Kimbeez

I just watched this film today on DVD. It's one of my favorites and I'm just amazed every time I watch it. God, what a beautiful film . . . Although, I have to say, I wasn't crazy about it at first. I came to appreciate it more after watching it two or three times. I know epic films aren't for everyone, but I keep returning to this one time and again. The way the film is shot and edited is breathtaking. The acting is top notch and played to the hilt. What I find most fascinating about this film is the metamorphosis of T.E. Lawrence in the process. He's a man who rises to become a legend who is then repeatedly reminded that he is just a man. How does one face this? It's an interesting journey (and worth watching 100 times!).

What a delightful film! "Nightmare Before Christmas" is one of my all-time favorite movies. There aren't many movies out there that appeal to both children and adults, and this is a shining example. Nothing is sugar-coated or saccharine, but there's a nice blend of innocence and dark humor that everyone can enjoy. I saw "Nightmare" when it arrived in theaters when I was 12-years-old. Nearly 10 years later I'm still enjoying it on television and video. This film has everything: wonderful characters that support and enrich each other, an excellent soundtrack, and a humorous and moving story. I would expect nothing less from the likes of Tim Burton and Danny Elfman, who did an astounding job on this film. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone, especially fans of Tim Burton's other films or people who just enjoy a good and well-told story.

"Opulent" is one word for this film. I wanted to see "Footlight Parade" because I heard it was one of the definitive backstage movie-musicals and most of all, I wanted to see James Cagney dance! This movie was pretty good. James Cagney plays sort of a producer who imagines ideas for "prologues" or live performance numbers to accompany films playing in movie theaters. The task is grueling because Cagney has to think of several novel ideas every day, most of which are stolen by a rival prologue company. Cagney's job is highly frustrating as is Frank McHugh's, who has to stage and choreograph the prologues. McHugh is hilarious as the poorly harried dance director -- he never gets a break! I felt so sorry for him! Another character worth mentioning is Cagney's secretary, Joan Blondell. I savored her on-screen chemistry with Cagney and was rooting for her all the way. The only relationship in the movie I didn't really care for was with Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler. I couldn't feel anything between them, at least not with the same intensity as with Cagney and Blondell. It all seems cookie-cutter: A plain-Jane makes good with the handsome leading man by getting gussied up and putting on her dancing shoes. I don't really see anything between Powell and Keeler that makes me want to care or connect to them. But hey, that's Hollywood. Then, there's the Busby Berkley dance sequences. My only beef about the musical numbers is that they run too long. There's three of them at the end and in a constant succession, it's a bit much. I'm going to have a chorus of "By a Waterfall" stuck in my head for a couple of days. But even so, following "Honeymoon Hotel" and "By a Waterfall", the audience is greatly rewarded with "Shanghai Lil", the movie's centerpiece. Cagney is a gem -- he sings, he dances, he dons a sailor suit! His performance must have been surprising to his early audiences whom have never seen his song-and-dance-man side. Cagney shines and Keeler is cute and light on her feet as the elusive Shanghai Lil. Overall, "Footlight Parade" is pretty well done -- they don't make movies like this anymore. I would definitely give this movie a chance, even just to see "Shanghai Lil" alone.