Star Wars (1977)

Star Wars (1977) ★★★★★ 5/5

One could easily say that movies would not be what they are today if it was not for Star Wars. This is the movie that changed the dynamics of visual effects in every way possible. From the use of tiny scale models to imaginative costume design. From lasers and planets to creatures and weapons. Perhaps no other film has made such an impact on pop culture. The movie spawned everything imaginable including toys, video games, cartoons, Christmas songs, National defense plans, spoofs, parodies and constant homages.

The film earned a total of 6 Oscars, all in technical categories. It has endured the test of time and the characters and plots have become implanted in the minds of every generation. There is no doubt this is a must see movie and when someone says they haven't seen it, it comes off as shocking.

I recently received the new Blu Ray edition of the entire Star Wars series and was thrilled to actually see this film restored and enhanced. The clarity of HD and the pure sound was going to be a real treat as it was with West Side Story. However my expectations fell short. Very short in fact and I was disgusted by the film. In the newly released Blu Ray version of the film, there are extra scenes and added effects. To many added effects in fact. There are things flying about Stormtroopers as they walk through hallways. There are dinosaur like creatures being rode by Jawas and other characters in spots where previously you saw barren land. It is distracting and completely takes away from the magic that was created when the film was first made in 1977. There is also an added scene where Han Solo (Harrison Ford) has a discussion with Jabba the Hut. It's vile and left a bitter taste in my mouth. There is a fine line between film restoration and tampering. George Lucas tampered with the film and in essence knocked the revised edition down from a 5 star movie to a three star movie.

Beyond that, the cast is perfect. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Han Solo make the perfect trio. Skywalker, a farmer by trade with hints of greatness in him, is led by two loveable driods, R2-D2 and C-3PO in the center of a rebellion against the evil empire. Escorted into space for the rescue of Leia with guidance from Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) and a ship flown by Han Solo and Chewbacca, it's non stop excitement. The group must sneak by guards and imperial troops to make their rescue. All while avoiding Darth Vader (James Earl Jones).

There is action, suspense, comedy and even a little romance as Solo and Skywalker swoon over Leia. There is mystery and intrigue as we want to know more about what has led to these events and what will happen next. The movie is interesting in the fact that it tells a solid story on it's own and would hold up just fine had it been made as a single film. It however went on to generate two sequels and three prequels. Characters unfolded and it essentially became a subtle soap opera. Mystery twin siblings became unveiled, Father/Son relationships were developed, alliances between good and bad were drawn. All this was done while remaining true to what was exposed in other films. No other collection of films so clearly tied all the pieces together so well.

Everyone should see this movie. It is special in every way you can think of. This film has affected pop culture and society in so many ways that if you have not seen it, you are missing more then just a movie.

The Great Train Robbery (1903)

The Great Train Robbery (1903) ★★★★★ 5/5

13 minutes is all it takes to see this one. And yes, you should see it. This short movie is worthy of 5 stars for several reasons. Made over 100 years ago, the film makers and actors from Edison Studios revolutionized movie making. An entire live action story was brought to the big screen and clearly conveyed a solid story with no dialogue or sound.

The story of The Great Train Robbery was simple enough. A group of men break into a train depot and hold up the operator, forcing him to stop the train so it can refill with water to operate the steam locomotive. In the background the train rolls up and the men sneak out of the building and work their way onto the train. Once aboard what seems to be a mail car, the robbers are involved in a shootout. The man managing the mail is shot and killed in the fight. Before he is killed, he makes sure to lock a box holding money and throws away the key. When the robbers can not find the key, they use dynamite to explode the box and claim the money.

Next they climb atop the moving train. There, they murder another train attendant and throw his body off the train. While the body they throw over is clearly a dummy, the editing process is extremely well done for the time period. At some point they had to cut the film to interchange the live actor with the dummy and it is a smooth transition. After overtaking the rear of the train, the robbers get into the engine and claim the train, bringing it to a stop. Meanwhile, a handful of robbers clear out the passenger cars and empty them from the train by gunpoint. One brave passenger tries to flee but is shot dead and made an example. The robbers make their way through the crowd stealing watches, jewelry and wallets. Once they have collected everything, they disconnect the engine from the other cars, hop aboard and ride off. This scene is clearly an inspiration to the train robbery scene in The Wild Bunch (1969).

