THIS YEAR FOR VALENTINE'S DAY (2010) MY MOM GAVE ME THE BOOK 1001 MOVIES YOU MUST SEE BEFORE YOU DIE. I HAVE A PASSION FOR MOVIES, MAINLY IT STARTED WITH BUYING DVDS IN EXCESS. BUT NOW I HAVE BEEN GIVEN A MISSION AND MY GOAL IN AS SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AS POSSIBLE IS TO WATCH EVERY MOVIE IN THE BOOK, READING THE DESCRIPTION, AND WRITING MY OWN PERSONAL REVIEW.
Title: Napoléon Year: 1927 Country: France / Italy / Germany / Spain / Sweden / Czechoslovakia Director: Abel Gance Producer: Robert A. Harris Genre: Drama Runtime: 333 minutes Viewed: March 28, 2015 Review: Wow. Just wow. I do not know how 1001 Movies can write such a short excerpt about this movie when it is so long. Probably, because there isn't a lot to say about the story line. This movie is all about, you guessed it, Napoléon. I am sure there are individuals out there who love history and would love this movie. I however, don't really care for either. This is a long, tedious movie. It is worth noting, just as the book does, that the camera work is above and beyond what we have seen so far. Abel Gance was a cinematic genius in the way he filmed this movie, there is no doubt in my mind about that. However, no one, and I repeat no one, should ever make a movie that requires an intermission. In the amount of time I spent watching this movie, I could have read all about Napoléon online and been done with it in a maximum of 2 hours. Despite the camera work being phenomenal, I will never, ever again my life watch this movie. It's long and I found it incredibly boring. I honestly don't know what else to say about it, so I guess now I understand why so little is written in 1001 Movies article about the film. Rating: 2 Shamrocks (only because of the film work) Movie 36 down... 965 to go!
Title: The Jazz Singer Year: 1927 Country: USA Director: Alan Crosland Genre: Drama Oscars: Alfred A. Cohen; Jack Jarmuth (honorary award for pioneering talking pictures) Oscar Nominations: Alfred A. Cohn (screenplay) Runtime: 88 minutes Viewed: March 21, 2015 Review: I have never in my life been so happy to hear speaking roles in a movie! Let's not get carried away though, we still haven't seen a film where there is talking throughout. But, this is the first step in that direction and it even included singing. Now, I have seen The Jazz Singer from 1952 probably over twenty times, the reason being my mom loves the movie, but this was my first time seeing the original. I would have to say that I was pleased! It really is a sad story initially of a young man wanting to follow his passion for jazz and his father's battle with accepting his wants. I think the best part about this movie is it is so relatable for anyone who has wanted to do something their parents didn't think was best I'm sure at one point or another we've all been there, having to make a choice between what we want for ourselves and what our parents want for us. This is that tale and it has a happy ending. I really couldn't be happier to finally had a movie with speaking/singing. I am a bit surprised however that it was not considered a musical, I would have thought not only would Jack Jarmuth been accredited for the first talking picture but also for the first musical. That's just my personal opinion. Rating: 3 Shamrocks Movie 35 down... 966 to go!
Title: Oktyabr - October Year: 1927 Country: U.S.S.R. Director: Grigori Aleksandrov & Sergie M. Eisenstein Genre: Drama Runtime: 142 minutes Viewed: January 17, 2015 Review: My apologies for taking so long to review this movie after watching it, but I could not stand this movie. I watched the movie and as I watched, I tried to read online different articles and summaries of the movie, but the only thing that I caught was the propaganda. The propaganda of the film is so clear, growing up in school I remember seeing different propaganda videos from the Nazis during history class, and that is exactly how I felt watching this movie. I understood the movie at the beginning when the people were so excited to tear down the Tsar's monument, but after that it just seemed like propaganda. I don't really even know what to say about this movie. The things that I agreed with 1001 Movies with about why this movie was interesting start with the massive crowd scenes. It is clear that a lot had to go into rounding up that many people to contribute to a film, nowadays it is so much easier, but I cannot imagine what it would have been like in 1927 to try to get so many people to follow direction. And secondly the book states, "For many sitting through it is a real chore." I would 100% agree with that, I have no plans of EVER watching this movie again. Glad it's over with and here's to moving on to the next one. Rating: 1 Shamrock Movie 34 down... 967 to go!
I have two blogs, depending which one you are looking at this is either the blog reviewing the movies that I randomly watch and review. Or this is the blog that will review my adventure through the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die book with me, Meghan, the first movies were also reviewed by my friend Sarah Drake, known throughout the blog as Drake. In order to rate each movie I will be giving the movie a certain number of shamrocks, 1 shamrock is not good 5 shamrocks you found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Drake will be rating each movie with soccer balls, again 1 being the least, 5 the best. Reason behind the rating system, I'm Irish thus shamrocks seem appropriate, Drake loves soccer thus the soccer ball rating. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.
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Title: Napoléon
