Rosh HaShana Movie Reviews

Without a doubt, Charlie Chaplin is the reigning king of silent comedy. His impeccibly limber gesturing, sense of timing and evocative facial features have made him a landmark artist, a masterful film maker and one of the greatest talents to ever grace the silver screen. What more can be said; does it get any better than the little tramp?!? And now, Warner Home Video proves that it does, indeed get better; a lot, lot better. Having had to contend with poorly transferred, badly worn VHS and primative bootlegged DVD copies for years, the home video audience at last gets to witness Charlie in his best video incarnation ever! This box set features four classics from the Chaplin legacy; Modern Times, The Gold Rush, The Great Dictator and Limelight. In each case, Chaplin illustrates the art of making movies as no one before or since. Great fun!
THE TRANSFER: No expense has been spared in making each film sparkle as never before. The gray scale is incredibly rich and beautifully balanced. Blacks are deep. Contrast levels show off Charlie's make up. Fine detail is gloriously realized. Minor edge enhancement and some pixelization do occur but nothing to distract or even hint that anything but absolute care has been taken to make these films look as good as they possibly can. Almost all age related artifacts are gone. Truly, I can't say enough to recommend these transfers. The audio is mono and nicely balanced.
EXTRAS: Each disc comes with a brief featurette on Chaplin's legacy and some interesting supplimental extras including outtakes in some cases and interviews in others.
BOTTOM LINE: No more to be said: don't walk - RUN to your nearest video retailer and make the Chaplin Collection a part of your home video library!

Hey, living in Belgium, Europe, I bought the complete box (10 movies plus extras: it equals this volume one plus volume two, plus a complete biography and the movies "A woman of Paris " and "A King in New York") at Amazon Uk, and you can find my complete review there. But THIS material cannnot be avoided by anyone loving Chaplin's work: it is the supreme collection!

And 5 stars is far to little a reward for the job those people did by putting together such collection!

I've never seen any of these films look more beautiful, and the packaging and extras are excellent! "The Gold Rush" is especially desirable as, previously, we have had to choose between the official release of the "sound" version with Chaplin's distracting narration and very uneven releases of the PD silent version. Here we have both the sound version (interesting as Chaplin's last word on the piece) and the artistically superior silent version, restored by Brownlow! "Modern Times" is a gorgeous restoration of a universally accessible masterpiece (here Chaplin has his cake and eats it too, working his social satire in seamlessly with comedy and character), and includes many amusing extras, including a few cut scenes, a clip of Liberace performing "Smile" (!), and "Por Primera Vez," a 1960s documentary on a travelling theatre, which sets up in a remote Mexican village where most of the inhabitants have never seen a motion picture and screens, yes, "Modern Times" to an enthusiastic audience. "The Great Dictator" is often hilarious (especially the scenes with Jack Oakie) and if the message gets in the way of the art at times, this can be easily forgiven considering the importance of the message. "The Great Dictator" includes the excellent TCM documentary, "The Tramp and the Dictator," much superior to the documentaries on the other discs, as well as Sydney Chaplin's color home movies of the production. The best thing I can say about "Limelight" is that at least Buster Keaton appears (briefly) and at least Chaplin doesn't actually preach (even if he does weep, smirk, and philosophize to trying lengths; I have often thought that Chaplin put off speaking so long because he had a feeling that, if he once started, he would be unable to bring himself to shut up). Still, "Limelight" is (at a bare minimum) of great historic interest, and, if you buy the set, you can consider it as being thrown in for free, so there's no reason not to. This set is required viewing for human beings.

This is a killer dvd that accurately shows what goes on at a Bobby Rush show. Bobby has done the world a public service by releasing this dvd and cd. It is a definate bargain, and I strongly recommend it for all blues fans. Get your copy now, while you can.

