Nosferatu(Matt)

I've heard that this film is responsible for modern horror as we know it today. I'll give this film a lot of credit towards that end, as I can certainly see it setting a very dark and beautiful example for it's horrific descendants, however I think that we cannot give it so high a title. To do so is to discredit many other genre defining titles that also deserve that honor. I will admit however, that this wonder piece of cinema is a great thing.

Lets begin with the mood that this movie creates. It was made back in 1922, which makes this very old as far as movies go. It's a silent film so you have no sound effects or voices, all you are given is a musical overlay that simulates the piano or organ that would have been playing had we seen this in a theater all those years ago. The film is grainy and faded and dark, being broken occasionally to show us short blocks of text used to convey dialog or to explain certain things that might not be made clear by the film itself. All these elements contribute to a very creepy experience. I felt like I was seeing actual footage of the past in some cases, and it was quite the treat to see. I haven't seen many silent movies sadly, and this makes me want to go add a few to my Netflix queue. Seeing a movie in this format, especially an old horror film like this one, was a lot of fun.

The vampire of the film, Nosferatu himself, is amazingly creepy. He's scary even today. That evil face with the pointed ears and his long arms and even longer fingers just get under your skin. He looks human, but not quite. This creates a monster which to me is much scarier than many of the vampires you see in modern movies.

The movie does suffer from a few bouts of silliness. The protagonist, Hutter, is a bit ridiculous. Perhaps his behavior was a bit more understandable in the twenties, but now he just is laughable, and it's hard to feel any sympathy towards him at all. The old real estate agent, Knock, is also a little over the top. He manages to give us some creepy scenes, but usually he's just acting silly.

This movie holds up well when it comes to the actual scary parts, they are dark, creepy, and can get right under your skin. When it comes to any other part however, it falls short now. It's just too dated to hold my interest at any other time. I guess because of this you could say I both loved and hated this movie at the same time.

I'd give it 5 rat swarms out of 10. (+5 for love, -5 for hate)

Nosferatu(John)

This movie was just OK to me. I understand the significance of it, and there were things to like about the movie, but it was by no means the best movie I've ever seen.

The characters overall were great. Mike Shreck, who played Nosferatu, may be the creepiest Dracula I have ever seen on film. His demeanor was so different from other Draculas. Most Dracula characters are regal charlatans. This Dracula, from the beginning, had no problems showing his true colors. The character of Knock was truly insane. He played the part excellently. The only character I think I had a problem with was Hutter. This guy was ridiculous. His exaggerated facial expressions and wishy-washy emotions were humorous to me at a time when I was looking for something creepy or scary.

The music was completely out of place in this movie. I think the version I watched had restored music. And, it was terrible. Just when I thought I was getting into the film, the music would start this light-hearted flute or something and then that's all I could think about. If there was more appropriate music or no music at all, I think I would've liked this movie a lot more.

I've seen very few silent films but this one surprised me. For a while at the beginning, I thought this was a remake of the film. I was expecting to barely make out faces and experience a more grainy picture quality. But the picture was quite clear. I also enjoyed the "special effects", such as the fast moving horse and buggy and Dracula packing up all by himself to go to London. Overall the cinematography was great and it was probably revolutionary for its time.

As I said, this movie was just ok. I couldn't get into the film because of the annoying music and the lead character, Hutter. Every other aspect was pretty good. I would recommend everyone see this movie, just to experience the scariest Dracula ever put to film, but don't be surprised if this movie under performs. A 6 out of 10.

- John Murphy

Nosferatu, Eine Symphonie Des Grauens(A Symphony of Terror)

Origin: Germany (Jofa-Atelier Berlin-Johannisthal, Prana-Film) 1922
Length: 94 minutes (Silent)
Format: Black & White
Director: F.W. Murnau
Screenplay: Henrik Galeen
Photography: Gunther Krampf, Fritz Arno Wagner
Music: James Bernard (restored version)
Cast: Max Schreck, Alexander Granach, Gustav von Wangenheim, Greta Schroder, Georg H. Schnell, Ruth Landshoff, John Gottowt, Gustav Botz, Max Nemetz, Wolfgang Heinz, Guido Herzfeld, Albert Venohr, Hardy von Francois
Links: Nosferatu Trailer, Nosferatu Wiki

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Bram Stoker's Dracula inspired one of the most impressive of all silent features. The source material and the medium seem almost eerily meant for each other. Stoker's novel, largely written in the form of a series of letters, is light on traditional dialogue and heavy on description, perfect for the primary visual storytelling of silent films. It is fitting that a story of the eternal conflict between light and darkness should be matched to a format consisting almost entirely of the interplay of light and darkness.

