I know this movie is often described as a "masterpiece" and for the life of me, I don't understand why.
First of all: the acting is completely wooden from virtually everyone in the movie. It could be that the actors could find no motivation for their characters.
Whatever is supposed to be happening or building between the characters in the first half of the movie seems to lead to absolutely nothing int he movie. It's vague back story for the sake of back story. If Hitchcock was trying to have us care about the characters, he failed miserably.
Second, and perhaps most important: what do the birds have to do with any of this vapid soap opera that is occurring on the ground? Nothing. Nothing at all. And that would be fine, if somehow the bird frenzy created some sort of empathy in the viewer or brought about a change or revelation in the characters. But no, I found myself not caring if the whole town got eked to death. The characters all come across as shallow, self-centered, bitter people.
I know I might get the wrath of many fans of this movie. But, sorry, this movie fails on so many levels.
First of all: the acting is completely wooden from virtually everyone in the movie. It could be that the actors could find no motivation for their characters.
Whatever is supposed to be happening or building between the characters in the first half of the movie seems to lead to absolutely nothing int he movie. It's vague back story for the sake of back story. If Hitchcock was trying to have us care about the characters, he failed miserably.
Second, and perhaps most important: what do the birds have to do with any of this vapid soap opera that is occurring on the ground? Nothing. Nothing at all. And that would be fine, if somehow the bird frenzy created some sort of empathy in the viewer or brought about a change or revelation in the characters. But no, I found myself not caring if the whole town got eked to death. The characters all come across as shallow, self-centered, bitter people.
I know I might get the wrath of many fans of this movie. But, sorry, this movie fails on so many levels.