Bobby Rush's Live At Ground Zero has a collection of all original tunes performed at a club in Mississippi. Mr. Rush delivers a muti-dimensional show that could lift the spirits of a dead man. The DVD companion is a must see: Mr. Rush compliments his musical and singing talents with an ensemble of beautifal dancers whom bring-to-life the stories in Bobby's songs. These songs' messages manage to lift spirits despite the worst circumstances that life offers, in a unique and genuine way. Bobby Rush's originality transcends geographic boundries, he is simply without parallel.

Both movies were great fun to watch. If you enjoy the old detective movies of the 30s and 40s, Bulldog Drummond is a lesser known fictional detective from that era. The films are short, but they tell complete stories and have good plot twists, too. The documentation about the movies, discussing Ray Milland as Drummond versus his currently unknown successor, was very interesting. The reviewer was right on target, and I would suggest reading the notes that come with this CD.

This is a great deal of a DVD. Two features are presented for your viewing pleasure, starring the very entertaining precursor to The Saint, Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond.

Created by novelist Herman C. 'Sapper' McNeile, "Bulldog" Drummond was a Captain in World War I. After the war, Drummond missed the life of action his military career offered. He joined the police force, and then resigned to become an independent player in the game of crime and punishment.

While each film is only about an hour long, don't let that dissaude you. You'll get a lot of action and fun packed into each movie.

In the first feature, "Bulldog Drummond Escapes", a young and handsome Ray Milland plays the famous action-seeker Captain Drummond. Wonderful as always, Milland portrays the character with such whimsy, you'll be hooked right away.

Drummond sets out to rescue the beautiful heiress Phyllis Clavering from the unscrupulous forces keeping her prisoner for her fortune.

Clavering is played by the ravishing Heather Angel, who quickly became a regular in the Drummond series of movies, playing Drummond's love interest.

Reginald Denny plays Drummond's fumbling friend 'Algy' Longworth in both features, and was also a regular in the Drummond films.

In the second film, "Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police", the role of Drummond is played by John Howard. Howard brings a "Thin Man" style to the character of Drummond, and is equally delightful.

In this one, Drummond is about to marry Phyllis, but a treasure-hunting murderer (played by Leo G. Carroll), turns his stately manorhouse upsidedown.

The real winner in both films for the viewer is the wonderful performance turned in by E.E. Clive, who plays the British "gentleman's gentleman" to the upper-crusted hilt.

Drummond is very much in the mould of Simon Templar, a.k.a. The Saint. However, Drummond (at least in these two offerings), is more lighthearted in tone, despite the occasional murder.

Fans of pre-1940 British films will like the sense of mischevous fun in both films, particularly in the Milland movie. While John Howard is great, and starred in several Drummond movies, it would have been nice to see the young Milland take up the cause of justice again as Captain Drummond.

This is my favorite live Rush DVD. The mix is MUCH better than the latest release. Would love to see this one remastered and re-released.

I have the vhs of this it is a great show all of the songs that you love are here it is a must for Rush fans ..looking forward to the new dvd comeing soon!!

Finally, the musical Alice at the Palace is available on both DVD and VHS! I have been looking for this musical for almost 20 years, and am so delighted to have found it at Amazon[.com]. The musical stars Meryl Streep and has a talented supporting cast that helps her bring Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass to life in one musical.

Alice at the Palace appeared on TV in 1982, and at that time my family had a Beta tape recorder, so Alice was immortalized on tape. At some point the last 10 minutes were recorded over and it was transferred from Beta to VHS. Ever since it aired, my family has been on a quest to obtain a copy of the full musical...and at times I was desperate enough to go searching for just the transcript to read and relive it.

Alice at the Palace is low on grand theatrical gimmicks and high on incredible talent, songs, acting, and humor. It's a delight for both adults and children. I give it two thumbs up and five stars out of five for sheer entertainment. You'll be singing the songs for years afterwards....my family did.

And for anyone who says, "Meryl Streep? In a musical? Singing??!" I say, "Just wait..."

