shulma2002 Reviews

Forbidden Planet (1956)

Great film

[8/10 · 21 July 2012]

As a kid, I hated this film. I was used to sci-fi films with alien monsters but this film had none. Now, I am in awe of this film. The techno music is amazing as is the story. We never stop to realize that within us all is a dark side in our Id or sub-conscience where we would like to destroy whatever forces give us conflict. This is what Forbidden Planet is all about. The magnificent Krell destroyed themselves in 1 night by releasing their un-controlled "monsters". They were all destroyed and no physical evidence remains. It is left to us to decide what they looked-like. Amazing story although Walter Pidgeon, at times, seemed to be reading from cue cards and the acting was far from award-worthy. A masterpiece!

Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)

Best Musical of All-Time

[10/10 · 7 July 2011]

Although considered corny by todays' standards, this was perhaps the greatest movie musical of all-time. It touched all human emotions and the songs as well as the production numbers were impeccable. It should rate as high as "Singing in the Rain". Sadly, neither won the Oscar as best film. I rate "YDD" higher because of the superb acting. My only regret was that the film was photographed in black & white. I saw the "color" version but the job was disappointing. The flags' red looked sort of pinkish and the actors' teeth showed strange dark marks. This film will live-on forever but is hardly ever shown on TV and the DVD is hard to find. Cagney was a "star amongst stars". RIP.

The Reader (2008)

Best Film

[10/10 · 12 March 2009]

This film was superb. It should have won for Best Picture. I've been going to the movies for over 50 years. Never before have I seen a film that kept me from sleeping. It was haunting; everything was great. I am a male but I was weeping for the last 40 minutes of the film. Ms. Winslet is the finest actress of our times. I am grateful that she was awarded Best Actress by the Academy. I haven't yet seen "Revolutionary Road", but how could her performance have been better? Until viewing the film, I never learned of the "secret" and I won't reveal it here. This is a bittersweet film that you cannot easily forget! In this film, the explicit scenes were not the most memorable scenes. I found the courtroom scenes to be the most compelling. I'm glad that Nicole Kidman did not get the role. She is a marvelous actress but she has a stuck-up demeanor that follows her in every role. Ms. Winslet was perfectly cast.

Valley of the Dolls (1967)

Favorite Film

[8/10 · 12 August 2008]

I just watched "Valley" on DVD and it's still one of my favorite films. I was 21 when I saw it on the big screen. I know the critics said it was garbage and camp but I loved it. They even criticized the songs, especially the lyrics of "I'll Plant My Own Tree". I felt the film showed the "real" Hollywood, which the studios didn't want the fans to see. I agree that some of the scenes and acting were "Over-the-top", but for the most part, I enjoyed the acting. The score and soundtrack were outstanding, thanks to John Williams. Many of the costumes and hairdos were outlandish but were fun to see. I feel that the film got a raw deal. The DVD even shows Judy Garland testing for Helen Lawson and current interviews with Barbara Parkins and others. It is one of my favorite DVD's. The film is in letterbox and has few dirt spots. It even includes the warning at the beginning that the characters are fictional.

Gypsy (1962)

Why Was "Together" Cut?

[9/10 · 20 June 2008]

When I saw the film version of "Gypsy", the song, "Together, Wherever We Go" was cut. Was it ever restored? This was one of the best songs. Evidently, the number was filmed so why the cut? There were other less famous songs that could have been cut. Was there a timing problem? Was the number restored in any DVD version? Is there a deluxe edition? I know that Bette Midler did it in the TV version. Other movies based on famous musical plays also have a bad habit of cutting songs. From "King & I" they cut "I Have Dreamed". From "Sound of Music", they cut the lovely, "How Can Love Survive"? What other famous numbers have been cut when made into a film?

Living Single (1993–1998)

Great Show

[8/10 · 29 January 2008]

I also never watched "Seinfeld" because I liked this series. It cheered me up every Thursday after returning from visiting my late dad at the nursing home. Thanks to the cast for cheering me up. I also enjoyed "Martin" and "A Different World".These were all Thursday comedies. Thankfully, I can now see "Seinfeld" on endless re-runs on Fox. These shows went across racial lines. The actors could have been any race. Who'd ever think that Queen Latifah would become such a big star? She was nominated for an Oscar. She just won the SAG Award, too. The writing was crisp and biting. Very funny series. Why isn't this series shown on re-runs?

