dibot's blog

Midnight Shutter Moon Cove Where the Wild Things Are

Shutter Island

Oh, Shutter Island, I might have liked you better had I not read the book...

Adapted from a novel by Dennis Lehane ("Gone Baby Gone"), director Martin Scorsese ("The Departed"), reteams with his current muse Leonardo DiCaprio ("Inception") for this gothic tale of two detectives searching for a missing woman. It sounds simple enough, but the woman has escaped from a mental institution on an island from whence the only way off is by ferry. And she hasn't been on any ferry. Then a massive storm comes along, trapping DiCaprio and his partner, Mark Ruffalo ("Date Night"), on the island. And things just get weirder. It's an exciting story, with many twists. Scorsese creates a mood of uncertainty in which we are just as suspicious of the hospital staff as DiCaprio is. The film looks great, very dark, very wet. And the acting is quite good. There just seemed to be lacking some suspense, and this could just be my fault because I already knew the reveal. Not Scorsese's best work, but definitely worth seeing (and reading).

The Cove

The Cove has pretty much scarred me for life. This Oscar winning documentary follows a group of activists as they attempt to expose a shocking cove in Japan where dolphins are slain in massive numbers. They also try to get answers for why this is happening. And people eat dolphin meat! Madness! Especially as it's super high in mercury. It's a riveting film, and I couldn't believe what I was seeing when they showed the footage of the dolphins. I cried. It's awful. 

The Midnight Meat Train

Based on a story by Clive Barker ("Book of Blood"), The Midnight Meat Train, is a really creepy story. A photographer, Bradley Cooper ("The A-Team"), thinks he's discovered a serial killer. So he takes the logical next step, he follows him. Vinnie Jones ("Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball") plays the killer. And he is menacing. Of course, when the photographer actually finds where the killer is taking his victims, it's something else entirely. Very bloody movie. And dark. But it just wasn't very scary. 

Where the Wild Things Are

I thought Where the Wild Things Are was really amazing. Writer/director Spike Jonze ("Adaptation") took a simple children's book and turned it into a heartbreaking fairytale about dealing with change and growing up. It looks amazing, just like illustrations in Maurice Sendak's book. The music also really stands out. Though rated PG and based on a kid's book, this is not really geared towards young kids. I would say more for tweens on up. It's so sad and wonderful. I thought about it for days after. 

The Twilight Saga: New Moon (Two-Disc Special Edition)

The second in the Twilight Saga, New Moon is an improvement over the first film. (I also liked this book better than the first.) The acting is stronger. Kristen Stewart ("Eclipse") is now in the middle of a love triangle with vampire Edward, Robert Pattinson ("Eclipse"), and her friend who wants more, Jacob, Taylor Lautner ("Eclipse"). This gives her a little bit more to do than just sigh and look scared. I enjoy the further introduction of Jacob. He's a good character. The effects, especially the werewolf transformations, are good. Still, the movie is a kind of cheesy teen-love fest. And so earnest that I often giggled. But I enjoyed it nonetheless.

The Company of Step Brothers Telling Moon Time Machine

I've gotten behind on the reviews again. This is becoming a theme...

Moon

Moon is a really, really, really good sci-fi story with Sam Rockwell ("Iron Man 2") as a man stationed on the moon for two years. It's just him and a helpful robot voiced by Kevin Spacey ("Casino Jack"). He records letters for home and goes about his daily duties, nearing the time his contract is fulfilled. Then an accident makes him aware of something strange happening at the station. Rockwell is so awesome. He does an excellent job with his character. And though he is basically the only person in the film, and most of the action takes place in a small space, the film never gets dull. Watch it.

The Telling

The Telling is one of the worst horror movies I have ever seen. Seriously. Three girls are pledging a sorority, and to get in, the older sisters make them tell scary stories. The stories are bad, but not too bad. It's the acting that is just awful. The sorority sisters are all Playboy bunnies and they are terrible. And the dialogue is even worse. Pain. Pain. Pain. Avoid.

The Company of Wolves

I remember seeing the cover box for The Company of Wolves all the time in the video store when I was little. And it's a really good, creepy box. I can't remember if I ever watched the film before, but it's not nearly as interesting as the art. A sort-of retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, with Angela Lansbury ("Nanny McPhee") as the grandmother, directed by Neil Jordan ("Ondine"), it's kind of a mishmash of werewolf folklore. The story is only loosely held together by Lansbury telling her granddaughter stories. And then there's the music and the soft lighting. So, so weird and disconcerting. It pulled me right out of the movie. 