This series is tonic for the plethora of sickening sweet homogeneous ABC Family-style sitcoms clogging the airwaves today. If you haven't met Jerri Blank, her family, friends and teachers, your reaction will range from shock to the kind of guffaws that force you to hit pause so you can catch your breath. There's no getting around it: each episode demands multiple viewings. The season gets funnier and it's clear the writing, acting and directing is consistently inspired and hilarious. You know Amy and her pals are having a blast at every step. I love this show and I want Amy Sedaris to have my baby.

Amy Sedaris is absolutely brilliant, and this is the best show that ever aired on television. The cast is phenomenal and the laughs unavoidable. Good times!

This is a great 10 episode DVD.
It also comes with the original pilot. I think the best "extra" is the commentary for 4 of the episodes. Giving you "behind the scenes" info on the cast and characters. I like the one comment during "a burdens burden" at the beginning it shows the two characters ripping each others clothes off and Stephen Colbert said his sweet mom thought they were "wrestling"

loved it all. I loved how the way James Dean did his person very well in this movie. Eli Kazan did a great job of directing it. especially in some of the scenes where James Dean is on the swing talking to his father or the emotional fight between brothers or the ferris wheel kissing scene. arguably Dean's best film. like his others he creates a character we all want to hate or love or appreciate and he does it in a fantastic way. probabyl my favortie old movie

Based on the final chapters of the homonymous J.Steinbeck's novel, Elia Kazan's East of Eden is an authentic masterpiece in its own right, a classic art film.
For those who've read the novel, the epic characters from the novel become more realistic in the film; notably Kate, who, in the novel is the personification of evil, in the film is a vital, independent woman motivated and acting by reason, as best as she is allowed by social circumstance. I suppose that, with Kazan's directions, Paul Osborn, the scriptwriter, helped to formulate this almost new character more distinctly, by the dialogues. The same is true for all the characters; in the novel the story is an elaboration on the biblical myth of Cain and Abel, and the heroes evolve as pure and massive spiritual forces incarnate; in the film the heroes are more like real people, of virtue and failure.

This allows a most charming youth, as James Dean then, to masterly implement his role with real empathy, as an (unappreciated by his good -yet- insensitive father) adolescent with a wealth of love, filial loyalty and affection, who can also be dangerous when wounded. He really reverses the tables, and becomes the charmer instead of his brother, the gifted with innocence and father- beloved first borne...

It was the Fifties, the world had come out of a most homicidal war, which had let women in the production process, in the place of the conscripts, new social strata had come out with wealth and a better position; the demand for change was aired by the popular art production most eloquently, too. It spelled challenge to the eternality of old arrangements, social or "mythical', including the concepts of good and evil and the estate of womanhood.
Drastically yet artfully, a question to the truths of the myth is put forth in and with this classic film, that helped to create new popular images as well as to popularise new ideas.

There are two extraordinary moments in this film. The first is Cal/Dean leaping among the rows of sprouting soybeans, then lying on his belly sizing them up with an exuberant inner ecstasy.
The second takes place on the ferris wheel ride. As Dean kisses Julie Harris, the fingers of his hand slowly stretch to a blossom born of stunned discovery.
Astonishing.

I've seen this movie 7 times. I can't get enough of Johnny Depp. I never thought he was that good looking before, but eye liner and mascara on the man, he's drop dead gorgeous. I couldn't keep my eyes off of him. The film would have been really dull without his portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow. This role fit him like a glove. I can't see anybody else in this role.

Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow commands attention and carries this entire movie through a hilarious adventure. Depp's portrayal of a loopy pirate commandeered to find the Black Pearl seems like a Indiana Jones adventure at sea. The maverick, confident, navigator this time has to find a pirate ship full of cursed and hideously ghostly pirates. There is some sarcasm and there are predictable moments but it's such a great film. I almost forgot - Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley play the star struck, beautiful (yawn) young couple. BUT without Depp's fanciful performance those two would have brought this movie to a screaching box office blunder.

Pirates of the Caribbean is an AMAZING movie. Johnny Depp is inspired! The acting is amazing, and they couldn't have picked a better cast. Way to go! 'Pirates' rocks. Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho!

