lizberrywagner's reviews
This page compiles all reviews lizberrywagner has written, sharing their detailed thoughts about movies, TV shows, and more.
6 reviews
"Each man's life touches so many other lives." ~ Clarence Oddbody, AS2
I believe "It's a Wonderful Life" is a favorite of many. It is certainly a favorite of mine. James Stewart's portrayal of George Bailey is, well, wonderful, and one of his very best performances. Lionel Barrymore is perfection as Mr. Potter, the richest and meanest man in town. Donna Reed is darling as George Bailey's beloved wife, Mary. And Henry Travers is charming and adorable as Clarence Oddbody, AS2 (Angel Second Class).
In the spirit of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol", this is the story of a man who gets a rare glimpse of what the world would be like if he never existed. Through the magic of Frank Capra, we take a glorious ride with Clarence, a guardian angel who has yet to earn his wings. In answer to many prayers from the folks of Bedford Falls, Clarence is assigned to help George Bailey, the town's hero, in his darkest hour.
George Bailey is a man who has positively impacted many people's lives by putting the needs of others ahead of his own; but still, he has regrets. After giving up his own career aspirations, he steps into his late father's role of running the small Building and Loan business in order to continue his father's good work to help the folks of Bedford Falls and keep it out of Potter's greedy hands. He settles down and marries his childhood sweetheart and raises a family in the same small town despite his dream to travel the world and become an architect.
Mr. Potter, the heartless villain in the story, tries everything in his power to take down George Bailey and the rinky-dink Building and Loan Company. George manages to keep the company afloat, even using his own money at times, and continues to be loyal to the people of Bedford Falls - who depend on him for a chance to own their own homes. But one fateful day, $8,000 accidentally goes missing from the Building and Loan and George fears the scandal will take them down after all. Distraught and defeated, George contemplates suicide, believing he is worth more dead than alive. Enter Clarence, the gentle and child-like guardian angel, who shows George the way.
The sentiment in this movie is overwhelming and if it does not tug at your heart, you are not human. In classic Capra style, this film offers lessons in patience and perseverance, selflessness and self-respect, loyalty and compassion and faith and forgiveness. This movie is a magical journey of pure love.
Even though I have seen this film many times over, I still watch it every Christmas. It is one of my essentials.
I believe "It's a Wonderful Life" is a favorite of many. It is certainly a favorite of mine. James Stewart's portrayal of George Bailey is, well, wonderful, and one of his very best performances. Lionel Barrymore is perfection as Mr. Potter, the richest and meanest man in town. Donna Reed is darling as George Bailey's beloved wife, Mary. And Henry Travers is charming and adorable as Clarence Oddbody, AS2 (Angel Second Class).
In the spirit of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol", this is the story of a man who gets a rare glimpse of what the world would be like if he never existed. Through the magic of Frank Capra, we take a glorious ride with Clarence, a guardian angel who has yet to earn his wings. In answer to many prayers from the folks of Bedford Falls, Clarence is assigned to help George Bailey, the town's hero, in his darkest hour.
George Bailey is a man who has positively impacted many people's lives by putting the needs of others ahead of his own; but still, he has regrets. After giving up his own career aspirations, he steps into his late father's role of running the small Building and Loan business in order to continue his father's good work to help the folks of Bedford Falls and keep it out of Potter's greedy hands. He settles down and marries his childhood sweetheart and raises a family in the same small town despite his dream to travel the world and become an architect.
Mr. Potter, the heartless villain in the story, tries everything in his power to take down George Bailey and the rinky-dink Building and Loan Company. George manages to keep the company afloat, even using his own money at times, and continues to be loyal to the people of Bedford Falls - who depend on him for a chance to own their own homes. But one fateful day, $8,000 accidentally goes missing from the Building and Loan and George fears the scandal will take them down after all. Distraught and defeated, George contemplates suicide, believing he is worth more dead than alive. Enter Clarence, the gentle and child-like guardian angel, who shows George the way.
The sentiment in this movie is overwhelming and if it does not tug at your heart, you are not human. In classic Capra style, this film offers lessons in patience and perseverance, selflessness and self-respect, loyalty and compassion and faith and forgiveness. This movie is a magical journey of pure love.