Once the train has traveled far enough away, the robbers mount horses and ride off into the forest. At the same time, the station worker who was previously tied up has escaped and informs some people having a party that there has been a robbery. These men leave the party and chase down the robbers. When they find them in the forest there is a gunfight on horseback. Again, the filming of this is excellent for it's time. The camera work is sturdy and well focused. Eventually, the robbers are shot down and the stolen goods are recovered.

The final scene (in some cases the first scene depending on how the movie was played) ends with a very famous shot of a gunfighter taking aim at the camera and shooting. This scene is used in the opening of the film Tombstone (1993).

Another interesting piece to this film is the use of color. While color does not become standard in film until later in the century, The Great Train Robbery implements small bits of color. There is a small child cloaked in red who rescues the tied up station operator. Was this girl in red inspiration for the color in Schindler's List (1993)? There are flashes of color when dynamite and gunfire are involved in the film. The joyous dance scene shows women in colored gowns, and pennants of red and green hang from the rafters. This color is actually all hand painted on the movie sills and is a quite fascinating implementation of color.

The acting is basically very smooth. It is natural and not overdone as one often associates acting to be in silent films. This is with the exception of the shootings though. Shootings in this film are over dramatic and highly exaggerated. But other then that, the on goings in the film are not drawn out and believable. The technical aspects of this film are great. The live action and the staging of the movement of inanimate objects such as the train are timed perfectly. The use of color in the film is interesting as well. Take the 13 minutes and see it for these reasons alone.

The Searchers (1956)

The Searchers ★★★★★ 5/5

This is my absolute all time favorite Western. Hands down. I am not a fan of John Wayne. While I know he epitomizes the essence of Westerns, he comes off flat to me. I don't feel he is an actor. I feel that his performances are all extremely similar and there is no variation from one film he stars in to the other. However in The Searchers the character he plays has great depth. His character, Ethan Edwards, is conflicted. While he claims to care only about himself and his motives, his actions say otherwise.

The film opens upon the majestic scenery of the glorious west. John Ford uses the camera and the cast magnificently. From the front porch of a ranch, the camera looks out red rocks. In the foreground, a woman in a blue dress looks out to the plains. Out from the horizon comes a Civil War vet on a horse. That man is Ethan Edwards. The woman is his sister in law,Martha (Dorothy Jordan). He is soon greeted by his Brother Aaron (Walter Coy) and their children: Ben (Robert Lyden), Lucy (Pippa Scott) and Debbie (Lana Wood as a child and Natalie Wood as teenager). The family settles in getting reacquainted with Ethan. As dinner starts, Martin Pawley (Jeffrey Hunter) joins the family. He is an adopted son of Martha and Aaron. He is also 1/8 Indian heritage. Ethan shows no hesitation in making that known and even less hesitation declaring his dislike for Indians.

Within the first few scenes, the audience knows two things. First, Ethan despises Indians and is fueled with racist thoughts towards them. Second, he longs to be with Martha. It is never spoken of or acknowledged, but it is made clear from the way he looks at her. It has been suggested by some critics and observers that Debbie may actually be Ethan's daughter. This observation comes from Ethan giving Debbie a medal from the Civil War and her age calculated with when Ethan was last there. But this is all speculation.

The family is interrupted by Captain Samuel Clayton (Ward Bond) and a group of his men who ask for Aaron and Martin to join them in tracking some stolen cattle. Ethan offers to take the place of Aaron and the group head out to find the cattle. They come across prize cattle slaughtered in the desert. Ethan advises that the killing of the cattle was a diversion and that it meant only one thing - that the Indians were looking to ambush nearby homes. The men split up and go to their respective families. Ethan and Martin ride to the home of Martha and Aaron. The scene they approach is very, very similar to the scene from Star Wars where Luke returns to his Aunt & Uncle's burnt down home and dead bodies. In The Searchers, Martin finds Martha and Aaron's home - and it is worth mentioning he refers to them as his Aunt & Uncle - completely charred and their bodies to be burned. One could easily find the influence of The Searchers in the similar scene of Star Wars.

