of 5 stars.
The movie focuses on Brad Braden as he tries to keep the circus in the black by hiring a big name star, Sebastian to take the center ring over Holly. A love triangle develops between Brad, Sebastian and Holly that also involves both Sebastian and Holly adding more dangerous elements to their routine until Sebastian is hurt. Also going on is a story about crooked carnival games and a doctor that mercy killed his wife and is now on the run as a clown. All of these stories come to a head when the circus trains crash into each other. The movie ends with a big show out in the open. Overall the movie just isn’t good. The plot that is there is just used to move us from circus act to circus act with little motivation to move the actual plot forward. The circus acts were interesting to watch, but don’t compare to the circus acts that we see today.
From a production standpoint this is also the tale of two movies. The circus acts were well presented but just outdated and the plot part of the movie was just filmed as a lazy side note. Each scene was just point a camera and have them act. Then there are the special effects, I realize it was the 1950’s, but they could have done some better cuts to make them more effective. I found Sebastian’s fall where we see the ground give way like a net would to be pathetic and the train crash looked so much like a toy train crashing that I couldn’t take it seriously. With a cast featuring Charlton Heston and James Stewart I would expect the acting to be above par but there was so little for them to work with that you could have thrown the all of the world’s best actors in there and it wouldn’t be special.
This movie just does not work in today’s world. If a similar movie were made it would not be an Oscar picture. It would be either a summer blockbuster if they went over the top or it would be made into one of those 3D concert type films. Don’t waste your time watching this go to the real circus instead. It gets 1 out of 5 stars.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Take 5 - 11/11/11
Each week I take 5 news items from the current week from the entertainment industry, list them out here and then give my take on them. This is Take 5.
1. Brett Ratner Quits as Oscar Producer – Yay! Due to the disparaging remarks that mister Ratner made last week he has stepped down as the producer for the 2012 Oscars. All I can say is, thank you. The man is not a good fit with Oscar, in fact this was probably as close as he was ever going to get to getting one. I mean the man is responsible for X-Men 3: The Last Stand.
2. Eddie Murphy Quits as Host of the Oscars – This one I have mixed feelings on. It really depended on which Eddie we were going to get. The funny comedian of the 80’s or the family comedy man of the past 20 years. I was hoping that the Oscars would bring back the comedian side, but with him gone I don’t have to worry about him showing up in a fat suit.
3. Billy Crystal Returns as the Host for the Oscars – Yay! Billy was the Oscar host I grew up with and I have never felt that anyone has been near his level of greatness since he stopped hosting. This will be good for Oscar and I am sure ratings will improve because of it.
4. Groups Don’t Work on X-Factor – So apparently people don’t like groups. Both weeks only groups have occupied the bottom two on this show. Why? Because people like stories and with groups you don’t get to connect with one person and learn their story. A two person group might work but that is probably the limit.
5. Howard Stern to Replace Piers Morgon on America’s Got Talent – Had a hard time typing that, my fingers didn’t believe me.
1. Brett Ratner Quits as Oscar Producer – Yay! Due to the disparaging remarks that mister Ratner made last week he has stepped down as the producer for the 2012 Oscars. All I can say is, thank you. The man is not a good fit with Oscar, in fact this was probably as close as he was ever going to get to getting one. I mean the man is responsible for X-Men 3: The Last Stand.
2. Eddie Murphy Quits as Host of the Oscars – This one I have mixed feelings on. It really depended on which Eddie we were going to get. The funny comedian of the 80’s or the family comedy man of the past 20 years. I was hoping that the Oscars would bring back the comedian side, but with him gone I don’t have to worry about him showing up in a fat suit.
3. Billy Crystal Returns as the Host for the Oscars – Yay! Billy was the Oscar host I grew up with and I have never felt that anyone has been near his level of greatness since he stopped hosting. This will be good for Oscar and I am sure ratings will improve because of it.
4. Groups Don’t Work on X-Factor – So apparently people don’t like groups. Both weeks only groups have occupied the bottom two on this show. Why? Because people like stories and with groups you don’t get to connect with one person and learn their story. A two person group might work but that is probably the limit.
5. Howard Stern to Replace Piers Morgon on America’s Got Talent – Had a hard time typing that, my fingers didn’t believe me.
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