Even though I have seen this film many times over, I still watch it every Christmas. It is one of my essentials.
I watched this 1972 gem of a movie tonight. I had forgotten about this brilliant psychological thriller until I saw it was on TCM tonight. I immediately turned it on.
The story takes place on a Connecticut farm that actually looks like it is in California but who cares; this film has so much to offer. It is an intriguing and extremely disturbing story of good and evil twins- Niles and Holland Perry - and it is one bone-chilling movie. There is no blood and gore but the images in this film are eerie and scary and downright wicked.
The twins have an unusual relationship with their grandmother who teaches them how to play the "game". In this game, they are taught to have out-of-body experiences and transport themselves where they can "see" and "feel" things that no one else can see or feel. There are quite a few unexplained horrible deaths in this story and we are led to believe that the 'evil' twin, Holland, is causing people to die. Meanwhile, Niles, the 'good' twin is trying to figure it all out. Things get out of hand and the grandmother feels responsible for the twins' behavior.
There are some unexpected twists and turns in this film and the ending is a pure shocker that leaves your blood cold. The acting in this film is outstanding and it is skillfully directed by Robert Mulligan of "To Kill a Mockingbird" fame. The story is based on the book by Tom Tyron, who also happened to write the screenplay. There is a nod to "The Bad Seed"- another terrific evil child story.
This may not be a well-known film in the horror genre but it should be. It is incredibly terrifying. An absolute must-see if you get the chance.
The story takes place on a Connecticut farm that actually looks like it is in California but who cares; this film has so much to offer. It is an intriguing and extremely disturbing story of good and evil twins- Niles and Holland Perry - and it is one bone-chilling movie. There is no blood and gore but the images in this film are eerie and scary and downright wicked.
The twins have an unusual relationship with their grandmother who teaches them how to play the "game". In this game, they are taught to have out-of-body experiences and transport themselves where they can "see" and "feel" things that no one else can see or feel. There are quite a few unexplained horrible deaths in this story and we are led to believe that the 'evil' twin, Holland, is causing people to die. Meanwhile, Niles, the 'good' twin is trying to figure it all out. Things get out of hand and the grandmother feels responsible for the twins' behavior.
There are some unexpected twists and turns in this film and the ending is a pure shocker that leaves your blood cold. The acting in this film is outstanding and it is skillfully directed by Robert Mulligan of "To Kill a Mockingbird" fame. The story is based on the book by Tom Tyron, who also happened to write the screenplay. There is a nod to "The Bad Seed"- another terrific evil child story.
This may not be a well-known film in the horror genre but it should be. It is incredibly terrifying. An absolute must-see if you get the chance.
This is one of the creepiest films I have ever seen. It begins with this man - Shigeharu Aoyama (played by Ryo Ishibashi) - weeping by his dying wife's bedside. After she dies, he becomes a reclusive, lonely widower with a small son.
Fast forward to the future, and his son, Shighiko, (played by Tetsu Sawaki) is all grown up and ready to leave the nest but worries that his dad will be alone for the rest of his life. With the son's influence, the dad's best friend decides to help him find a new wife. The two hold "auditions" to find the right bride for Shigeharu, bringing the women in under false pretenses, promising them a movie role if they pass the audition.
One woman after another auditions and Shigeharu is not interested in any of them. But then, one audition stands out from the rest. Asami Yamazaki (played by Eihi Shiina) is a quiet, reserved beauty. Shigeharu is not only intrigued, he eventually becomes obsessed with her. They begin an intimate relationship and it becomes very intense – and very strange.
We, the audience know that something is very odd about this woman although we cannot be sure what it is. She is definitely not who she appears to be. Suspense builds. Little by little we find out some very unnerving things about this woman but still, we are not sure what she is all about.
The story may move a little slow for some looking for a lot of action and thrills throughout the film. It is not your run-of-mill American slasher-horror film with a bunch of meaningless gore, but is an intelligent, subtle and eerie story. It pulls you in because you want to find out what this woman is hiding – what she is all about. When you finally realize what she is up to, well . be prepared for a very shocking and disturbing finale. It is pure, raw terror at its best.
Japanese director, Takashi Miike, does an excellent job of building uncertainty and anticipation slowly and masterfully in this evocative, intellectual thriller. His staggering images will haunt you long after the closing credits.
