skyharbor Reviews

Dracula (1979)

An erotic and eerie re-telling of the timeless story

[31 October 2002]

It's Halloween as I write, and all the little ghouls are making their annual rounds. What better time to re-view and review my collection of vampire flicks? This version is one of the best so far in my opinion. You don't need to be Freud to understand the attraction of the vampire, and in particular Dracula. The powerful combination of sex and death (or un-death if you will) is irresistable to the human psyche. And let's admit it, who wouldn't like to live forever?

Frank Langella's take on the Count is expertly performed. His tall, dark, good looks are ideal here. Langella's astigmatism, which causes his eyes to quiver when staring, provide an eerie effect which the special effects of 1979 couldn't have achieved. As another reviewer noted, Mr. Langella had performed this role on stage before making this film, so his Dracula is smooth and well polished. His subtle spider-like hand movements are perfect here.

The beauteous Kate Nelligan provides an able foil as the strong and intelligent Lucy and Dracula's love/death interest. Note that the Lucy and Mina roles are reversed in this version, but no apparent harm is done to the story.

Olivier and Pleasence are solid but not exceptional in their roles as Drs. Van Helsing and Seward. The sets are very good, and some are wonderful (the graveyard scene with the white horse and the Count's dining room stand out).

All in all, a great way to spend a couple of hours in the presence of a sensuous and strangely attractive evil. 7/10 stars.

A Hard Day's Night (1964)

Landmark band, Landmark movie

[3 June 2001]

I hesitated to add a review for "A Hard Day's Night", since there are already plenty here. What drove me to add my two cents is the "hate/love" nature I gathered from the other reviews. Some folks seem to think this is the best film ever made (which it isn't). while others think HDN is a load of 'dingo kidneys' (which it also isn't).

It's a bit hard to separate this film from the overall impact of the 'fab four' at their height of popularity. Maybe you had to be there/then to fully appreciate the magnitude of The Beatles influence. I was, and can testify that in mid 1964, The Beatles virtually owned the world. I think it was important to be at a 'certain age' to really 'get it'; I was and I did. Be that as it may, "A Hard Day's Night" is a time-capsule that has held up quite well over the years. If I had a nickel for every kid that saw this film and ran out the next day to buy a guitar...

Front and center is the music. Lennon and McCartney were getting their songwriting 'sea legs' during this period. The title cut, "A Hard Day's Night", along with "Can't Buy Me Love", "And I Love Her" prefigure was to become a world-class songwriting juggernaut.

Perhaps the most striking aspect of HDN is that these boys really were charming personalities, and their typically irreverent Liverpudlian deadpan humor is very contagious and engaging. For those who had only seen their 3 show Ed Sullivan stint (Feb. 1964, kicking off the so-called 'British Invasion'), this film proved that the 'fabs' were no flash in the pan.

Yes, there are some stilted moments, but these are far outweighed by delightful pre-Monty Python-esque humor and some genuinely good music performances. Many of the music videos of today owe a lot to the infuence of this film.

A comment about a couple of reviews who pan Ringo Starr's drumming: Ringo didn't play 'flash' drums in the later style of Ginger Baker (Cream) or Clive Bunker (great early Jethro Tull drummer). But 'Rings' laid down a VERY solid groove, whether live or in the studio. Having worked with and listened to many drummers, Ringo can play in my band any day.

Mission to Mars (2000)

M2M a flawed, but very watchable movie

[11 March 2001]

I watched this film during a freebee Starz cable weekend, and was expecting the worst, given all the awful theatrical release reviews as well as most of those posted here.

But I must beg to disagree with these dismal pronouncements.

Caveat: This is not a perfect film, or even close.

However, in spite of (or perhaps because of) my expectations, this movie drew me in, and I found myself thinking "this isn't nearly as bad as everyone says".

Maybe this film attempts to do too much, shoving many of the science-fiction themes of the last half-century against what is essentially a love story.

Many moments in this film I found very touching, but then again I'm one of those geeks that gets all choked up at the end of 2010: (the year we make Contact).

Don't forget that David Lynch's 'Dune' was also universally panned on release, and its stock has risen steadily since then.

I suggest viewers forget the pundits, and judge this film for themselves.

Bottom line: warts and all, I enjoyed 'Mission to Mars' - 7/10

Independence Day (1996)

Not much science, but still great entertainment

[22 December 2000]

Yes, it's true, even advanced alien civilizations run Windows 95 on their computers! No question about it, the science is lacking from this updated 'War of the Worlds' style film. Nevertheless, this movie still grips your attention and emotions. The ensemble cast works very well together. I was was struck by Bill Pullman's (as US President) 'Henry V' pre-final-battle speech to his flyers. Mary McDonnell is wonderful as the dying First Lady. The two background love stories (between Goldblum and Colin / Smith and Fox)appeal both to the emotions and support the overall story. How could you not be touched when Pullman tells the first-daughter that her dead mother is 'only sleeping'? Or Judd Hirsch's gruff but clearly loving interactions with son Jeff Goldblum. Overall, I found this film to hold up pretty well, even after repeated viewings. Certainly worth a large popcorn and couple of hours.

Mesa of Lost Women (1953)

Weirdness in the Muerto desert... the Desert of Death!!

[1 December 2000]

I guess this one must be an acquired taste (judging by the other reviews). Of COURSE it's awful - that's what makes this 1953 film so good! Tandra Quinn's eerie and erotic 'Tarantula Dance' in the cantina scene alone is worth the price of admission. The voice-over narration is also great, not to mention such trenchant dialogue as "And they threw her down, and her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and he trod her underfoot"! If you enjoy the cinematic misfires of Edward D. Wood ('Plan 9 From Outer Space', etc.), you'll love this one! (trivia tidbit: Ed Wood's 'Jail Bait' uses the same soundtrack/score)