Another Movie.............Sorry

This is still a book blog, it's just a book blog on vacation.

I watched this movie last week. It's probably the sixth or seventh time I've seen it and I love it every time. It is based on the Japanese movie The Seven Samurai, which I have never seen and probably will never see. Subtitles just kill a movie for me. But it would have to be good if it's anything like The Magnificent Seven. Here's the basic plot: Little Mexican village is being terrorized by a bandit and his gang who take all their food and keep them scared and in poverty. The men of this village decide they need to do something about it. They cross the border to buy guns but after seeing Yul Brynner's character, Chris, win a showdown against several men, they change their mind and with Chris' help advertise for gunmen to help them free their village. So this group of heartless, care-for-no-one gunmen help save the village. But of course they do end up caring and that's the point.

The casting was great!!! Each actor is perfect for their part, even though at the time some of them didn't think so. Love Brynner, of course, but Steve McQueen is great playing second fiddle with a pink shirt. : ) Every character is interesting, with their own storyline and "moment". One of the funny things about the casting in this movie is the choice of actor for the character Chico. The character is suppose to be Mexican but is played by a young German actor. : ) Yeah.....funny. But it works well.



The dialogue is great! Very brief, no long speeches or scenes just a lot of action and great one liners. I don't usually like western but I love this movie. Great music, great casting, great plot, great dialogue and filmed on location in Mexico. Highly recommended.
One of my favorite parts is Chico playing at bullfighting with a cow that doesn't want to fight. : )

A Switch

Since it seems like the book review thing is not progressing I thought I'd post some movie reviews. They are both based on books that I have read so it kind of counts as a book review...... sort of. Just got finished watching the Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley. Even though both of the main actors can not act and Keira Knightley never for a moment lets you forget that she is Keira Knightley, I find myself liking this movie a lot. Of course you can't for a second think "Colin Firth" or the whole thing comes tumbling down, but the filming is beautiful. Love the directing, the filming, the camera angles, the music, occasionally even the characters. Keira Knightley does exert her self once or twice such as the scene where she is begging her father not to let Lydia go to Brighton, which I find a little amusing seeing as the actresses moral standing doesn't exactly fit with the scene, the acting must have been very good to come across so concerned. Love the camera shots during the dance. There is one really long take going through the whole house with no breaks. It's like your there walking around with everyone else. And I love the shot where she is on the swing after Charlotte tells her is going to marry the cousin. And I love the second proposal scene, sorry can't help it.

" You have bewitched me, body and soul."

What's up with the Narnia movies ending on such downers??? Loved the first movie and thought everything in it was perfect. Loved Prince Caspian also until I watched it with a certain very serious someone who currently lives on the other side of the world in quest of martyrdom who pointed out all the flaws and American Hollywood insertions. Thanks a lot, certain someone, now I can't watch it without cringing!!! : ) Watched Voyage of the Dawn Treader this weekend (as a side note: What's so cool about 3D? It amazingly fuzzy and gives me a headache.) Was prepared for it to be a total flop after hearing all about it from Tobi, our resident movie and music critic, but it wasn't that bad. Of course it was not nearly as good as the book, and they sort of made up their own plot and forgot all about Lewis', but because of my low expectations it was very enjoyable. One thing bugged me. The sea serpent looked like something out of Pirate's not Narnian in the least. And would some one please tell me what the lighting was all about??? This is what happens when you let the special effects people have too much say. Edmund, Lucy, Caspian and Reepicheep were true to character and wonderful, and the ship was beautiful, and they did a very good job on the dragon. I've cried at every ending of these movies and this one was the worst knowing that they are probably not going to make another. When I read the books as a kid Narnia was real to me, so real that the thought of having to come back to the this world after being there was shattering. When Lucy closes that door I feel exactly the same way.