Saturday, January 6, 2018
First Lines: E.B. White - Stuart Little
When Mrs. Frederick C. Little's second son arrived, everybody noticed that he was not much bigger than a mouse.
Friday, January 5, 2018
The Princess Bride (1987)
While home sick in bed, a young boy's grandfather reads him a story called The Princess Bride.
Ambitiously tongue-in-cheek, but quite dated fantasy has some nice sequences; however, the humor is rather stale.
Halliwell*: "Rather strained fantasy with occasional bright moments."
Maltin**1/2: "Revisionist fairy tale/adventure...Some wonderful scenes and character vignettes are periodically undermined by a tendency toward comic shtick...and occassional incoherency...Best of all: the swashbuckling sequences."
The Last Sunset (1961)
At a Mexican ranch, fugitive and pursuing sheriff agree to help rancher drive his herd into Texas where the sheriff could legally arrest the fugitive but the rancher's wife complicates things.
Unusual larger-than-life Western melodrama compels with a complex plot and psychological depth.
Halliwell (no star): "Slow psycho-Western with pretensions to tragedy."
Maltin***: "Strange on the range, courtesy of Aldrich and scriptwriter Dalton Trumbo."
Thursday, January 4, 2018
First Lines: Helen MacInnes - The Unconquerable
The blinding directness of the sun had gone, but its heat remained.
The Peanuts Movie (2015)
Snoopy embarks upon his greatest mission as he and his team take to the skies to pursue their arch-nemesis, while his best pal Charlie Brown begins his own epic quest back home to win the love of his life.
Nicely entertaining modernized animation movie remains quite true to the spirit of the original strip.
Wednesday, January 3, 2018
Dr. Cyclops (1940)
A mad scientist working in the South American jungle miniaturizes his colleagues when he feels his megalomania is threatened.
Nicely produced, but quite harmless Technicolor mad scientist drama is actually well played; however, the main attraction are the effective miniature trick sequences.
Halliwell*: "Splendid special effects and an appropriately sombre atmosphere are mapered by a slow-paced narrative in this minor horror classic."
Maltin**1/2: "...the story is just OK, but the elaborate special effects (in color) are worth seeing."
Michael Weldon/Psychotronic: "It's in Technicolor and is a lot of fun to watch."
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
First Lines: Graham Greene - The Ministry of Fear
There was something about a fête which drew Arthur Rowe irresistibly, bound him a helpless victim to the distant blare of a band and the knock-knock of wooden balls against coconuts.
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)
In 1900, a young widow finds her seaside cottage is haunted...and forms a unique relationship with the ghost.
Mildly entertaining, but quite sentimental melodrama made in good style and taste.
Halliwell*: "Charming sentimental fable in Hollywood's best style."
Maltin***1/2: "Charming, beautifully made fantasy..."