A must-see for serious horror fans!
Fast forward to the future, and his son, Shighiko, (played by Tetsu Sawaki) is all grown up and ready to leave the nest but worries that his dad will be alone for the rest of his life. With the son's influence, the dad's best friend decides to help him find a new wife. The two hold "auditions" to find the right bride for Shigeharu, bringing the women in under false pretenses, promising them a movie role if they pass the audition.
One woman after another auditions and Shigeharu is not interested in any of them. But then, one audition stands out from the rest. Asami Yamazaki (played by Eihi Shiina) is a quiet, reserved beauty. Shigeharu is not only intrigued, he eventually becomes obsessed with her. They begin an intimate relationship and it becomes very intense – and very strange.
We, the audience know that something is very odd about this woman although we cannot be sure what it is. She is definitely not who she appears to be. Suspense builds. Little by little we find out some very unnerving things about this woman but still, we are not sure what she is all about.
The story may move a little slow for some looking for a lot of action and thrills throughout the film. It is not your run-of-mill American slasher-horror film with a bunch of meaningless gore, but is an intelligent, subtle and eerie story. It pulls you in because you want to find out what this woman is hiding – what she is all about. When you finally realize what she is up to, well . be prepared for a very shocking and disturbing finale. It is pure, raw terror at its best.
Japanese director, Takashi Miike, does an excellent job of building uncertainty and anticipation slowly and masterfully in this evocative, intellectual thriller. His staggering images will haunt you long after the closing credits.
A must-see for serious horror fans!
I will take you places you've never been. I will show you things that you have never seen and I will see the life run out of you. ~ Eva, in the film Ghost Story
The movie centers on a group of elderly men who have formed an exclusive story-telling group called The Chowder Society. The men meet regularly, sit around a fire in a dark room and share their best ghost stories. Under the surface, however, lies a ghastly secret they all share - a real life, true ghost story of their own that they dare not speak of.
When one of The Chowder Society member's twin sons dies in a very strange and inexplicable accident, the other twin returns home to mourn with his father. That is when a series of horrifying events begin to unfold, forcing the men of the Chowder Society to come to terms with the shocking and dreadful event that has haunted them for the past 50 years.
I personally love these types of stories. They do not feature masked- maniacs hunting down unsuspecting teenagers and hacking them to death. (Although there are a few good ones in that category!) What this story does provide is a genuine chill-running-down-your-spine sensation that brings you to a terrifying place without ever forcing you to close your eyes.
A star-studded cast includes Fred Astaire, Melvyn Douglas, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., John Houseman and Patricia Neal, Jacqueline Brookes, Craig Wasson and Alice Krige. Having a cast with such experienced and talented actors creates a believable and authentic film making it a worthwhile, scary little gem of a movie.
If you like genuine ghost stories, watch this movie. Based on the novel by the gifted Peter Straub and skillfully directed by John Irvin, this film is a top pick for me.
The movie centers on a group of elderly men who have formed an exclusive story-telling group called The Chowder Society. The men meet regularly, sit around a fire in a dark room and share their best ghost stories. Under the surface, however, lies a ghastly secret they all share - a real life, true ghost story of their own that they dare not speak of.
When one of The Chowder Society member's twin sons dies in a very strange and inexplicable accident, the other twin returns home to mourn with his father. That is when a series of horrifying events begin to unfold, forcing the men of the Chowder Society to come to terms with the shocking and dreadful event that has haunted them for the past 50 years.
I personally love these types of stories. They do not feature masked- maniacs hunting down unsuspecting teenagers and hacking them to death. (Although there are a few good ones in that category!) What this story does provide is a genuine chill-running-down-your-spine sensation that brings you to a terrifying place without ever forcing you to close your eyes.
A star-studded cast includes Fred Astaire, Melvyn Douglas, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., John Houseman and Patricia Neal, Jacqueline Brookes, Craig Wasson and Alice Krige. Having a cast with such experienced and talented actors creates a believable and authentic film making it a worthwhile, scary little gem of a movie.
If you like genuine ghost stories, watch this movie. Based on the novel by the gifted Peter Straub and skillfully directed by John Irvin, this film is a top pick for me.