Step Brothers (Single-Disc Unrated Edition)

I love the team of writer/director Adam McKay ("Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby") and Will Ferrell ("Land of the Lost"). Throw John C. Reilly ("Cyrus") in there, and you should have a comic masterpiece. Though Step-Brothers has some really great moments, this is just not the case. Ferrell and Reilly both play grown men who don't work and still live at home with their parents. When their parents fall in love and try to unite them into a single family unit, the two protest and war with each other, driving their parents crazy. There were a couple of moments where I couldn't stop laughing, but, otherwise, this is just an average comedy. Too bad.

Hot Tub Time Machine

Hot Tub Time Machine is hilarious. A movie where you know exactly what you're getting, just by the title. John Cusack ("2012") and his group of friends, who can't seem to get their adult lives together, revisit an old haunt. Along with Cusack's nephew, the group is transported back to the 80s, where they get a chance to make some changes. Ridiculous though the plot sounds, I really enjoyed this movie. There are lots of nods to 80s classics and Crispin Glover ("Alice in Wonderland") is awesome every time he comes on screen.

Uninvited Fame for Martian Lady in Wonderland

The Lady in White

Lady in White is a fairly atmospheric movie starring little tiny Lukas Haas ("Inception"). He's a kind of dreamy kid who gets locked in a coat closet where he sees something he shouldn't. And then he sees a ghost that he believes is tied into the town's local legend of The Lady in White. The plot is a murder mystery tied up in a ghost story, and while the plot is pretty good, some other parts of the film break down. It moves slowly. The bad guy is apparent almost from the beginning and the effects during the finale are laughable. 

The Uninvited

I enjoyed The Uninvited in one of those trashy, popcorn, pure entertainment sort of ways. It reminds me a little of movies like The Hand That Rocks the Cradle and Sleeping With the Enemy. The story starts us off with Anna (Emily Browning, "Stranded") getting released from a mental institution after a suicide attempt. Things are weird at home because her sister is angry, her father has started seeing a much younger woman (Elizabeth Banks, "Big Breaks") and everyone is tiptoeing around the death of her mother, the details of which Anna can't seem to remember. Oh, and there's a ghost. This has slick production, several jumps, an interesting mystery and some WTF moments. 

Fame

I don't even feel like writing a review for Fame. I wish I hadn't watched it, truth be told. It just wasn't very good. And that's a shame because it had so much potential. Kids try to make their way in a super competitive school of the arts. There are some good performance moments. I especially enjoyed Kherington Payne from So You Think You Can Dance. However, the characters had no life and I had no stake in their struggles. Skip this and see Step Up 2: The Streets, instead. 

Alice in Wonderland

Tim Burton ("Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street")'s latest collaboration with muse Johnny Depp ("Public Enemies"), Alice in Wonderland, has some really great 3D effects. The sets are great. The production is great. The costumes are great. Basically, visually, the film is flawless. It's just all the other stuff seems so blah. Alice, played by Mia Wasikowska ("The Kids are All Right"), returns to Wonderland as a teen with no memory of her previous adventures there. In fact, she thinks she's dreaming. The inhabitants want her to fulfill a prophecy and she doesn't think she's the one to do it. It's not a bad story, I just feel that much of the magic that I associate with Alice in Wonderland is missing from this film. I can't quite put my finger on it. The Mad Hatter is too sweet? Maybe. But Crispin Glover ("Hot Tub Time Machine") was totally enjoyable. Every film should have more of him.

Martian Child : Widescreen Edition

Martian Child is a really sweet movie about a lonely writer adopting a lonely boy. That's pretty much the whole plot. And though it seems that going in, you already know most everything that will happen, John Cusack ("Hot Tub Time Machine") and Bobby Coleman ("The Last Song") really bring the emotions of these two souls trying to connect. Cusack is a science fiction writer and Coleman believes he's from Mars. I got teary in several places. Just a good, warm fuzzy movie.

500 Coco Coraline Julia Crazies

Coco Before Chanel

Coco before Chanel is a biopic showing the early years of Coco Chanel. It stops just as she is making a big mark in fashion. Audrey Tautou ("Hunting and Gathering") gives all the spunk she can, but the story of such an interesting woman, is surprisingly dull. Writer/director Anne Fontaine ("The Girl from Monaco") makes sure everything looks really good, very authentic, but something's just missing. A longish fashion show at the end gives us a glimpse of how Chanel ended up, however, I wanted a little more of the fashion after the servitude.

