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richpowers
Reviews
The African Lion (1955)
A must for all nature documentary fans
Really a superb nature documentary, a captivating watch. I can't think of a better film on the wild kingdom. Why isn't this available on video? This is not specifically a film about lions as it's title implies, this is a film about the African wild, untouched, with fascinating looks at the life and times a full variety of species including elephants, rhino's, giraffes, antelope, monkeys, leopards, and more..
Near the beginning, the narrator says; "This is Africa, The Lions Realm.." which would have been a more appropriate title. The film covers a lot of different species, and it does so in a way that enables the viewer to both absorb specific insights into the daily existence of individual creatures, while at the same time experience the essence of the wild as a whole.
Now admittedly, I love nature and wildlife type shows; and my opinion is that this production made over 50 years ago, is amongst kings of nature films.
George (1972)
See dog... See dog run... See dog lost... See dog rescue....,
George is this big beautiful Saint Bernard, and that's about it. An alright movie, but it could have stood a little more warmth.. It just seemed to go through the motions without ever tugging any heart strings. I found the first half kind of lame, almost boring, with exception to a few mischievous moments George got himself into.. there really didn't seem to be much of a story happening.
The second half of the movie gets more interesting and more of a visual pleasure to watch, while George is out wandering the snowy Alps, Jim the pilot in the air in his small plane searching to rescue lost George, while Jim's hot girlfriend and friend are listening in at the air tower with apparent concern. A bad storm is getting ready to hit... later, after Jim spots George and lands, a tremendous avalanche buries the plane and traps them.. uh-oh, what ever will they do? - Of course, now it's Georges turn to do the rescuing. Search parties are dispatched. Jim's leg is broke, it's up to George to do something but George doesn't want to leave Jim alone, but eventual he does and sets out in the deep snow for help,,,
It's just an OK film. A nice afternoon flick, that's suitable for all ages.
The Blue Hotel (1977)
Will his own parinoia direct his fate?
Stranger gets off train in a sem-deserted little town in the days of the old west carrying with him his fear and suspicions of his fellow man. Will his own parinoia direct his fate? I liked this one, great acting, and an interesting story. The Swede (David Warner appears timid and frightful, but later he gets a few drinks in him and transforms into your common baroom type nuisance. In many ways the story was gripping. No great final climaxes, but I found it to be enjoyable and it sticks with you after the movie is over
Nightmare in the Sun (1965)
Weird but Watchable
An odd kind of film, but entertaining, a few brutal scenes to it but relatively a tame movie by today's standards. This film was not some all time great by any means, but it did hold my interest. - Oh, but to start with, contrary to the summery of this film, the hitchhiker and the woman never actually have a sexual affair.. it was really no more than a brief chance encounter.
Here is a more accurate overview of the movie.. An older man with a young sexy wife, who, in a fit of misguided jealousy, comes home and kills her with a shotgun - one blast to her, then about 4 shots to her teddy bear.. weird. The crooked cop enters the scene and bullies the killer husband into a deal.. they are going to pin the wrap on the hitchhiker who is passing through town. So now the hitchhiker is on the run for a crime he did not commit. - Sounds familiar don't it?..
It's interesting that Sammy Davis Jr. had a short part as a truck driver in this film. Robert Duval plays a more substantial role as one of a pair of trouble makers on a motorcycles (and there are definite undertones that he and his sidekick are.. well.. sweet) Anyway.. everyone is trying to capture the hitchhiker and rake in a reward.. So what happens next?.. hey, I ain't going to tell you the whole damn story!