Ethan and Martin decide to hunt down the Indians to see if they may have possibly kept Lucy and Debbie alive and kidnapped them. Brad Jorgensen (Harry Carey, Jr.), Lucy's boyfriend rides along with them. While on the trail of the Indians, Ethan finds Lucy's body. She had been raped and murdered by the Indians. Upon learning this, Brad raids the Indians and is murdered by them.

The story continues for the course of 5 years. Through this time, there are some additional plot lines. Martin has a girl whom he plans on marrying someday. She does not want to wait and proceeds to marry another. The wedding is abruptly cancelled when martin rides into town. At the same time the US Calvary enters to inform the group that they need help capturing the Indian chief Scar (Henry Brandon). Scar is the Indian that Martin and Ethan have been looking for. After a raid on the Indian camp, Martin finds and rescues Debbie. Ethan however has an extreme resentment towards her and no longer considers her an equal human, feeling that now she was an Indian.

By the end of the film, he does two things that show his character development. While he doesn't feel that Debbie is kin because she has lived with the Indians for so long, he overcomes this in the rescue and does eventually save her rather then shoot her. He also at one point makes a will and leaves everything to Martin. Which completely goes against everything that we were initially introduced to early in the film.

The film is compelling and solidly written. The plot is clear and not clouded by unimportant details. Throughout the film you hear John Wayne say "That'll Be The Day." Yes, this line was the influence to the Buddy Holly song of the same name.

A great film and more then worthy of being on the list of movies to see. Pay close attention to the beautiful cinematography. Appreciate the brilliance of the score. Connect with the characters and follow their growth. Pay attention to what is not being said. enjoy it!

Gunfight At The OK Corral (1957)

Gunfight At The OK Corral (1957) ★★★★★ 4/5

This is the film adaptation of the conflict between Wyatt Earp (Burt Lancaster) and the outlaws he met up with in Tobstone. This film is truly Western in it's nature and does not contain the elements of humor like Rio Bravo or the shock value of the The Wild Bunch. There were some hints of underlying subtle humor but you really had to be paying attention. One of the lines that caught me off gaurd was when Doc Holiday (Kirk Douglas) found out his girl Kate (Jo Van Fleet) left him for another man (John Ireland) - a cattle man - he replied "There seems to be a lot of beef coming around" or something of that effect. It was clearly a statement not referring to the stolen cattle being rounded towards Mexico, but a reference to Kate finding another man. It was quite brazen for 1957, as when the scene when Holiday calls her a slut. But that is as much shock value as you will get in the film.

The movie is very typical of the Western. The premise is based on actual events, and had they not taken so many liberties with the accuracy of the events I would have given the movie 5 stars. Of the Westerns seen so far this was the best. The acting was stellar. Kirk Douglas was likable as Holiday and Burt Lancaster played Wyatt Earp with dignity. My only issue with their on screen relationship in this movie is that they almost portrayed the two men as having a love affair. The two men were drawn together and formed an unlikely relationship. The Sheriff and the murderer. There was a point where Kate even confessed to Holiday that she was jealous of Wyatt Earp. The closeness and dedication of the two men make the modern day viewer think there was a lot more going on there then friendship.

This was a movie where the lines were clear. There were good and bad characters. There was no in between. While Holiday was known to be a murderer of sorts, for the purpose of this film his intentions were clear. He was there to help Earp. Earp's brothers, Jimmy (Martin Milner), Morgan (DeForest Kelley) and Virgil (John Hudson) are clearly on his side. The outlaws, led by Ike Clanton (Lyle Bettger) were the clear antagonists. Plot wise, the film was layed out clearly. The Clantons had stolen cattle and were working to push the cattle to Mexico. In the process there were conflicts in smaller towns and the cowboys were going to cause problems in towns they were passing through. The Earps were going to put an end to that - and did.

The film is solid with great performances - particularily notable is that of Jo Van Fleet's. As the love interest of Doc Holiday she serves as a minor antagonist to him. Basically she is a crazy mess of insecurity and dependency. Her dependency being Holiday. She loves and hates him at the same time. But she is so emotionally unstable you don't know what she will do. One minute she is setting Holiday up to be killed and the next minute she is trying to save his life. There are brief moments where it gets to be too much, but overall it is a charged performance worthy of seeing.