Coraline (Two-Disc Collector's Edition w/ 3D)

Coraline is one of the creepiest movies I've seen in a good while. Based on a children's book by Neil Gaiman ("Stardust"), the plot is a dark fairy tale, Gaiman's speciality. Frustrated at home, Coraline finds a small door leading to an alternate world where her "other" mother and father do all the things she wished they did in real life. But something is amiss in the other world and Coraline has to fight to escape. The animation is really cool, sort of like The Nightmare Before Christmas. And the story is good, as well. But it could be a little scary for it's intended audience. I loved it and thought about it long after it ended.

Julie & Julia

Nora Ephron ("Bewitched")'s latest, Julie & Julia, intertwines the stories of Julia Child as she learns to be a chef, and blogger Julie Powell as she attempts to cook everything in Child's book. It's a fun film. Mostly because Meryl Streep ("It's Complicated") completely transforms into Child. Her portions of the film are definitely the best. I enjoyed Amy Adams ("Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian") as well, just not as much. 

(500) Days of Summer

I enjoyed (500) Days of Summer while I watched it, but mostly forgot it after it ended. Joseph Gordon-Levitt ("G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra") stars as a romantic who is looking for his true love. He believes he finds her in Zooey Deschanel ("Yes Man") only she doesn't believe in love. It's a depressing romantic comedy. The highlights include a dance number and an awesome soundtrack.

The Crazies

For some reason, I heard several negative reviews of The Crazies, mostly saying it brought nothing new to the zombie genre. I say, Does it really matter? No. Because this movie is tense and scary and well done. Believable characters. Lots of gore. I found myself holding my breath a couple of times. And several of the scenes I can still picture clearly in my mind this long after seeing the film (We watched it opening weekend.). Good horror movie. 

Siege a Serious Mr. Fox In The Hurt Locker

In the Loop

I most likely would not have seen In the Loop if it weren't up for a screenplay Oscar. I'm glad that I did. It's a witty little British comedy about trying to start a war. I think. Some people want one, and others don't. The world is behind-the-scenes of politics. Sometimes, I wasn't exactly sure what was going on, but it didn't matter. The dialogue is so quick and clever and the characters so entertaining. I plan on watching this again, and I suggest everyone else does as well.

The Hurt Locker

I was really happy, and surprised, when The Hurt Locker won the Best Picture Oscar. But I think it was well deserved. Director Kathryn Bigelow ("Mission Zero") delivered a very tense film about an elite Army bomb squad unit. Bigelow makes us part of the team and we feel the tension as Jeremy Renner ("Lightbulb") attempts to diffuse the bombs. We also feel the stress as the other members of the team react to Renner's unorthodox antics. Very good cinematography and editing. See this.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

The stop-motion animation in director Wes Anderson ("The Darjeeling Limited")'s Fantastic Mr. Fox is amazing. Anderson creates a very unique world inhabited by Mr. Fox, a chicken thief who has tried to go straight but is unable to resist one last heist, and his family. The characters are quirky in that now familiar Anderson way that I so love. And the dialogue is instantly quotable. I enjoyed everything about this film.

In the Name of the King - A Dungeon Siege Tale

The really sad thing about In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale, is that it's almost good, every once in awhile. As the movie started, I found myself really getting into the story, a farmer named Farmer (Jason Statham, "Crank: High Voltage") must defend his home and family from an invasion of evil creatures led by Ray Liotta ("Youth in Revolt")'s sorcerer. And then there's the king, Burt Reynolds ("A Bunch of Amateurs") and a slew of other celebrities, who seem to be really trying. So what went wrong? It's easy to blame infamous director Uwe Boll ("Darfur") and his heavy handed approach. But I also have to say that the score was awful. I mean really, really, really bad. And I don't often notice the score. It's just not my thing. But I found this one pulling me out of the film, making me groan and laugh at inappropriate moments. Avoid. Avoid. Avoid.

A Serious Man

I can't really tell you what A Serious Man, the latest film from The Coen Brothers ("Burn After Reading"), is really about. I have some theories, but that's all they are. The story basically follows the terrible luck of one man as his wife asks for divorce, his sort-of crazy brother won't leave his couch and his issues at work. And that's only a few of the things that go wrong. The film is gorgeous to watch, impeccable shots. But I didn't enjoy it. I thought about the film alot, so it's got that going for it. But, I guess, I just wish there was more of a point. Also, I found the ending unsatisfying. But, again, I'm still thinking about it.