Review coming soon...

Blazing Saddles (Matt)

I've seen this movie a great many times over the course of my life and now that I sit down to try and write a review for it I find myself struggling for the words necessary to describe how I feel about it. I mean, it's Blazing Saddles for goodness sakes. One of Mel Brook's finest movies, and that is saying something. I guess I'll just take it in pieces.

Lets start with the story. It's creative and entertaining to say the least. The town of Rock Ridge is being attacked by outlaws, and they have to either fight back or run away. They decide to fight back and ask the governor for a sheriff. The governor's aid, who really is running things, decides to send them a black sheriff, which to that town was offensive. Hilarity ensues. Every time I watch this film I am blown away at how brave Mel Brooks had to be to make this movie. White people are on screen calling black people niggers. That is about as offensive as it gets folks, and not only does Mel pull it off, he makes it funny and totally non-offensive. In a way he turns the tables on the citizens of Rock Ridge, as they wind up looking like idots while Bart, the sheriff, comes out smelling like a rose. This is pure genius writing in my opinion. The movie makes a very strong statement against racism and it did it at a time when racial tension was high. This movie truly is a work of art.

How about the comedy. I've seen this move over twenty times and I still laugh every time I watch it. That's fairly outstanding if you think about it. I still laugh at the same jokes. The comedy stands up as well today as it did when it was created.

The acting is over the top, but that's what I would expect from a movie like this. The characters are large. Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder compliment each other perfectly. They have a good chemistry on screen and it really shines as you watch the two acting together. Mel has his many cameos as per the norm, and they are always a delight to see.

This movie is, in my opinion, one of the greatest films ever made. It takes a very tense subject and presents it in a manner that is both hilarious and thought provoking. It still blows my mind that Mel Brooks had the balls to create this movie when he did. He is a man to be admired and praised.

I give this movie 10 whimsical hangmen out of 10.

Blazing Saddles(John)

What a classic movie this is. Mel Brooks hit this one out of the park. I find myself always laughing through this entire movie.

The actors in this film are some of the funniest people ever. Gene Wilder can do no wrong. He plays Jim(or the Waco Kid), a drunk gunfighter who befriends Bart(Cleavon Little), the new sheriff of Rock Ridge. Wilder's performance is pretty mild compared to his other roles, but I found that subtlety to be just as funny as his more bombastic roles. Cleavon Little hasn't been in many other films, but he was excellent in this movie. This may sound weird, but I think his character may have been modeled after Bugs Bunny a little bit. Bart is the smart, modern man who is trying to combat these mean, "of the times" people. I feel that this is an almost exact comparison to Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam or Elmer Fudd. But, I may be wrong :P. Mel Brooks is, of course, amazing. And the dynamic between Harvey Korman and Slim Pickens was a treat to watch.

The music was good. The one thing that stands out is the song "Blazing Saddles". I know that song as soon as it starts. I think it's been ingrained into my DNA. And, I'm glad that it got an Oscar nomination for best song back in 1974. Too bad it didn't win though.

One thing that has to be known about this movie is that it is a parody movie. It doesn't take itself seriously. Characters know things that they shouldn't know(i.e. Bart had to invent the candygram decades before it was supposed to be invented so he could defeat Mongo). Honestly, I don't think the story even matters. The point of this movie is to be vulgar and have fun I think. And it succeeds there in spades.

It's getting a 10 out of 10.

-John Murphy

Blazing Saddles

Origin: U.S. (Crossbow, Warner Bros.) 1974
Length: 93 minutes
Format: Technicolor
Director: Mel Brooks
Producer: Michael Hertzberg
Screenplay: Andrew Bergman, Mel Brooks, Richard Pryor, Norman Steinberg, Alan Uger
Photography: Joseph F. Biroc
Music: Mel Brooks, Vernon Duke, John Morris
Cast: Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Slim Pickens, David Huddleston, Liam Dunn, Alex Karras, John Hillerman, George Furth, Jack Starrett, Mel Brooks, Harvey Korman, Carol DeLuise, Richard Collier, Charles McGregor
Oscar nominations: Madeline Kahn(actress in supporting role), John C. Howard, Danford B. Greene(editing), John Morris, Mel Brooks(song)
Links: Blazing Saddles Trailer, Blazing Saddles Wiki

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Though it may not be the peak of Mel Brooks's cinematic output - The Producers is still more shocking and pointed - with its mixture of surrealism, slapstick, and (then ground-breaking) vulgarity, Blazing Saddles is certainly his most influential film. Despite both its hackneyed setting - the old West - and its 1970s veneer - hip gags about race and sex - it stands as one of the more brilliant works in the career of a great 1950s comedy writer.