The movie is long, but face paced. This is movie represents the classic Western at it's finest. As stated before, I would have easily given this movie 5 stars if the historical accuracy was there. When I watch a film based on real events, I become enthralled with the facts and the premise on which the film was based. When I started researching the events of 1881 I became disappointed. I am very much a realist when it comes to films based on actual events. Other then the liberties they took with the facts, this is a well done, enjoyable movie.

Meet Me In St. Louis (1944)

Meet Me In St. Louis ★★★★★ 3/5

While I had previously known this film was a musical, I had no idea that is was the debut of the classic Christmas song "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." Esther Smith (Judy Garland) sings the ballad to her little sister "Tootie" Smith (Margaret O'Brien) soon after learning that the entire family will have to pack up and move to New York City for their Father's (Leon Ames) job.

Although a musical in nature, the film carries on more or less like a drama about the American family in 1904. The musical numbers are subtle and more or less as music might have been used in 1904. In one scene, the family hosts a party where Esther and Tootie perform for the guests. Another scene involves the entire family coming together as their parents sing at the piano. The only true musical styled act that does not come across this way is the famous "Trolley Song" scene.

The essential plot is simple. The family is living their life. They are celebrating holidays like Halloween and Christmas. The older daughters are trying to find suitable boys to be courted by, the younger daughters are causing mischief through the neighborhood, and their Father is trying to find the best way to support his family.

Throughout the storyline, the topic of the World Fair arises. The town prepares for the fair in St. Louis and everyone is excited to attend. The fact that the Fair is coming becomes one of the reasons the family does not want to leave St. Louis for New York City. Tootie's breakdown after Judy Garland also is a major factor in the Father deciding finally that they will not be moving.

The character of Tootie is extremely bizarre in this film. Here is this upper class family in 1904 with a small girl who has the most morbid of fascinations. Although we do not see the ceremonies, we are made aware that Tootie regularly holds funerals and buries her dolls. There is an incident where Tootie and her older sister Agnes (Joan Carroll) almost derail a trolley. In the excitement, neighbor John Truett (Tom Drake), who is also Esther's love interest saves the girls from being caught as the ones who caused the incident. In explaining her injuries to her family, Tootie declares John tried to kill her. In the final scene of the film at the World's Fair, she is talking about dead bodies floating in the river. It's all a little awkward.

One interesting musical number seems to contain a mash up. "Skip To My Lou" and "Yankee Doodle Dandy" are blended as guests dance at the Smith home. It is actually quite hearing how these two songs were taken and blended to form one song. It's a wonder that the TV show "Glee" hasn't actually taken this song and improvised it. But then one must wonder if they were inspired to mash up songs in general from the performance in this film.

I was not taken by this film. It was entertaining. It also shows us that even in 1904 teenage issues were not that much different then today. The fear of going to a dance alone, the excitement of Halloween, the struggles a family faces when pressured to make a move because of a parent's job. The theme of the American family is carried out nicely. Personally I found the most intriguing part of the film to be that of the set and the imagery created. Among the film's 4 Oscar nominations was one for photography. George J. Fosley was the cinematographer and did a fine job. The interior shots of the home are beautiful. Even the outside shots are well done. Whether it be a scene with a buggy passing by, or a scene with children sledding down the hill, they are picturesque. For me it was this photography that made the most interesting aspect of the film.

The Wild Bunch (1969)

The Wild Bunch ★★★★★ 4/5

This movie completely threw me for a loop. When I started watching it, I was thinking I had seen it before. As the film progressed, I realized the movie I was confusing it with was The Magnificent Seven (1960). Well, it turns out that The Wild Bunch is a far cry from The Magnificent Seven. Westerns certainly came a long way from 1960 to 1969. If you watch this movie and expect a decent, well mannered Western, you are in for a surprise.

The opening sequence is atypical of the Western right off the bat. William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Ben Johnson and Warren Oates make up the members of the Wild Bunch. They ride into town disguised as American soldiers to rob a train station of a silver shipment. As they ride in, the musical score is startling and bold. Children alongside the road are torturing scorpions by placing them atop mounds of what appear to be fire ants. As the children laugh and giggle, the screen freezes on each of the main actors one by one and the music screeches and vibrates. The opening title scene is far ahead of it's time and is worth watching just for that.

