Reviews

This film is a magnificent achievement.

A.L.B. and Joel Schumacher have managed to put together a sparkling feast for the eyes, ears and senses.

I have seen it four times and it has not ceased to thrill me each time. I laughed, I cried, the music filled my soul and gave me chills again and again! I can't get enough! It's beautiful,haunting, and heartrending at times. The songs play in your head constantly. The story and characters haunt you through the day and into the night.

Emmy Rossum's Christine is gorgeous. I prefer her voice much more than Sarah Brightman's. Her performance was stunning. Her compassion and range of emotions are portrayed to perfection.

Gerard Butler as the Phantom is without equal. He wrung out every emotional note of the Phantom's torment and longing. His performance is hauntingly beautiful and heartwrenching.

Admittedly, I did have to make a mental transition from the previous Phantoms' singing voice qualities to Gerard Butler's singing. However, it does not take long to appreciate how Mr Butler's emotionally intense performance carry over wonderfully into his singing of the Phantom's songs.

Patrick Wilson almost seemed in danger of being eclipsed, I felt, by the intense fire of emotions ablaze between Christine and the Phantom, but he definitely held his ground, and his singing voice is fabulous.

Minnie Driver as Carlotta was hilarious! She was great! All the supporting cast were superb as well.

I don't know what is with the critics. They seemed to have had their minds made up to hate this movie before it even opened. Was it some personal vendetta? Were they paid to bash it? I can only say that I feel all the negative press was very unfair, and I feel sorry for people that stayed away from it just because they let the critics decide for them.

I suppose I, like the Phantom don't really fit in this world (the entertainment world, anyway). I come from a generation that went to the movies to enjoy laughter, drama and beauty and, even music (heaven forbid!). These days, it seems that commercially successful entertainment must to pander to more jaded (and grittier) tastes. Since this is what brings in the money, and money is the bottom line for all of this anyway, so be it!

"The Phantom of The Opera" will probably not be a big money maker, which is likely to be the only deplorable criteria it is to be judged by. However, like the Phantom himself, it seems to have been born into a time and a world into which it does not fit and is grossly under-appreciated.

However, I absolutely love it and welcome the music, story and characters into my heart and soul again and again.

As a Judy fan, this movie epitomized and helped me appreciate the full range of Judy's incredible talent. There are many memorable moments, both musical and dramatic. However, there is so much controversy and opinion surrounding this movie, that it would be impossible to cover all bases.

I have always found Judy's performances almost hypnotic. Whether singing, dancing, or acting, she has my eyes & ears riveted on her. "A Star Is Born" would be the best example of this happening to me.

I only want to comment on one section that was cut then recently restored. In my opinion, cutting the "Lose that Long Face" number was wrong, because it provided a much-needed lift during the heavy second half of the film (if they had to cut, I wish it had been to shorten the exceedingly long "Born in a Trunk" sequence, but that's just my preference). Moreover, it was an excellent and ironic contrast to the emotional scene Judy does with the studio boss in her dressing room in between takes. The contrast and irony of the situation are epitomized when she dries her tears, hastily reapplies makeup, and finishes the number all smiles and sparkle.

I know the movie has been picked apart, chopped up and put back together as best as possible (I have only seen a VHS "restored" version - not in widescreen). All in all, I feel Garland & Mason were superb in their performances, as well as the supporting cast. If you love Judy Garland, it's a must-see. It truly is, gloriously Judy.

I read some comments by some "hardened" movie reviewers that referred to this film as 'syrupy' and 'molasses drenched.' I suppose they and the majority of the movie paying public does not appreciate this kind of film.

As for myself, it touched my emotions deeply. It made me laugh, weep and haunted me for days after I saw it. Movies that do this for me are the ones I treasure.

I know there is a sector of the public that appreciate this kind of movie that touches feelings we all have, without assaulting the senses with graphic violence, sex, and disturbing images. Too bad there aren't more of them.

"Secondhand Lions" is the kind of film for those of us who still want to come away feeling good about a movie and feel that the things we value most in life are worth believing in after all.

Thank you, Tim McCanlies for a special, joyous movie experience.

This is a lost gem of a movie from the generation of "E.T.", Indiana Jones, Star Wars, etc...

When a friend showed it to me on VHS in 1984 I loved it for its originality, warmth & humor, as well as being impressed with the first-time computer-generated special effects for this kind of sci-fi film.

When I saw the 'special edition' DVD in Widescreen I snatched it right up and found that I enjoyed it as much as I did 20 years ago! The movie's special effects still looked good to me, especially the "Star Car" (my personal favorite).