Philadelphia's Crazy Nine Up in the Air

Philadelphia

Caught Philadelphia on AMC the other day, and it's still a pretty good movie. Too much Law & Order: SVU has made all court cases a bit less dramatic than they used to be. However, this is still a good reminder of how far and how not so far we have come in the way of prejudice since 1993. Tom Hanks ("Angels & Demons") won his first Oscar for his portrayal of a lawyer who is fired when his partners find out that he has AIDS. He hires Denzel Washington ("The Book of Eli")'s ambulance chaser to represent him. Washington is homophobic and thinks he can get AIDS just by shaking Hanks' hand, so they have alot to learn about each other. Still tugs at the heartstrings.

Crazy Heart

I really enjoyed Jeff Bridges ("The Men Who Stare at Goats") in Crazy Heart, even though, ever since The Big Lebowski, I've sort of always thought he was playing The Dude. But his Dude in Heart is more aware of what's going on, even if he's drunker. A country musician with a drinking problem, who's protege has gotten famous with his songs, Bridges still manages to charm us and have us rooting for him to pull his life together. When he tried to call his estranged son, my throat got all tight. A good movie, with a great performance.

Nine

Nine is sort of like a speculative, musical, making-of doc about the creation of Fellini's 8 1/2. Daniel Day-Lewis ("There Will Be Blood") stars as an Italian director about to begin shooting his next film. Only he has no script. Also, all the women in his life are causing him some complications. Each of the women has a wonderful musical number. I especially enjoyed Penelope Cruz ("Broken Embraces")'s and Marion Cotillard ("Public Enemies")'s songs. The film is more style than substance, but what style.

UP (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition + Digital Copy)

I loved Pixar's newest film, Up. Some have said it's a bit sad for kids, and maybe so. But that just makes it sweeter to me. And some of the greatest kids movies are sad. Old Yeller, anyone? The story begins with a shy boy befriending a talkative girl. Then their life together. Then she dies and he is left a grumpy old man. To escape eviction, he ties a multitude of balloons to his house and sets off in search of Paradise Falls, only a neighborhood boyscout has gotten trapped on the porch. The two join forces and meet up with a strange bird and a talking dog on their quest. And they learn about family. And I cried. And the animation is gorgeous. Love it.

Up in the Air

I didn't love Up in the Air the way many people seem to. I thought it was okay. A little cold, though maybe that was the point. George Clooney ("Fantastic Mr. Fox") stars as a man whose job it is to lay people off. He's really good at it. He has to train up a young whippersnapper in the form of Anna Kendrick ("New Moon"). He meets an equally cold woman, Vera Farmiga ("Orphan"). They have lots of sex. He flies a lot. He learns about himself. The end. All the actors were nominated for Oscars. I enjoyed Kendrick the most. I just wasn't that into it. 

Precious Severance Opens Avatar of the Year

Avatar

I'm never going to catch up on reviews. I realize this. But I must keep trying.

Avatar is a glorious spectacle. We saw it in 3D and it was so beautiful. Writer/director James Cameron ("Aliens of the Deep") really created a whole new world and a new way of filmmaking. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. However, story wise, it's nothing new. I thought of FernGully: The Last Rainforest, Pocahontas and almost all of Cameron's other films. And the mech suit battle at the end was taking things a little far. That's where I got pulled out of the story and thought to myself, "Well, this is a little ridiculous." But it is sumptuous to look at, and a technical masterpiece. Just not the greatest thing I've ever seen.

Severance

Severance is a pretty entertaining little horror/comedy from director Christopher Smith ("Triangle"). A group of coworkers head of for a team building retreat. Things go terribly wrong when they end up at the wrong end and find themselves being targeted by killers. Lots of laughs, a good amount of gore. Kind of like Friday the 13th meets The Office. I enjoyed it.

Woman of the Year

Katharine Hepburn ("Love Affair") is always amazing, especially when paired with Spencer Tracy ("Guess Who's Coming to Dinner"). Woman of the Year finds the two writing columns for the same news paper, only they have very different opinions. They finally meet face-to-face and romance is born. The film takes us through their relationship, good and bad, as Hepburn gets so swept up in her work that she begins to neglect Tracy. The script is fabulous (it won an Oscar). There are many witty moments, but also some heart string-pulling sad ones as well. Really enjoyed it.

