The Kid Brother

Title: The Kid Brother
Year: 1927
Country: USA
Director: J.A. Howe & Ted Wilde
Producer: Jesse L. Lasky, Harold Lloyd, & Adolph Zukor
Genre: Comedy & Romance
Runtime: 82 minutes
Viewed: April 3, 2015 

Review: Yay! That's how I want to start this specific entry. I am so glad that I didn't just give up on my movies, particularly after the last one. Harold Lloyd is a funny guy. I don't much care for slapstick comedy, granted I have mildly found the movies with Buster Keaton funny. But this movie keeps your attention, despite it still being silent, and makes you laugh and cheer for Harold at the end.

I think part of the reason I struggle with silent films is a good amount of the time they don't catch my attention fast enough. It's like when you listen to music, or at least when I do, if I am not swept up in the first few lines, I'm out. The difference is, I change the song quickly, I don't turn off a movie. This movie though, catches your attention. I know that my family, even the ones who refuse to watch silent films, would enjoy this movie. It has something for everyone and that makes a classic.

The Kid Brother is relatable. Especially if you are the youngest in your family. Family dynamic is similar to, I'm sure, many families. The older brothers are "tough and rugged" but the younger brother is "goofy and unreliable." So of course, the young brother has to prove himself, and he does so for the entertainment of all. 1001 Movies mentions that there are two scenes which show Harold's athleticism, the first of which is when he climbs a tree to get a longer look at this lady and the second is a fight that happens. Both scenes just aid to keep the viewers attention. I have to say, I actually enjoyed this movie.

Rating:
4 Shamrocks

Movie 37 down... 965 to go!

Napoléon

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! 

The Jazz Singer

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! 

Oktyabr

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! 

The Unknown

Title: The Unknown 
Year: 1927
Country: USA
Director: Tod Browning & Waldemar Young 
Producer: Irving G. Thalberg 
Genre: Horror & Romance 
Runtime: 60 minutes 
Viewed: January 17, 2015 

Review: Well, I need to start by saying that the rendition I viewed, if I read correctly, had the music redone. This was by far the most captivating (silent) movie I have watched so far. It is twisted and with the music it just captures your attention from start to finish. Lon Chaney will draw you in with the different faces he makes and of course the fact that he primarily uses his feet throughout the movie. I am happy the music wasn't coming from the actual film since I can't imagine Lon could actually play the guitar with his feet. I definitely would watch this movie again, which I'm not sure I would watch any of those previous. Lon is extremely talented, I wish we could see him in a modern day film and see how he does. But like I said, he brings your attention to the movie and will keep you entertained. 

That being said, this movie is twisted. I'm not sure it would be considered "horror" in today's society, probably more of a thriller. The plot itself is crazy, a woman who doesn't like being touched so Lon's character is perfect for her because he "has no arms," until she starts to actually care about him and he realizes she will notice he has arms eventually. I'll let you watch the movie if you so choose to see how that turns out. It is really interesting, I'm not sure how someone even comes up with the concept for this film, but well done. 

Rating: 
4 Shamrocks 

Movie 33 down... 968 to go! 

The General

Title: The General
Year: 1927
Country: USA
Director: Clyde Bruckman & Buster Keaton 
Producer: Buster Keaton & Joseph M. Schenck 
Genre: Comedy, Romance, & War 
Runtime: 80 minutes 
Viewed: July 17, 2015 

Review: So, obviously if you are following my journey you will notice that I took a bit of a hiatus. It wasn't intentional, but life got busy and I hate sileny films. The combination of those two scenarios makes for the perfect storm. I actually watched this movie back in August of 2014, but failed to 1) pay attention and 2) blog about it, so I rewatched. I enjoy Buster Keaton, he is a funny guy. However, it doesn't change my opinion that I really wish there was audible speaking parts. I know, I know, film wouldn't be where it is today had we not gone through this phase of cinema, but I am grateful we are where we are instead of stuck in silent films. 

Now, the movie itself, it definitely is a comedy. The book stated that it, "may be counted among the finest (and funniest) in cinema's entire comic output." I am not sure I would necessarily agree, while I did chuckle a few times, it didn't have me rolling on the floor. It is very much what I was raised to understand "slap-stick" comedy, reminds me a lot of The Three Stooges. Buster Keaton is of course his silly self, just as we have come to love him previously. He has two loves, a woman and a train. I think my favorite parts of the movie were when he is being pushed by the train trying to get a piece of wood out of the way of the track, when he is sliding down the mountain to try to get back to his girl and train, and lastly, my favorite of all was when he has his uniform on and is standing so proud and goofy looking. I imagine that if it were today he would have said something about how swag he looks. 

This is definitely a family safe movie, if your kids can sit through a silent film. There is enough I think to keep probably 4 and up entertained. I should let my nephew (if you remember him from one of the other reviews) watch it and see what he thinks. 

As a side note and I'm honestly surprised I didn't see this earlier, how much do Buster Keaton and Jimmy Fallon look alike? 

Rating: 
2.5 Shamrocks 

Movie 32 down... 969 to go! 

Sunrise

Title: Sunrise 
Year: 1927
Country: USA
Director: F.W. Murnau
Producer: William Fox
Genre: Drama & Romance 
Oscars: William Fox (unique and artistic picture); Janet Gaynor (actress); Charles Rosher & Karl Strauss (photography)
Oscar Nominations: Rochus Gliese (art direction)
Runtime: 110 minutes 
Viewed: June 24, 2013

Review: If you've been following my journey for awhile then you probably noticed two new categories listed above! Well, that's because this is the first year they had the Academy Awards. The book noted that most believe that the first Best Picture was Wings, well that is accurate except for the fact that the academy actually honored two films, Sunrise of course being the second. 

I really wanted to like this movie, especially since it was recognized by the Academy, but I didn't. I actually remember the most about this movie out of all of the silent ones thus far because it made me so angry! I always read what 1001 says before I watch the movie and based on the description I did not think it would be bad. However, I was very wrong. The plot itself is so simple but the execution enraged me. 

The concept is that this mysterious woman comes to town and the married man falls for her and she convinces him to kill his wife so they can be together. So let me tell you how I saw this movie. A man falls for a new woman after his wife fairly recently had a baby, she tells him to kill the wife, he tries to follow through, fails to do so, tries to make up to his wife for trying to kill her, almost loses her in the storm, tries to kill the mistress, and then everything ends well because the wife is alive. 

GAG! Seriously, I'm sorry but this sounds like the pattern of a domestic violence perpetrator and that is not a film I want to watch. Oh I'm sorry I tried to kill my wife, let's experience the honeymoon period again and make everything better. I was kind of hoping the wife died so that he would have to suffer for what he had tried to do her, but of course not. This is not a movie I like. I wouldn't want to watch it again and I definitely wouldn't make someone else sit through it. Strong feelings about cheating and abuse are never going to be pushed aside. I guess you could say getting my degree in Sociology ruined this film for me, but I'm okay with that. 

Rating: 
2 Shamrocks (The only reason it's getting 2 is because visually it is appealing but if it was based solely on the story and my level of enjoyment of the film, it'd be a 1) 

Movie 31 down... 970 to go!