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bradmagic
Reviews
Caccia alla volpe (1966)
Surprising Sellers
When I found this film I had never heard of it. In glancing at its box I saw "Peter Sellers" and "Vittorio De Sica." Just those two names prompted me to take it home.
I was quite happy with what this film is.
The story is solid, and is what keeps this film running. Sellers does a good job, but I still enjoy his Pink Panther role, as well as his roles in Dr. Sstrangelove. Nevertheless, he does well as an Italian crook and "flamboyant" film director.
The comedy isn't too slapstick, it is smart. There are sight gags, there are setups and punchlines, there are one-liners, not to mention spoofed-themes, and pokes at other Italian film directors/producers.
I didn't exactly know what I would get with a De Sica comedy. He did a fine job, though. "Federico Fabrizi" sometimes looks and seems to be just like Federico Fellini. There are some moments where Fellini's 8 1/2 comes to mind.
A critic said that he didn't understand the ending. At first, I didn't. Think, though! Think! This is De Sica!
Take a look at this film, it's a good one.
Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)
Goldmember is fine, not bad, not beautiful.
In the various reviews I've read about Goldmember I see pure fans gulping down the small idiosyncrasies and other foibles in the story.
This movie is good.
Indeed it isn't as creative, or "new" as the first two films; however, it has the creative and trademarked comedy that can only be found in a film by Mike Myers.
Some scatological, some intellectual, other things just Monty Python...the comedy in this film appears to be duplicates of "good" stuff from the first two.
The good stuff: The story flows well. It moves at a pace that keeps one awake and interested. There are a number of jokes that were so humorous I stopped breathing. The characters, and the actors behind them, all did very well.
The Not-So-Good stuff: Again, sometimes the jokes are just repeats. But, there's nothing wrong with them. I LOVE AUSTIN POWER JOKES, seeing repeats of the same jokes is great. There could have been some more "new" things, but the reuse of older ideas didn't bother me.
That's all the bad things I have to say!
In general, this is a very good movie. I sat in a nicely sized audience, and have never heard people laugh so hard. Why do some of these other reviewers have to be so harsh to the film?
This movie is good.
Disneyland: Young Harry Houdini (1987)
A magical tv film
I have had a chance of watching this film very recently. I was very happy to view it.
The film has good acting. A young Will Wheaton appears as the young Harry Houdini. Mr. Wheaton's acting skills are new, and not yet experienced. The rest of the cast make the film wonderful.
Using locations on the old Disney backlot, and at Golden Oak Ranch, we are transported to the late 19th Century. We view the struggle that Houdini had with his father. His father did not want him to be a magician.
I didn't like the ending! It's just not right. There could have been another way to end it.
Otherwise, a good film.