rik_tx Reviews

Pearl Harbor (2001)

Ugh! I finally made myself watch this

[1/10 · 16 November 2009]

Gave the film 1 star only because zero stars was not an option. Could not agree more. Historically inaccurate and worse, boring as hell. An unnecessary romantic sub-plot.Good actors saddled with terrible dialog. A real snooze fest. Michael Bey should be ashamed of himself and embarrassed. The only other thing I can say is to quote Col. Kenneth Taylor, one of the pilots the characters portrayed by Affleck and Hartnett were based on. Col. Taylor said of the film, "a piece of trash ...over-sensationalized and distorted". Tora! Tora! Tora! is a much better film and does not disrespect the memories of the heroes of Pearl Harbor they way this film does.

Lost in Translation (2003)

Very disappointed

[3/10 · 14 September 2006]

After hearing and reading all the rave reviews this film received, not to mention Murray's Academy Award nomination, I could not wait to see this movie. All I can say is that is was very disappointing. I suppose I should preface this by noting that a film does not have to be full of explosions or have impressive CGI to interest me. Nor do I take issue with those who find this film a cinematic masterpiece. I simply found this film dull and boring. The weekend I rented it, I watched it 4 times, hoping that I would have an epiphany and "get" it. This did not occur. I have read all the wonderful comments about this movie posted on this site and still don't "get" it. Perhaps it is me. Anyway I seldom post reviews on this site as there are so many others who write and express themselves much better than I, and try to never post anything negative. I suppose I am posting this for all of us who found this film dull, boring, and pointless.

Singin' in the Rain (1952)

I loved Jean Hagen

[10 February 2004]

This is one of my all-time favorite musicals (right up there with My Fair Lady, Chicago, and The Music Man). There is not much I can add that has not already been said except that Jean Hagen's performance as Lina Lamont is one my personal Top Five best performances every delivered by an actor, at least in the movies I have seen. Mind you, this is just in my opinion. :-)

Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966)

Oh my!

[4 February 2004]

A friend of mine, who actually owns the dvd of this.....film(?), suggested I watch it for its unintentional comedic value. Except for Torgo's knees, nothing much in this caused me any laughter. For me, the most interesting aspect of 'Manos' was checking out the film "careers" of the players here on imdb. Three of them, John Reynolds (Torgo), Diane Mahree (Margaret) and Joyce Molleur, committed suicide the same year as the movies release! That has to be some sort of morbid record. Only two of the players had any previous experience in film, Sherry Proctor had been a script girl on the 1956 movie Atilla and Mary-Robin Redd had appeared in a television program and one movie prior to this and actually fashioned a decent if not prolific little career for herself. Pat Sullivan (and I am still not sure who she was in 'Manos') did a second film some 37 years later entitled "Security" where oddly enough the top-billed actor plays a character named Pat Sullivan. To my strange little mind this stuff was much more entertaining than the actual movie. "Plan 9 from Outer Space" is generally acknowledged as the worst film of my generation and I still watch it whenever I get the chance because it still makes me laugh. I wish I had seen 'Manos' on Mystery Science Theater 3000. I may have enjoyed a bit if I had. Rating: 0 out of 5

Rare Birds (2001)

A good cure for insomnia

[23 June 2003]

I found this movie to be hugely disappointing. The dialogue was boring, the storyline while promising, was handled very badly and the sub-plots absolutely incomprehensible. I looked to forward to seeing this film because of comments I had read here and from comments of other birdwatchers. In the end I felt as though I had wasted my time. The Newfoundland scenery and Andy Jones were the most redeeming quality of the picture, though I felt that given better material, Molly Parker would have proved to be a gem. William Hurt however, has been better. All other characters were nothing more than window dressing, something this film could have used a lot more of, even though if you put lipstick on a pig, it is still a pig. Had I found this film more enjoyable, I feel that I could have easily overlooked the fact that the rare bird mentioned in the film is not a real critter.

The Red Badge of Courage (1951)

A really good movie and a really good performance

[14 June 2003]

This is really a very fine film and after seeing it on has to wonder why Audie Murphy never had more substantial roles in his career, as he was quite good in this film. As was mentioned in a previous post he was playing himself in the movie To Hell and Back and was essentially a B-Western actor the remainder of his career. This films shows that he was much more talented than one would ever know from watching the bulk of his films.

61* (2001 TV Movie)

Wow

[29 June 2002]

As a former baseball junkie, I enjoy a good, sentimental baseball film. I really enjoy "Field of Dreams", "Eight Men Out", "The Natural", "A League of Their Own" even the sophmoric "Major League". I really dislike "Pride of the Yankees", "The Babe Ruth Story", Ronald Reagan as Grover Cleveland Alexander and Dan Dailey as Dizzy Dean. This (61*) is a great movie and I was in awe of Barry Pepper's resembalance to Roger Maris. You could tell that this a true labor of love for Billy Crystal. A very good movie.

Ice Castles (1978)

BORING!

[1/10 · 15 June 2002]

Possible the most boring movie I have ever sat through. I saw it at the theatre with a woman I was dating at the time and had I not been there with her, this movie would have the distinction of being the only movie I ever walked out on, simply because it bored me to tears. There have been many love stories and so called "chick flicks" that I have enjoyed, this was not one of them.

The Searchers (1956)

The best of the westerns

[10/10 · 15 June 2002]

Ford and his "stock company" (Wayne, Bond, Qualen, Worden, et al.)made what many consider to be the greatest western movie of all time. Being a huge fan of Ford and Wayne, I would be inclined to agree. The scenery, acting, writing, cinematography are all top notch. It amazes me that there are negative comments about this movie. Oh well I guess it's just a matter of taste (personally I found the whole "Godfather" trilogy quite boring). I would place this film in the top 25.

Texas Lady (1955)

What a hoot!

[6 May 2002]

My how the mighty have fallen. Roles must have gotten mighty hard to come by for an actress of Miss Colbert's caliber. This movie is very typical of 1950's oaters. The one unusal aspect is that Prudence (Miss Colbert) is initially a strong, independent woman, kind of unusual for a western. But in the end Gene Barry Sullivan Fitzgerald becomes her "protector". This is a very cornball movie and Gregory Walcott who plays Jess Foley has got to be one of the most wooden actors ever to grace the silver screen. One can almost see the pain on Miss Colbert's face as she delivers some of the corniest lines in movie history. It is such a can of corn it is worth watching for the unintentional humor it delivers.