Kentucky Jones (1964–1965)

On Saturdays

[28 February 2006]

Kentucky Jones was on NBC on Saturday evenings.I believe it was aired at 8:00 right after "Flipper". It was only on for about 1 and a half seasons. Sadly it was never given a chance. It was replaced by "I Dream of Jeannie". It was a lovely show; too bad it didn't last longer. His name, Kentucky, had something to do with the Kentucky Derby and horse racing. The series was a great deal about raising race horses. It reminded me of "National Velvet", also on NBC. Sadly, Dennis Weaver passed away recently; he appeared in many shows during television's golden age. Harry Morgan, who later played Colonel Potter in "Mash" co-starred.

Fiddler on the Roof (1971)

Trivia on "Fiddler"

[9/10 · 2 January 2006]

I understand that Mr. Jewisson wanted to film "Fiddler" in Russia. The film crew was denied permission because the story of Tevye is unsympathetic to the Russian people. The film hints at anti-Semitism in Russia. One of its themes is that many family members have left Russia and immigrated to America. It also hints about the upcoming Russian Revolution, as well as the Holocaust. As a result, the film had to be mostly filmed in Croatia. Several indoor scenes, such as the dream sequence, were filmed in England. It also is interesting that Mr. Jewisson is a non-Jew himself despite his name. Several songs from the movie soundtrack were performed in a different order than from the Broadway production. The film also got several Oscar nominations that year but faced tough competition, such as "French Connection".

King Kong (2005)

Too Long

[8/10 · 17 December 2005]

I saw "King Kong" yesterday and was disappointed in several ways. The casting and special effects were outstanding.It is not a great film. First, it's too long. Several scenes could have been either shortened or deleted. The dinosaur chase was way too long and needed to take a break. The scene with the insects and the creatures coming from the walls was also too much and could have been deleted.I found the scene aboard the Venture too slow and talky. I commend Peter Jackson for his recreation of Times Square of the 1930's, unbelievable! The film opened with Jolson's "I'm Sitting On Top of the World". What was the significance of that song? Andy Serkis doing the motions with Miss Watts made the motions flawless, too. The near-shipwreck of the Venture was extremely well-done. The viewer feels that he's aboard ship. Good film but not a great classic!

Chicago (2002)

Great Film

[10/10 · 23 October 2005]

I saw both "Chicago: The Movie" and "Chicago: The Musical". I found the show quite boring and it had little sets or costume change. The Broadway cast was just adequate. Why was the great song "Class" deleted from the movie? Is the song, sung by Latifah and Jones, restored in the DVD version? The song was not shown in theaters nor is it on the VHS tape. The songs sounded great in the film. Gere and Zellwegger did great jobs singing and dancing. The casting and costumes were superior. The film editing was great, too. Although the plot seemed like just fluff, it is relevant because it shows how corrupt our justice system is. Director Marshall took a mediocre play and turned it into a great film!

Pearl Harbor (2001)

Great Film !

[9/10 · 19 September 2005]

The critics panned this film because of the love triangle; they felt it was corny. Those who want to view a 100% authentic historical report of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor had better look elsewhere. The producers never said it was a historical documentary. Even the critics admitted the portion of the film showing the attack was commendable. The photography and special effects were stunning.I was shocked at the scene of the Japanese attacking military hospitals; hopefully that wasn't the case. Critics of this film might prefer "Tora,Tora,Tora". I enjoyed this film despite its length and never felt that it showed accuracy in all aspects. Those critical of "Pearl Harbor" would have a field day tearing-apart the megahit "Titanic".

Clubhouse (2004–2005)

Jeremy Sumpter & Hayden Christensen

[23 May 2005]

The young actor reminds me of actor Hayden Christensen, who plays Anakin Skywalker in the "Star Wars" films. Does anybody else see they resemble each other? I actually thought it was the same actor! This was a fine series. Some stories were corny but several were thought provoking. Two episodes come to mind. In one, Pete sees a player using drugs. He is seen and threatened by the player. Pete must decide whether to keep his mouth shut or tell. He decides to tell. He keeps his job and also wins the respect of the team. Another good episode was when Pete and his friend must undergo an initiation. Pete showed his integrity when his friend got hurt. This was a good series and like "American Dreams" on NBC, got canceled.

