Seven Chances

Title: Seven Chances
Year: 1925
Country: USA
Director: Buster Keaton
Producer: Joseph M. Schenck & Buster Keaton
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 56 minutes
Viewed: December 29, 2011

Review: This movie was pretty good. The concept is pretty funny, a man who only inherits his millions (left from his grandfather) if he is to marry by his 27th birthday, which of course happens to be that day. As Keaton's last movie I watched, there is a lot of comedy which makes the movie entertaining. There are plenty of parts in the movie that are funny and for the most part it will keep your attention. Buster Keaton definitely had a lot of talent whether that be in acting or directing. It is clear why this movie was listed in the book.

Rating:
3 Shamrocks

Movie 25 down... 976 to go!

Der Letzte Mann

Title: Der Letzte Mann - The Last Laugh
Year: 1924
Country: Germany
Director: F.W. Murnau
Producer: Erich Pommer
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 90 minutes
Viewed: December 28, 2011

Review: The positive? The film has been restored wonderfully. It has one of the clearest pictures thus far. The meaning of the movie is decent. A man finds self worth in his job and once he loses it he finds himself in a downward spiral. Not far off from many people's feelings and thoughts today who have to take jobs they would rather not be doing. The scene in the film where they tell him he has been demoted due to his "age and frailty" reminds me of a certain store (shall remain nameless, but I'm sure you can figure it out) that allows old people to have a job but really just greet you as you come in and leave the store. The negative? I thought the film was long for the story. It would appear the films that I rather enjoy are short while the ones I would prefer end swiftly go on for days. I know I'm in the minority on the fact that I thought it was long because I read many reviews saying it was a great film and not too long. However, I'd have to say it did not keep my attention for more then maybe about 30 minutes, if that. The other hour was me trying to focus but knowing already what was going to happen in the film.

Rating:
1.5 Shamrocks - While I did not enjoy it, I can see why film enthusiasts would.

Movie 24 down... 977 to go!

Sherlock Jr.

Title: Sherlock Jr.
Year: 1924
Country: USA
Director: Buster Keaton
Producer: Joseph M. Schenck & Buster Keaton
Genre: Comedy, Family, & Short
Runtime: 45 minutes
Viewed: December 28, 2011

Review: Okay, so far this is by far my favorite movie. It is full of comedy for the whole family. I watched this with my (reluctant) seven year old nephew and he was just as captivated as I was. The banana peel on the floor is classic and here's where it all started. I was saddened by the fact that it was so short. This is one movie that I wish would have been longer, but looking at the list I can completely understand why more films by Buster Keaton are listed. Funny, captivating, and easy to watch is the best description I can give this movie.

Rating:
4 Shamrocks

Movie 23 down... 978 to go!

Greed

Title: Greed
Year: 1924
Country: USA
Director: Erich Von Stroheim
Producer: Louis B. Mayer
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 140 minutes
Viewed: December 26, 2011

Review: Let's start with the fact that finding this movie with English subtitles seemed impossible, I stumbled upon it eventually though. While watching silent films is something that I am still not a big fan of, my attention was kept by this film. It is simple to say that regardless of the year, the act of greed is something that can devastate someone's life, which is depicted well in this movie. It does not matter if you have a lot of money or no money, the goal to keep, hold on to, and gain more can eventually subdue your life. There were a couple of things specifically that I enjoyed about this movie, first the flashes of color (yellow) when the birds, gold, and tooth are shown. The second part of this movie that I really enjoyed and thought was done creatively was the fact that when the main character plays the accordion the music matches the song that he is playing. It may just be my opinion but I thought that if Will Ferrell was an actor in 1924 he very well could have been Gibson Gowland, looks wise.

Rating:
3 Shamrocks

Movie 22 down... 979 to go!

Stachka

Title: Stachka - Strike
Year: 1924
Country: U.S.S.R
Director: Sergei M. Eisenstein
Producer: Boris Mikhin
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 82 minutes
Viewed: August 21, 2011

Review: Well, this movie is definitely intense. The storyline, the way it was directed, everything about it is just very captivating. That being said I would probably never watch it again. The whole film is black an white and even remastered is a struggle visually. Not that that is anyone's fault it just makes it difficult for me to pay attention. If I had not read what was written in the 1001 Movie book before I watched the movie I would not have caught on to the correlation between the slaughtering of the animals and its significance to the people dying, but since I had it made sense. I thought the comparison between the main characters and animals was an interesting idea and I enjoyed how it was carried out throughout the film. I think by far my favorite thing about this film was the pictures and how at first it just appeared to be a picture but then came into action with the film and that individual character.

Rating:
2 Shamrocks

Movie 21 down... 980 to go!

The Thief of Bagdad

Title: The Thief of Bagdad
Year: 1924
Country: USA
Director: Raoul Walsh
Producer: Douglas Fairbanks
Genre: Action & Adventure
Runtime: 139 minutes
Viewed: July 2011

Review: In short, this is the movie that Disney took the entire idea for Aladdin. A lot of the movies visually are becoming clearer, but for me this one had an obvious different, it was very clear. Granted that could just be the way it had been restored and so forth. This is the first movie that I recall having mythical creatures in it, which was fun. There is a scene with a spider and it appears as if it is happening under water, the whole thing throws any viewer for a loop because it is technologically very advanced. I can honestly say I have no idea how this scene was produced but due to the time it was made it had me extremely captivated. Following the idea that this is where Disney got the idea for Aladdin it tells the story of a "street rat" falling in love for and competing for the princess against the mean, more powerful king. There is even a flying carpet, which is also well done for it being 1924. Being that I enjoy the movie Aladdin I did like this movie, the only problem I had with it was how long it was.

Rating:
3.5 Shamrocks

Movie 20 down... 981 to go!

La Roue

Title: La Roue - The Wheel
Year: 1923
Country: France
Director: Abel Gance
Producer: Abel Gance & Charles Pathé
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 273 minutes
Viewed: July 2011

Review: Honestly, I don't know what to say about this movie other then it is extremely odd. It definitely seems like the 1923 version of what is currently a soap opera. So and so falls in love with so and so, but way the twist is that's his sister, but not really! I am guessing in 1923 this plot was not as common and probably quite scandalous. That being said there were a couple unique things to this movie. The first being the daydream that appeared to have existed in a different era. It was as if the time the daydream took place was completely different from the time the movie took place which was interesting. There was the fortune telling scene which honestly I did not understand and so my response to it was what is the point to this scene? There were a lot of special effects in this movie which definitely helped me pay attention more then I would have otherwise, including one scene that was reminisce of The Matrix. Overall, I did not enjoy this movie but could see why it was important to put in the 1001 Movies book.

Rating:
2 Shamrocks

Movie 19 down... 982 to go!