Posts by etsija

I'm around, I check this site nearly daily, even though I haven't felt the need to comment much lately. Quite busy at work too. Irregularly regular?

The Sin of Harold Diddlebock, the first Harold Lloyd movie I've ever seen - probably not the best starting place with his last movie. Not bad, at least he didn't annoy me as so many comedians do, in spite of all the overacting and making faces. For a former silent star he talks an awful lot

I was pleasantly surprised how enjoyable this film was. I especially liked James Stewart and Gregory Peck in unusual roles for them. Pity of course that Duke's part is so small, he looked real good.
Good to know that those lines on the screen were not the problem of my copy only. I won't complain to the seller then

Robin Hood: the Prince of thieves. Not a good film, but at least there was something to watch: horses, Rickman and Costner (in that order). Although I can't help it: I only see Severus Snape in Rickman now

The Tin Star with Henry Fonda. They don't come much better than this

Chaplin's Gold Rush, Being There (Peter Sellers and Shirley McLaine) and Polanski's The Fearless vampire killers made me howl from laughter when seeing them first time, but that's long ago, and rewatched they don't have quite the same effect anymore. I doubt that any film could. Of course that also requires a theathre full of audience and everybody laughing, and since I nowadays mainly watch movies from dvd's, it can never be as funny.

Some relatively recently seen that get lots of smiles, grins, chuckling and an occasional laugh out of me include anything by Buster Keaton and Pedro Almadovar, a German film Goodbye Lenin, a Czech one Kolya, The Lady Eve and Austin Powers movies.

I've read a book by a guy who rode from Argentina to Canada, sometime in the first half of the previous century. Fascinating stories. I've wanted to follow his example ever since

Ride in the whirlwind (1965), depressing, but sort of beautiful and strangely captivating. Young Jack Nicholson still without his worst mannerisms

Don't think there's any co-starring roles I'd feel comfortable with. From smaller parts, Yakima Canutt's role in any b-western with lots of fast riding and jumping on and off horses

Jet Pilot and The Conqueror are hilarious, even though the humour is partly unintended. They have real action, not the tired kind of McQ. And if nothing else they offer pleasure to the eye. The only thing to make The Conqueror a sad case is if its making contributed towards Duke's and others' illness

This may be the only JW movie I wish was not made. I quite like Brannigan, but McQ is just a pathetic attempt to copy Dirty Harry. Duke looks ill and that's sad to watch.

The Best years of our lives (1946), a first class movie

I generally find horror movies just silly - I know it's not real so it doesn't scare me. Some hideous crime or crime-horror movies are scarier, like The Seven, although most of all I just feel sick watching blood and torture. The Exorcist was effective when I saw it the first time, young enough, so that's my vote

Patching gaps in my western education: interesting movie, Shenandoah, in spite of being clumsy mainly due to McLaglen´s inadequate skills as a director and especially actors´ director.
I see it clearly as an anti-war movie (and anti-racist) - the speach Stewart's character makes at his wife's grave in the end sums it up - but not blatantly so; the story sets many more questions than gives answers and that is usually a good thing, that a film makes one think still the next day and week after seeing it. Shenandoah doesn't even give a straight answer to the question whether some things are worth fighting for - the family's riding out for vengeance is not in vain, but for the family it brings more grief.
There are also questions about independence, neutrality and loyalities that could be understood meaning not only one family but countries in war-situation.

Finnish, from 1970´s

"John Wayne is Chisum, the King of Pecos, who started the big cattle drives on the prairies"

Finnish poster from 1960´s

Finnish tour poster from 1960´s. Note the age limit, 16

Double indemnity (1944) made no great impression, mainly because the main actors failed to convince me about their characters. I did like how the photography and lighting were used to create a threatening atmosphere. The latter half of the film with increasing suspension was better than the beginning

Quote from SXViper

If you didn't like the remake don't watch the original because it is very slow moving with alo of talking as some others here have already stated. The story lines are very similar but less action. You will probably not like that one as well.

I hope you're not too disappointed that you were wrong: I liked the old version quite a bit. Same storyline yes, but so much clearer, including the persons' motives for their actions. More time given to absorb things and enjoy pictures instead of rushing with action. Better acting and much more interesting characters. Better photography. Delightful music. About the happy ending I'm not sure - I didn't expect it, when everything else had been so similar storywise. I suppose it was very unrealistic, but then again who doesn't hope for a happy end?

Black Stallion