But the special effects are not the centerpiece of this film. It has plenty of charm of its own to offer in plot, story, warmth, humor & good performances. Craig Safan's music score for this film is one of my all-time favorites. It almost outsizes this movie but it fits just the same.

"Starfighter" is a real gem from the 80's I will treasure in my movie collection.

No other film produced since can touch it. This masterpiece becomes more of a legend as time goes by. I first saw it in 1972 when I was 14 years old. I wrote a report about it for history class, which consisted of a few impressions the film indelibly made on my then young mind.

The imagery is unforgettable. The more hi-tech movies get today, GWTW becomes all the more revered, considering what it took to put it on film in 1939. There has never been anything like it since then and there never will be again.

I love this movie. Truly. I still return to it and watch my favourite parts. Ms Whalley was superb and I feel she often evoked the spirit of Scarlett many times throughout her performance. So what if she isn't Vivien Leigh? This was Scarlett O'Hara with a heart, something I found lacking in "Gone With the Wind" (the movie), but that is another subject and another commentary.

However, those of us that read the book know that the entire last segment with the dark affairs of Lord Fenton and Mary Boyle, the murder trial, etc were not in the book at all. I found it unnecessarily sordid. I would have preferred a closing segment sticking closer to the story in the book.

Still, on the whole I thought it was an admirable production with good performances, great costumes, sets & photography. After all, "Gone With the Wind" is a legend and an impossibly tough act to follow.

What I would love to see is a mini-series involving the story of Scarlett O'Hara from the very beginning, spanning BOTH books. Hey, I can dream, can't I?

One last word: I always felt the story of Rhett & Scarlett cried out for a happy ending. I'm grateful that Alexandra Ripley and the producers of the mini-series gave us that.

I saw "Hello Dolly" as a teenager in 1970, and enjoyed it then.

Recently I have rediscovered this cinema treasure.

I have great respect for the incredible amount of hard work & money put into it by the performers, particularly the dancers who put over energetic dance numbers like the "Harmonia Gardens" dance sequence, not to mention the expense of the lavish sets and fabulous costumes, including antique jewelry, presumably worn by Barbra Stresand.

I feel that this movie was out of its time. I could almost imagine it as an MGM musical back in the 1940's or first half of 1950's. I believe it would have been a smash then, and not failed at the box-office as it did in 1969. I could almost imagine Judy Garland starring in it and performing those wonderful songs. Streisand worked her magic wonderfully though. She reminds me of Garland in the incredible charisma that keeps you riveted on her singing and performance. Her comic talent and timing are impeccable.

My only criticism of this production is it is way too long. Had some of the dance numbers been abbreviated, trimming the movie to a more palatable 120 minutes or less, it would have done much better, I think.

I think it sad that this movie was not appreciated in its time.

However, it is a treasure to be enjoyed by those of us who can appreciate it now.

I first saw "Airport" when I was 12 years old (guess that gives away my age!) and I was totally mesmerized, having already developed a passion for airliners. My most vivid memories are the landing approach shots from the pilot's eye-view, and Joe Patroni (the George Kennedy character) driving the snow-mired Boeing 707 free with engines screaming at full power. I also remember the snow making an impression on me, because when the movie was over, I felt I would be walking out of the theater into a blizzard, even though it was mid-summer! The bomb blast and subsequent decompression of the aircraft cabin were awesome. I loved the way they built the suspense up, with the bomb-damaged 707 limping in for an emergency landing at an airport where the only runway long enough for it to land safely was blocked by another 707 stuck in the snow! (Patroni: "Think of what this baby costs!" -- Bakersfeld: "I'm thinking of that planeload of people. This runway's the only hope they've got!")

After 30 years, it is fascinating to watch the movie as it has aged. It gives one a glimpse into a different era of travel as well as the era of the late 1960's itself.

As for the acting, Helen Hayes was pure delight as the elderly stowaway, and I will never forget the look of shock, horror, and despair on Maureen Stapleton's face as she learned that her mentally-ill husband (bomb-in-briefcase) was indeed on the plane to Rome that had just departed.

I was sad to see "Airport" recently being marketed in a what I call a "bargain-basement" format at the local Wal-Mart. Fortunately, I own a first-quality videocassette of the movie. I only wish it was available in "letterbox" format so I could see the whole plane instead of just sections of it 'formatted to fit my tv screen.'

"Airport" is among some of my favorite childhood memories. It was one of those things that made an impression on my mind as I was growing up. I believe that movies have that power, and regardless of what critics say, the way movies affect and touch our lives is a very personal, individual experience.