Rocky Jones, Space Ranger (1954)

Watched As A Child

[23 March 2005]

I viewed Rocky Jones, Space Ranger as a child 50 years ago. By today's standards the SPFX are inferior but the stories were great: good against evil. It was entertaining and exciting. I'm sure that science fiction films and TV series made in the 60's and 70's, such as "Star Trek", have to thank Rocky Jones for many story lines. There was one episode where Rocky's ship becomes invisible due to a scientific breakthrough; a similar plot was used in "Star Trek" as well as in "Star Wars". We owe a lot to shows like Rocky Jones. It brought pleasure to many youngsters who could only dream about space travel. I still remember the plots and titles of many of those episodes; yet I cannot recall plots of shows I've viewed within recent years!

Spencer (1984–1985)

Good Show!

[8/10 · 29 January 2005]

This was a funny show. The writing was very clever. The casting was good, too.I wish it was available on tape or on DVD. Spencer was always getting into mischief. He always found a way to redeem himself.The network didn't give the series a chance. I was very disappointed when it got taken off-the air. Chad Lowe never got a break like his brother did until he co-starred on "Life Goes On". He finally got some recognition. I believe he received an Emmy for his performance. He is both good at comedy and at drama. I would like to see him star on his own series. His wife is doing well with "Million Dollar Baby". Of course, she's Hillary Swank!

The Aviator (2004)

Fascinating Entertainment but Is It Based on Fact ?

[10/10 · 2 January 2005]

This was an enjoyable, yet depressing film with some shocking scenes. The opening scene seemed to put the blame for Hughes'neuroses on his mother. Is this based on fact or is it just added to explain why young Howard became a schizophrenic and a hypochondriac? Did Ava Gardner really shave him and clean-him up before he testified before the committee or is this fiction too? The airborne scenes were breathtaking. I agree that the ending was too abrupt. I am eager to see a sequel. Leonardo was great.Alan Alda as the corrupt Senator was terrific, too. I would like to know more about Howards' young life. The stereo; especially during the flight sequences were fantastic. I highly recommend this.

White Christmas (1954)

Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer

[8/10 · 22 December 2004]

If you look closely, you see Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer from the "Little Rascals/Our Gang" comedies,sitting with the G.I.s watching the performance of Crosby and Kaye in the opening scene during WWII. Later, Alfalfa's photo is shown close-up to the guys. He is un-credited in the film as is dancer/actor George Chakiris from "West Side Story" fame. I also found some other goofs in the film; before the 2 guys escape from the theater through the window, they drop the feather fans used by the Haynes Sisters in their act; yet when the sisters later perform, the fans re-appear. Also, a taxi miraculously appears alongside the side of the theater to take the guys to the train station just as they exit through the window and they catch the train to Vermont. Incidentally,there is no train from Florida to Vermont. Finally, the great song "Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me" was omitted on the soundtrack listing. It was sung by Rosemary Clooney.

Scrooge (1970)

Scrooge, the Musical

[10/10 · 22 December 2004]

I enjoyed the film and the songs. I especially liked " Thank You Very Much" and "Happiness", written by Leslie Bricusse. The critics panned the film but I enjoyed it and thought it was different to see a musical version of "A Christmas Carol". Unfortunately, I don't have cable TV so I can't see it anymore on TV. I saw it back in 1970 at the Radio City Music Hall plus I got a live Christmas show,too. It cost about $2.50 then! I thought Albert Finney was very good as Mr. Scrooge. Alec Guiness dis a strange performance of Marley's Ghost. The sets showing Victorian London looked very authentic. I wish they would make musicals like this rather than these silly teenage comedies.

Coyote Ugly (2000)

Coyote Ugly Was A "Feel Good" Film

[28 May 2004]

I was not disappointed with "Coyote Ugly". It made me feel good and we need this kind of film these days with all that's going-on.It was no worse than "Flashdance" or "Footloose" which also had little storyline and average acting. I enjoyed it and it was what I had expected.Many of you gave it negative criticisms; what did they expect from a film about a young girl coming to the city? This was a simple story about a young shy girl with dreams trying to make it in show business; which is hard if you don't have the right connections.The dance numbers and bar scene were very realistic. As a New Yorker, I was happy to see that she wasn't mugged or worse as many films about New York portray.I'd like a sequel.