Once in town, the Wild Bunch, led by Pike (William Holden) conducts their business of robbery only to be run out of town by a group of men hired to capture them. The leader of this group is (Robert Ryan) Deke. As Pike's men flee to escape and Deke's men try to capture the Wild Bunch, the town where the robbery occurs becomes a bloodbath. Innocent townspeople, women and children are all caught in the crossfire. To see this happen so vividly in a 60's Western was actually quite shocking.

After Pike's men escape and are able to divide the earnings of their robbery, they realize they were tricked and the silver they had stolen was actually bags of worthless washers. Broke, and needing money, the robbers flee to Mexico where they can plot their next move. As they travel to Mexico, they come across a rising Mexican dictator who entrusts them to steal artillery from the US Army. The group agrees and devises a plan to rob a train carrying the equipment.

The plot is pretty cut and dry from here out. Rob the train, get the supplies to the Mexican army without getting killed, collect their pay and be on their way. There are some twists here and there. One twist is that one of the Wild Bunch, Angel (Jaime Sánchez) lost his Father when the Mexican General's army had raided his village. Angel intends to shoot and kill the General himself. Upon finding this out, the General and his men claim Angel and torture him. This sets the Wild Bunch off and they then care more about getting Angel back then they do fulfilling their agreement with the General. This conflict is what brings the film to an ending that rivals the works of Quentin Tarantino. It is for this reason you do have to see this film.

Rarely do you come across a film lover who does not love and respect the work of Quentin Tarantino. It is virtually impossible to watch The Wild Bunch and not think about Tarantino. This film has so many components that are similar. The initial opening scene where The Wild Bunch comes into town posing as something they aren't, the way he used legendary stars in a way you would never expect to see them, the blurry lines as to who is the "bad" guy, and that who might be considered bad is actually good. There are complexities to the film that evolve from character struggles.

There are three scenes that make the film entirely worthwhile.

1) The train robbery. This scene is so smoothly choreographed and reflective of historic train robberies. The filming in itself is smooth and well down for the amount of action that takes place. A grand scene and highly entertaining.

2) When Dutch Engstrom (Ernest Borgnine) essentially sacrifices Angel (Jaime Sánchez) to the Mexican leader. The facial expressions of the actors say everything that they are thinking. The tragedy of what is coming is clear - well, somewhat clear. Borgnine displays so many emotions in just a matter of seconds. He looks at the general and glances at Angel with disgust, which immediately turns to sorrow an apology. Before he even turns his head you can see the guilt and betrayal he feels. It is a brilliant scene and emotionally charged.

3) The finale. This is the most Tarantino-esque scene in the film. A machine gun becomes a character. A bloodbath ensues like that of Inglorious Basterds (2009). The dictator and his men are brutally slain on their own base with their own weapons. Shock value kicks in and the movie is a far cry from predictable. With The Wild Bunch the mold of the Western was broken.

There are other interesting elements to this film as well. From a historical perspective, it analyzes illegal arms trade. In the 1980's weapons were reportedly illegally sold to other countries. Could this film have laid out the plans for that, or does it simply explain how that type of thing happens? The whole concept that with the right access, a down on their luck bunch of guys could make money stealing and selling weapons to dictators and guerrilla groups is very realistic after seeing this film. There are those who don't believe in country and have no alliance to anyone other then themselves.

Also interesting in this film is the racial breakdowns. The racism in the film is atypical in the sense that it is not stemming from white characters. The bulk of the stereotype comes from the Mexican army who repeatedly refer to the Wild Bunch as the Gringos. They also run with one Hispanic, Angel. When Angel is taken into custody and being tortured by the Mexican General, they no longer care about any reward or money. All they care about is getting their friend back. They hold him as an equal throughout the film. In past Westerns, a character of a different race might have been expendable, or abandoned once the initial goal was completed.

It is worth seeing and if you are a movie fan, yes, you should see this movie. It is worth is for many reasons. First, the main reason is to see how it laid down the path for movies to come decades later. Second, it defies conventional movies of it's time. It is worth seeing for the political implications, the social contexts, and the character developments. There are parts where the movie does drag out bit. It is for that reason I could not go with 5 stars.

