Reviews
Ben-Hur A Tale of the Christ (1925)
An appealing silent spectacular
If there is one or two phrases that really makes me suspicious when it comes to movie-watching, it is "silent" and "black and white". Fortunately, movie-makers did their very best to compensate technical limitations. And the result is quite fascinating and, at some parts, stunning.
This motion picture-version of Lew Wallaces mammoth novel is pretty true to the book and doesn't alter or cut out much, as done in the 1959 version. Although the latest remake is far more technically superior, more powerful and, frankly, better in most cases, you still cannot put down this one. It is very well made and lavish, and Francis X Bushman, Betty Bronson and Ramon Novarro(in particular) are very appealing in the lead roles.
This motion picture IS thrilling, although it is 75 years old. Don't worry about it being silent, if there is one thing you aren't bothered of, then it is the lack of speech. Don't hesitate, this is a very good example of what movie-makers really could achieve in those days. Some parts are even in color!
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Simply a superb masterpiece
It truly is british from top to bottom. Well made from the beginning to the end with essential craftmanship and so utterly polished that it outshines almost any other movie in the world, grand and bombastic from overture to end-credits, beautifully filmed in Panavision 70 with lots of colossal mammoth-like scenes. Yet it is touching in a way big screen epics almost never are, or never were. For this motion picture is not just a production grande, it is also an intament tale of a human being.
The character development is wonderful, the views are terrifficly awesome(as widescreen-version on a fair TV or, preferably, at the cinema), the music is as stunning as it is suggestive and the acting is rock-solid.
I have no complaints about this movie, none whatsoever. It's so wonderful, you couldn't ask for anything else in a motion picture than you can find in this one(except women, of course!!!). Get a hold of it, find the directors cut widescreen version(accept no other) and sit back. You're in for the treat of your life.
Ben-Hur (1959)
Will we ever see the like again?
Though it was less than half a year ago I first saw this masterpiece, it has become one of my favorite movies of all time. And usually it takes a while for me to really accept movies and it takes a while before I really take them to me, this has been the case of almost every film I've ever seen.
As for Ben-Hur, this is not the case. I am not at all amazed (or even impressed) by the many Academy Awards it received. As far as I'm concerned, if a film that wins eleven Oscars, then the only thing to be sure of is that it appeals to Americans and a great American crowd. And that's not always a good thing.
Awards, nominations, hype and everything that has to do with frenzy put aside, this still is an enormous production. So very mighty and so very grand in scale, so very entertaining and so very well-made. We may never see the liking, the most of us have realized that we didn't see an equal in Titanic.
Charlton Heston gives the character of Judah Ben-Hur all the magnitude it needs and he brings a strong impact. Many people are fond of Hugh Griffith
in the role of Sheik Ilderiim for which he won an Oscar. I am too, but the most impressive actor of them all in my opinion is, Stephen Boyd as Messala. The scene where Ben-Hur and Messala speak to each other for the last time (the scene right after the chariot race) surely could have appealed enough to the American crowd to bring Boyd an Oscar. For a newcomer, he was an excellent and promising one.
The movie itself in its full glory may be dated, but not enough for it to be ridiculous at any standard at all. It still stands up among newcomers and will continue to do so for ages to come.
Truly nothing beats a classic.
Barry Lyndon (1975)
A right hand drama
This is a film just so wonderful that it almost beats itself. Music (yet not entirely written specially for this occasion), costumes(might have never been beaten), acting (though with lack of character development, which brings it down to a mere 9 out of 10), setting and story, full with laughs, irony and real emotional scenes.
Oh, get a hold of this one, I beg you!
Spartacus (1960)
One of the best of the bunch when it comes to religious epics - except it doesn't qualify as one!
Alongside Ben-Hur (or perhaps slight behind it), this is the greatest mammoth-production ever made. It has a great deal of what makes a classic; a marvellous (yet slightly wooden) Kirk Douglas in the role of Spartacus - a brutal hero who has no mercy. None of that makes sense. Let me just point out: This is a great movie, far beyond its time. See it. See it with your girlfriend, your wife, your parents and your slaves. :o)
The Ten Commandments (1956)
Fails at the test of time
If it is too 50's, is that a bad thing? If it isn't timeless, does it really matter. In this case, definitively, yes. Though audiovision had been used as a standard for over 15 years at the arrival of this title, it has this overacted silent-movie feeling spread wide all over the production.
When I saw this movie I had very high expectations. I learned that it is not always a good thing to have. I was just as demanding when I saw Ben-Hur for the first time, and it filled its own shoes as well as all of my hopes and its very own reputation. References aside, this film lacks relevance. It is far too aged and not by any means interesting. Not all bad though, there are some high-budget mammoth-scenes and some really acceptable SFX.
I can't really recommmend this movie, not by any means.
Bloodsport (1988)
Bloodsport
This movie is so very crummy.
It's an exhibition of terrible acting, a thin and ridiculous story(yet based on a true event), pathetic dialogue, non-suggestive music ("go on a date"-music when Van Damme is chased by cops in the Shanghai harbors) and so on.
Now, of course, all these things are secondary to the fighting and action scenes. Bone-breaking sadistic villains, who always prefer killing their opponents rather than crippling them, are always welcome.
Overall a great laugh.
America bangmungaeg (1976)
A white guy, a black guy, a chinese guy-and a COWBOY!!!
I happened to see this film once when it was broadcast on a smaller channel in Sweden. It must've been over two years ago. I think the movie is so funny, it has no relevance to anything or has a dialogue worth five cents. But hey, if you cut out the martial arts stuff, that's what kung-fu movies are all about. I recommend this movie. If you manage to get a hold of it, then don't hesitate. It's all good fun and a great laugh once in a while makes your life longer. If you're still not satisfied, Bruce Le(e) will fight back from the grave and have a terrible revenge on you. :o)