kiljanja

The profound battle between the power of good over the forces of evil kind of gets overshadowed by non stop battles and visual effects that I assume are suppossed to blow us away. The bombastic loud volume is annoying to people like myself who grew up on classic sci fi like 2001-a space oddysey. I assume all that shrill noise pounding our ears into pulp is going to make us truly frightened. Well it does not. To truly appreciate what a sense of real evil is all about there are films that convey that meaning rather well and at a fraction of the cost. Some of those that come to mind are 'Psycho','The Haunting','Blair Witch Project'. At no time was I or my girlfriend ever the least bit afraid. Bored yes. 'Lord of the rings' doesn't deliver the message it seems desperate to get out. Evil permeates its overwhelming grip on mankind but even ordinary humans can rise to the challenge. All is lost in hokey visual overkill that is indistinguishable from all the other loud screeching movies at the local cineplex. I really wanted to like this movie and perhaps be inspired to read the books which I believe are better than the movie. The characters are strictly two dimensional and we've seen this all before. I regret being caught up in all this hype and spent three hours watching this instead of doing something more constructive; like going for a long walk and contemplating how we can overcome the real power of evil that controls this planet.

What a joy it was to see this movie appear at the downtown cineplex. A fine alternative to the mindless action mush that permeates present day Hollywood cinema.We need more films that challenge the power structure out there which controls so much of our lives. Cinema could and should mobilize people into taking on those who oppress us instead of turning us into passive receptors of loud obnoxious junk put out by those same oppressors. It doesn't take a sociologist to realize that this is the intent. I was deeply touched by the trials and tribulations of these helpless people working in humiliating underpaid jobs. I was completely blown away by the character Rosa during her powerful emotional confrontation with her sister.There are so many millions of people out there who slave in menial jobs. They ought to see this movie but most won't as its probably out of reach anyway. Strictly for the film buffs and the art houses. I'm sure that there will be very few movies like this in the near future.

Unfairly trashed by all mainstream media at the time of its release in early 1965 when I first saw this movie. This was the first time that I saw concert footage of the Beatles:- in color! The Beatles open and close this movie playing LIVE in front of screaming fans at the height of Beatlemania. The energy blew me away. I was 14 at the time. All the other groups mouth along to their records which was a bit disappointing I thought back then. Fans of this particular genre of pop music, particularly mid 60s British, are going to love this treasure trove. As well as some of the better known bands like the Animals and Herman's Hermit's this film also contains performances by the superb Rockin Berries and Four Pennies; two bands huge in England but never had a big hit in North America. All performances are lovingly filmed although spartan in appearance. No annoying split second cuts that have so long been the standard in music videos these days. I cannot believe this style is still in vogue to this day. There are no doubt thousands of fans such as myself who deeply enjoy music of this era and a movie such as this is a rare and valid document.