Annie Hall (Matt)

This is another movie that I've heard nothing but praise for. Most of the people who know the name of this movie are big fans of it, and because of this I had the bar set high going into it. I was expecting movie gold and would settle for nothing less.

The movie started strong. I enjoyed the characters, I enjoyed the story, I like the comedy, and I loved the directing. I was interested and entertained as I watched the two main characters meet and begin their relationship. About 45 minutes into the movie however, I began to lose a bit of interest. We watched this on a rainy night, so that might contribute to it, but I got a bit bored and that lead to sleepiness. I didn't fall asleep, but I did come close. This didn't last for long however, as I was quickly brought back by the films constant sense of humor mixed with reality. I managed to fight off being sleepy and stay interested until the end, with that one exception.

Up until the end of the film I considered this movie to be about a 6, maybe a 7. It was a nice view of a relationship between two somewhat eccentric people. As I mentioned before, the humor and the brilliant directing kept me interested. I loved it when Alvy Singer (the main character), would talk to the audience. Those were my favorite scenes by far. I laughed and I was entertained. It was a very decent movie.

Then, then end happened. We were presented with a montage of scenes featuring the highlights of the relationship between Alvy and Annie. When I watched this montage I was blown away. I realized then that I felt connected to this couple and to their relationship. I had lived through these highs and lows with them and I felt so connected to them that I was terribly sad that the relationship had ended. I had connected with them on a level that it almost unheard of via a movie and I had no idea that this connection had been made until that ending montage. It was an emotional and moving experience that I wasn't ready for.

After seeing that last bit of the movie my opinion of the movie changed. I went from that 6 or 7 straight up to a 9 or 10. This movie I think will stay with me for a long time. It was so easy to see relationships my own past injected into scenes of this film.

The acting was amazing. In particular is the way that Woody Allen and Diane Keaton portrayed that awkward friendliness that often follows ended relationships. It was spot on.

The direction was unique and very entertaining. As I mentioned when Alvy would break the story and come communicate with the audience it was always a treat. I like the short animated scene in the film and also quite enjoyed the subtitles for what the two characters were thinking while they had their first real conversation.

This movie was great. 9 expensive sneezes out of 10.

Annie Hall(John)

I'm very confused about this film. I went into the movie thinking I was going to be laughing constantly and instead I was just intrigued by the story. There were some funny moments but I would say this is more of a Drama-Comedy than a Comedic-Drama.

The acting was amazing. I was able to relate to almost every character. A lot of the ideas about relationships that were discussed in the film, I have gone through. Woody Allen plays this neurotic, funny, caring person who falls in love with Annie Hall, a woman who is very introverted. As they fall in love, their personalities change. And if you've ever been in a relationship, that's exactly how it happens. Faults are found within your significant other that you didn't see at first. I think that's the biggest compliment to this film: they nailed the relationship angle perfectly. Woody Allen's brand of comedy is very smart. There is very little slapstick so I found myself thinking about every word he was saying: which is a good thing. But as I said before, I didn't find myself laughing as much as I thought I would.

Normally I would discuss the setting and the music, but I found both to be so insignificant against the story that I will just say both were good enough. I do want to talk about the way the movie was shot. There were some interesting things going on in this department. As an example, there is a scene where Alvie and Annie are having dinner with Annie's parents. At a certain point, Alvie turns to the audience, breaking the 4th wall, and starts comparing Annie's family to his. And what we see is a split screen of the two families. But it doesn't stop there. Annie's mother starts interacting with Alvie's family, actually talking to them. I thought this was very interesting and although it was very odd, it didn't remove me from the movie. This type of camera work was injected throughout the movie, and I enjoyed it immensely.

This was not a movie I expected to like, but I would have to say it definitely surprised me. If it hadn't connected with me in the way it did, I probably would give this one a fairly low score. But, I understood almost everything Woody Allen's character went through, so I will give this movie a 7 out of 10.

- John Murphy