watch more classic movies

I don’t know how often we go to the video store, look at the new releases, decide there isn’t anything we want to see (or pay that much for while it is still a new release) and grab a classic film.

We have definitely seen some amazing films we’d never have touched without this goal. And we’ve also seen some “classics” that I consider clunkers, mostly because I find them so unrealistic and unbelievable. Film-making has sure changed in the last 60 years!

I will continue to do this, but definitely feel I can cross it from the list.

Finally saw this movie several weeks ago. It was a good movie, about a rather unlikeable character. I actually really enjoyed the commentary on in one of the special features about what made this such a landmark film at the time. It gave it more perspective.

A few weeks ago, MrRaye and I saw “Some Like it Hot” with Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. It has some very funny moments, but the ending left me cold. I realize perhaps that it is supposed to be a screwball comedy, but there was absolutely no real reason that the two leads should have gotten together. He had no real redeeming features.(Reminded me of the ending of “Sweet Home Alabama,” which also drove me crazy – leave one guy with everything for another guy…just because. Even the whole “first love” thing felt forced and unconvincing.)

But a few nights ago, we sat down to watch the original “Miracle on 34th Street.” We were both pleasantly surprised, especially MrRaye, who didn’t really want to see a “sappy” movie. The comedy was witty and delightful, and the irony of commercialistic greed bringing about the generous spirit of Christmas was heaven to behold, even if it was only a movie.

We sat down to watch each of these movies not really knowing anything about either of them. One earned a mixed review. The other, two thumbs up from each of us. I may actually have to consider purchasing “Miracle.”

Last night, MrRaye and I watched “The Apartment” with Jack Lemmon. It won the Academy Award for Best Picture in the early sixties. I really enjoyed the film, but it was much more serious than I anticipated. It was definitely incredibly light-hearted in places, but even the light-heartedness had undertones of frustration, loneliness and loss.

Would definitely recommend this one for a film with some great little laughs, but is much deeper than it at first appears.

Saw this last night (by accident, sort of) but really enjoyed it. Watching old movies is so weird! It is so obvious that the audience of today expects something very, very different from what audiences of yesterday expected.

It is a fun movie, if a big long on the dance sequences. And sometimes scenes felt so out of place, and thrown in for no reason. (The diction coach!) But I adored the last few scences when things finally hit the fan!

The two main actors and the main actress were charming, and the gal’s voice so silky smooth. The other main female character…I wonder if she lost her voice doing that movie!

Perhaps one of the most interesting part of the film, to me, was the idea of the “talking picture” coming into being and becoming popular. It showed how, once a new technology pops on the market, and it is a hit, everyone scrambles to do it even at the expense of the quality of the product! This is exactly what has been happening in Hollywood today: instead of writing quality stories, they are either relying on special effects or a celebrity name to sell their movies. And while at one point that may have been exactly what the American public wanted, now the public is demanding a real story

And Hollywood wonders why box office tickets are plummeting. They blame it on piracy instead of on their own poor products.

Anyway, I’m glad I saw it.

Got to see this movie tonight on the big screen at the college cinema. Definitely an icon of the times, and still very relevant today.

I find older films harder to watch since I cannot lose myself in them in the same way. They tend to jolt you out of the film world more often due to the dated script and tone. And after seeing James Dean in this film (the first film I have ever seen of his) I am amazed that he had the “tough guy” image that he did. “Tortured soul” might be more apt.

But the themes of this movie are still so relevant today: being bullied, feeling unloved, lacking in positive parental role models. Perhaps most poignant to me was the scene in which James Dean’s character is asking his father what it means to be a man, to have dignity, honor and integrity. And his father cannot answer him, and refuses to stand up for him.

I’m glad I saw it. Don’t know that I’d be likely to see it again, but definitely glad I saw it.

So, the first time I started watching this movie, I was about 15 or 16 years old. I was at my grandparents’ house with my family, and it came on tv. Of course, about 20 minutes from the end, my family decided it was time to go home. I fought to stay, and when I complained my sister blurted out how the movie ends. I was so mad!

So today, I finally sat down and watched the whole thing. Enjoyed it, and can see why it has become an iconic film.

MrRaye and I sat down and watched “The Sting” last night. What a fun movie! My dad had recommended it ages ago, but I never watched it.

Paul Newman and Robert Redford play two con-men out to make the big play on an organized crime boss. Dangerous? Yes. Tricky? Yes. Funny? You bet!

The acting was great, the twists were fun and at least somewhat unexpected, and watching the con from start to finish was fabulous. Lots of great details.

I invited all of you to look at my list of movies, and mhchipmunk said the link expired really quickly. So, to avoid that problem, here is a link.

http://www.listsofbests.com/list/7289/compare/redheadraye
Please let me know if there are any I should add! You don’thave to use this list, feel free to make your own from it. But if you have something that maybe should be added, let me know, because it might be something that I just didn’t think of1

Overall, I really enjoyed it, though I think I would like it even more as a live production on stage. I felt the pacing was a little off, but I think that is just a feature of older movies in general.

Both characters, so over-the-top, have some endearing qualities. And I love the ending: subtle, yet so very telling of the effect the experience has had on the two men.