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dwezel
Reviews
The African Queen (1951)
This is the best of Bogart.
"The African Queen" belongs to that elite category of movies: CLASSICS. Released in 1951, the film stars Humphrey Bogart (who won the Academy Award for Best Actor) and Katharine Hepburn, and was directed by John Huston. It was shot on location in Africa under very difficult conditions for the cast and crew. In spite of that, Bogart gave the performance of a lifetime. Perhaps it wouldn't be fair to list the stars without including the African Queen herself, a run down old steamer that was held together with spit and chewing gum. Huston's direction was impeccable, capturing the beauty of the African jungle, the terrors of World War I, and the challenges of being a Missionary to the African natives. Without giving away too much (there are so many twists and turns which you must discover for yourself), it is safe to say that this is a love story in the truly classical sense. It's the story of a relationship between two people that starts out of necessity and just grows and grows. It is also an "upper" in that by the end of the move, you have this warm and fuzzy feeling. Call me old fashioned, but I like movies that make me feel good. If you like stories that leave you feeling mad or frustrated, try watching the News. The bottom line is that whether you have just a few movies or a houseful, you MUST have "The African Queen".
The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
A must see for Vincent Price fans.
Although categorized as a horror movie, it is, in reality, a dark comedy. The cast is outstanding, featuring Vincent Price as the title character, Terry-Thomas and Joseph Cotton as two doctors, and Virginia North as Phibes' mysterious silent assistant. The accent of the film is definitely on funny lines and expressions. Although not his best movie it's a must have for Vincent Price collectors.
The Andromeda Strain (1971)
This is one of my favorite movies.
First of all, I must confess that I am a Si-Fi nut. I've seen lots of Si-Fi movies and The Andromeda Strain is definately in my top five. The plot is very interesting in that it deals with a microscopic organism from outer space that is brought back to Earth by a satellite. The cast is outstanding, especially Arthur Hill who plays the leader of the research team. One of the great things about the movie is that it moves right along. So many movies seem to lag, especially at the beginning as the characters are being introduced. However, in this movie, even the beginning is exciting. I've watched this movie over and over, and never seem to get tired of it. It's just plain fun.
The Abyss (1989)
The Director's Cut of "The Abyss" is fantastic.
Using some of the most convincing underwater special effects I've ever seen, the directors cut (with 28 mins. of new footage) tells a heart stopping and heart breaking story of love, heroism, loyalty and obsessions under the deep blue sea. The originally available edition was very good but the director's cut is FANTASTIC, fleshing out both the story and motivations of the characters.