Open Graves

Open Graves is a pretty awful horror movie that has very little to do with it's title. I actually keep forgetting what it was called. I had to look up Eliza Dushku ("The Coverup")'s filmography to find it. Anyway, she's the big star of the film. That says something right there. The plot follows a group of surfers who start to play this creepy board game that will supposedly grant the winner a wish. Only, it turns out, the losers die the way they did in the game. Bad acting, editing and effects. It's like Final Destination, only not good. Avoid.

Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire

I don't really know what to say about Precious: Based on the novel Push by Sapphire. It was one of those films that you never want to see again. It really messed me up. I keep thinking about it. I can't get it out of my head. In her big screen debut, Gabourey Sidibe stars as Precious, a beat down teenager pregnant with her second child that she conceived when her father raped her. She gets transferred to a special school and finally begins to learn that she can have a better life. It's a really good movie. But it's rough. Mo'Nique ("Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins") is terrifying as the mother. She's also amazing. My big problem with the film is that every bad thing you can possibly think of happens, which seems a little over the top and less believable. Watch this. But get ready to have your heart broken over and over. 

Dark Army of Goldmember Getaway

Dark Passage (Keepcase)

Dark Passage is a really good noir thriller starring Humphrey Bogart ("The Harder They Fall") and Lauren Bacall ("Eve"). Bogart escapes from jail to try and find out who framed him for killing his wife. Bacall takes him in and hides him out, believing his story of innocence. For the whole first half of the movie, we never see Bogart's face. There are quite a few, well done, POV shots. Then Bogart undergoes plastic surgery to change his appearance. When the bandages come of, we see him as he sees himself for the first time. An exciting story. Bacall is steamy. Watch it.

Army of Darkness

A long time ago, my husband and I decided to rewatch all the DVDs we owned, in alphabetical order. We sort of fell off the wagon, but have tried to climb back on. Army of Darkness was the next in our path. It's a movie that I wouldn't call good, but thoroughly enjoy. Bruce Campbell ("Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs") reprises his role from The Evil Deads as Ash, a discount-store employee turned demon fighter. In this installment, he's transported to 1300 AD and promised by the local wizards that they can return him to his rightful time if he helps them fight the evil plaguing their land. Campbell's face sometimes seems to be made of rubber as he performs the many physical gags in this film. I've never seen anyone better at fighting themselves. Director Sam Raimi ("Drag Me to Hell") uses some really creative camera work. It's a fun movie, but loses something if you haven't seen the other films, or at least Evil Dead 2.

Austin Powers in Goldmember

Next up in the DVD alphabet, Austin Powers in Goldmember, which I actually have no recollection of purchasing. Upon revisiting, I think I'm going to purge this from my collection. It's definitely the weakest of the franchise. There are quite a few laugh-out-loud bits, the celebrity version of Austin's life, anything with Seth Green ("Old Dogs") and the prison rap. But there are just as many, if not more, why is this happening moments. Especially Goldmember eating his skin. 

A Perfect Getaway (Theatrical/Unrated Director's Cut)

A DVD I wish I owned, A Perfect Getaway is a surprisingly tight little thriller. Steve Zahn ("Night Train") and Milla Jovovich ("Fourth Kind") are on their honeymoon in Hawaii. They meet up with another couple and then discover that someone is murdering tourists on the island. They begin to suspect their traveling companions. It's both tense and funny. And unexpected. A rarity in most movies. Give it a look.

Zombieland Wolves Slaughter Lovely Adventures

Slaughter

An After Dark Horrorfest film, Slaughter, was really just blah. A woman trying to escape an abusive relationship moves to the farm of a girl she meets in a bar. The two sort of bond, but then the farm girl's one-night-stands start disappearing, and the other girl has questions. The atmosphere is quite creepy, but the story takes too long to get going and is fairly forgettable. Not one of the better offerings from this genre.

War Wolves

I'm pretty sure that War Wolves is a Sy-Fy original. So, of course, I watched it. And have already pretty much forgotten it. A special forces soldier is infected with a virus that turns him into a werewolf. Another group of soldiers are sent to hunt him down, only some of them have been infected, too. The editing is pretty rough. Some bits were funny, but, I can't really recommend it.

