Of all the Buster Keaton films I have seen it is certainly not the best, but it is also not the worst. The story of a spoiled man (Rollo) who falls head over heels in love with a helpless woman (Betsy) seems as if it would be easy to hit the audience with punch line after punch line, but the jokes come out at such a sloth worthy pace that it is painstakingly obvious what will happen next. There are some scenes that made me laugh so hard my sides began to ache, but others barely warranted a smirk. It did show off Keaton's incredible nac for physical comedy. The circumstances leading to getting on the ship, the bad coffee, and the experiences after he is off, all show why he was ahead of his time in the movie industry.
Reviews
3 Reviews
Criminal Drama
1 February 2012
Warning: Spoilers
The definition of drama? Well Websters would help with that, but this would be the example given. A complete tug of war on one man's emotions as his legal woe's begin to change his perception on a foundation of the prison system itself: chain gangs. In a time where chain gangs and hard labor were so prevalent, James Allen tries his best to change it. Through the hardships he endures, there isn't anyone better at revealing the horrific nature of the Chain Gangs then he himself. Not only does he have to escape legal incarceration, but he has to escape the incarceration of a woman so hell bent on using him that she blackmails him into marrying her.
This move sort of began the cliché Hollywood ending of dramas. Essentially stating that you can have your cake, and eat it too.
This move sort of began the cliché Hollywood ending of dramas. Essentially stating that you can have your cake, and eat it too.
The Circus
(1928)
Old school comedy at it's finest
25 January 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I have never before seen a silent film, and I figured I would dislike them, but this one made me rethink my stand on them. Charlie Chaplain was quite the funny guy in this movie.
The use of exaggerated facial expressions, obvious comedy, and bits full of confusion and comedy kept me smiling throughout the entire movie. A lot of cliché's about the air of comedy surrounding a circus was at play here. A person stuck with a lion, getting hit in the face with something flamboyant, and especially getting harassed on a tightrope. The most hilarious of them all was a chase scene that included running from a police officer while faking as an animated figure on a pirate ship, to an attempted arrest in a house of mirrors.
An interesting development of this film was the love interest between Chaplin's character and Merna Kennedy's. Chaplin's heart is torn from his chest after hearing her fortune and getting excited. A must see for movie fanatics.
The use of exaggerated facial expressions, obvious comedy, and bits full of confusion and comedy kept me smiling throughout the entire movie. A lot of cliché's about the air of comedy surrounding a circus was at play here. A person stuck with a lion, getting hit in the face with something flamboyant, and especially getting harassed on a tightrope. The most hilarious of them all was a chase scene that included running from a police officer while faking as an animated figure on a pirate ship, to an attempted arrest in a house of mirrors.
An interesting development of this film was the love interest between Chaplin's character and Merna Kennedy's. Chaplin's heart is torn from his chest after hearing her fortune and getting excited. A must see for movie fanatics.
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