I've seen this movie 7 times. I can't get enough of Johnny Depp. I never thought he was that good looking before, but eye liner and mascara on the man, he's drop dead gorgeous. I couldn't keep my eyes off of him. The film would have been really dull without his portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow. This role fit him like a glove. I can't see anybody else in this role.

Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow commands attention and carries this entire movie through a hilarious adventure. Depp's portrayal of a loopy pirate commandeered to find the Black Pearl seems like a Indiana Jones adventure at sea. The maverick, confident, navigator this time has to find a pirate ship full of cursed and hideously ghostly pirates. There is some sarcasm and there are predictable moments but it's such a great film. I almost forgot - Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley play the star struck, beautiful (yawn) young couple. BUT without Depp's fanciful performance those two would have brought this movie to a screaching box office blunder.

Pirates of the Caribbean is an AMAZING movie. Johnny Depp is inspired! The acting is amazing, and they couldn't have picked a better cast. Way to go! 'Pirates' rocks. Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho!

"Man of a Thousand Faces" is a melodramatic vehicle, which allows Cagney to soft-shoe his way through the life and roles of Lon Chaney, famous silent movie actor.

Chaney was born to profoundly deaf parents and this was a major contributor to his success as a silent screen star. His wordless ability to express great and subtle emotions was legendary. Chaney's is best remembered today for his portrayals of grotesquely disfigured humans. He was able to evoke a sympathetic reaction from the audience in his original presentations of Quasimodo and the Phantom of the Opera.

This movie gives Cagney an opportunity to relieve the glory days of vaudeville. Numerous dance numbers find their way into the picture. As well as recreating scenes from many of the movies that Chaney was famous for. Still I can't help but notice that Cagney seems to act like Cagney throughout the picture. The typical tough-guy loner whose motto is "my way or the highway" that we see in so many other films.

The film spends no small amount of time covering Chaney's turbulent first marriage. The main contention between Chaney and his wife in this movie is anger at his not revealing the dark secret about his parents (their deafness). Her anger at this secret and his anger at her rejection of his roots leads to a downward spiral in the marriage. Eventually, Chaney is able to find happiness with an ex-chorus girl and provide the stable home for his son he has always dreamed of.

I enjoyed the movie but would caution you that it is not likely to be taken as a serious biography of this legendary film star.

Truly one of the greatest of all movie stars and a very underated actor this movie glows with Cagney's talent in his depiciton of the life of Lon Chayney. Unlike so many hollywood bios of the time this move tends to steer away from the usual sanitization of a character and instead confronts the darker side of Chaney, a man beset by torments. Poignant, powerful in it's day with the head on look at how deaf people were treated, and indeed with the tragic aspects of Chayney's first marriage. For me this movie stands the test of time exceptionally well, thanks in no small measure to the performances, notably the conflict between Chaney and his first wife wonderfully played by Dorothy Malone. This is one of the great ones!

No actor of our time comes close to james cagney or bogie of course. Cagney shows his versitily in this drama of the life of Lon Chaney. Cagney is GREAT and this movie will hold your interest through the entire 2 hours nothing drags. You will feel such compassion for lon chaney as the age old truth that money and fame can not bring you happiness is still true today. You will see such suffering from a bad marriage and a wife who didnt even want to bear his son because chaney's parents were deaf and dumb she was afraid that her child would be as well. Later she wants to act again and when that doesnt work out she tries to commit suicide. Obviously she is not fit to be a mother and chaney files for divorce and of course gets it but to his shock the court takes his child away from him since he has no wife. Later a female co-worker and friend who was secretly in love with chaney offers to marry him and he accepts they then get the child back. Of course later in life the mother shows up wanting to see her kid who thought she was dead. This is such a touching and realistic story that is all too common now adays you couldnt write a ficton this dramatic. Watch this movie it deserves 10 stars but dont expect gangsters and action this is a drama.