The Lovely Bones

I enjoyed The Lovely Bones. It wasn't quite as good as the book, but I thought director Peter Jackson ("King Kong") realized the Heaven world very well. The story follows a girl who has been murdered as she watches her family deal with her death and try to catch her killer. She follows these events from her own personal heaven. The acting is solid, especially Saoirse Ronan ("City of Ember") as the main character. I felt a little bit of warmth was missing from the film, but the visuals were impressive. 

Zombieland

Zombieland is super fun. It's sort of a zombie apocalypse comedy. Jesse Eisenberg ("Adventureland") stars, in his typical lovable loser persona, as a geek who has survived the horror by developing a list of rules, including Avoiding Bathrooms and Cardio. He teams up with wild man Woody Harrelson ("2012)" who just enjoys killing zombies and is in search of a twinkie. They travel together, run into some girls and just generally entertain us for 88 minutes. I love the celebrity cameo, which is even better as a surprise. Can't wait for the sequel.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939) is the second film to star Basil Rathbone ("Autopsy of a Ghost") and Nigel Bruce ("World for Ransom") as Holmes and Dr. Watson, respectively. The two this time must try to figure out what Professor Moriarty, Holmes' nemesis, is really up to. There's a diversionary plot, disguises and genius, both evil and good. I enjoyed it. 

Dr. Jekyll's Ghost Hounds Inglorious Christmases

Inglourious Basterds (Two-Disc Special Edition)

I had a good time with Inglourious Bastards. A revenge fantasy, it has all the Tarantino ("Death Proof") trappings, language, violence, monologues and dark humor. Brad Pitt ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button") leads a group of Jewish American soldiers, the Bastards, who terrorize the Germans occupying France. His accent is hilarious, but not in a bad way. And he seems to be reveling in the role. Christoph Waltz ("Die Anwalte"), much deserving of the awards he's receiving, stars as a ruthless Nazi Colonel. And then there's a girl, Melanie Laurent ("Le Concert"), who survived the slaying of her family only to find herself being pursued romantically by a German war hero. She sees the three storylines intersect in a glorious crescendo in her movie theater. The film doesn't really say a lot, it's purely a fun what if? scenario. I enjoyed it.

Four Christmases

For having so many big name stars, Four Christmases doesn't really bring anything new to the table. Reese Witherspoon ("Monsters vs Aliens") and Vince Vaughn ("Couples Retreat") play a couple who always avoid their families during the holidays. An unfortunate weather delay forces them into spending Christmas with their respective families. All four of them. Witherspoon and Vaughn are adorable. It's light entertainment. I got a few good laughs and several chuckles out of it. 

Ghost (Special Collector's Edition)

Although Ghost gets referenced a lot, I couldn't remember it very well. So when it came up on AMC, I decided to revisit. Patrick Swayze ("Powder Blue") and Demi Moore ("The Joneses") star as a very much in love couple. When he's killed during a mugging, he ignores the light because he isn't ready to leave her. Then he finds out he was murdered. Then he finds psychic Whoopi Goldberg ("Stream), who won an Oscar for her role, and tries to convince her to talk to Moore for him. It's a good movie. It doesn't seem to have aged too much, just the fashions. Goldberg and Swayze have excellent back-and-forth. Worth another viewing.

Sherlock Holmes - The Hound of the Baskervilles

I guess TCM was gearing up for the new Sherlock Holmes by showing the old classics. Having never experienced these films, I jumped at the chance to see The Hound of the Baskervilles. Basil Rathbone ("Autopsy of a Ghost") stars as the famous detective. He and his assistant, Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce, "World for Ransom"), are entreated to help a man fight a family curse. Holmes is an interesting character and keeps the other characters as well as the viewers, on their toes. It moves a little bit slow, but the payoff is worth it. A good introduction, I think.

Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde Double Feature (1932/1941)

There are many versions of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The 1931 version, staring Fredric March ("The Iceman Cometh"), who won an Oscar for his work, could be the best. March plays Dr. Jekyll, a mild mannered scientist who believes that the good and evil side of man can be separated, and, thus, man could control his baser impulses. He experiments on himself and unleashes the boorish Mr. Hyde. Hyde is almost more animal than man, in both appearance and behavior. The makeup and camera work for the transformation are amazing for the time. Eventually, Hyde collides into Jekyll's world as the good doctor loses control of the beast. Well done, compelling and exceptionally acted. Loved it.