Rio Bravo (1959)

Rio Bravo ★★★★★ 3/5

Howard Hawks directed this 1959 Western. Considered one of the last great Westerns, the film stars John Wayne as John T. Chance, a sheriff in a small Texas town in the American frontier. The film opens with the Sheriff's deputy, Dude (Dean Martin) fighting Joe Burdette (Claude Akins). During the fight Burdette shoots an innocent bystander and ends up arrested for murder. He is shortly taken to jail where Chance, Dude and a third deputy, Stupmy (Walter Brennan) await Burnette's brother Nathan (John Russell). However the Sheriff knows that the arrival of Nathan is not going to be a pleasant one as Nathan is a wealthy tycoon known for helping his Brother out in times of trouble, and also known to be wealthy enough to hire scores of hitmen who will kill anyone who tries to interfere.

There are several townspeople who want to help Dude as they know he is in no state to fight Burnette on his own. Dude is infamous for his alcoholism and Stumpy is cripple. Pat Wheeler (Ward Bond), a friend of Chance's becomes an example of what happens to anyone who wants to help Chance when he is murdered by one of Burnette's men. Dude and Chance look to apprehend Pat's murderer and do so in the local saloon where Dude, who is in the process of overcoming his alcoholism, proves that he can again be the deputy he once was by avenging Pat's death.

Before long, Dude's dependency on alcohol wins over and when Nathan and his men return to town, they capture and tie him up, leaving Chance vulnerable and almost murdered. He is saved by Colorado Ryan (Rick Nelson) and Feathers (Angie Dickinson) who divert attention and allow Chance to defend himself. Colorado is a former employee of the murdered Pat Wheeler and has nothing to do with his employer dead and decides to help Chance. Feathers is a woman passing through town who takes up employment at the Hotel. Her motivation to help Chance is love. Her attraction to him is clear the moment she appears on screen.

The progression of the film leads to a final shootout at an abandoned house. Chance and his crew take on Nathan Burnette and his men. As expected in classic American Westerns, the good guys take out the bad guys and the Sheriff gets the girl.

While watching the film, Howard Hawks influence is clearly visible. The communication between Chance and Feathers is very similar to that of Bringing Up Baby (1939). The dialogue between the two is fast paced and more comical then serious. Feathers plants ideas into Chance's heads and tells him what she wants by telling him what he wants. The screwball element in this film is not as strong as that in Bringing Up Baby, but it is there. Rarely was comedy used in the Western, but Hawks managed to use it throughout all of Rio Bravo. It is most obvious in scenes featuring Carlos Robante (Pedro Gonzalez-Gonzalez). Robante owns and operates the Hotel where the majority of the film takes place. He fills the film brilliantly. Robante makes the comical bits fit in the movie and does so without taking away the credibility of the film being a Western.

I did have a problem with Rick Nelson in the film. I found him to be droll, inexpressive and an odd addition to the casting. In reading more about the film, I actually discovered he was nominated for a Golden Globe for this performance. That struck me as odd because I found him to be completely out of place. At the time the movie was filmed, Rick Nelson was the biggest teen heart throb on the market. he was a TV star, a chart topping musician, and graced the cover of every teen magazine on the chart. He even had a segment in the film where he crooned with Dean Martin, then performed a solo. To me, it was like Howard Hawks used Rick Nelson as a marketing ploy to get people to come see his movie. It would be like sticking Justin Bieber into a current film to play off his popularity. The fact he received a Golden Globe nomination completely overwhelmed me. But, then I remembered when The Tourist (2010) was nominated for a Golden Globe nomination. The accusations were that the film was not worthy and the Golden Globes only did this so that Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp would appear at the ceremony. Is it possible that in 1959 the Globes did the same thing to get the biggest teen star to their awards show?

I have to warn you. This is a long movie. The film clocks in at over 2 hours long. It seems to drag quite a bit. It is the comical moments starring Pedro Gonzalez-Gonzalez that keep the film rolling. The movie is by no means one of Howard Hawks finest. Nor is it John Wayne's finest.