Ending January

The Adventures of Robin Hood has become one of my daughters' favorite films.  From start to finish, the film promises adventure and delightfully delivers it in every sequence.  Absolutely essential viewing!

The Big Lebowski is such a rich film, offering inexhaustible treasures to all who will submit to its reordering of the world according to His High Dudeness.  I was prompted to rewatch it at home because I saw part of a TV edit version while at work.  I watched in fascination at the censorship that cleaned up some of the language.  "This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps!" is one of the funniest dubs I've ever heard.

Halloween 2 is a disappointment, if only because I had my expectations raised a bit.  The way that family and dreams/visions are presented is slightly interesting, but the film is nothing more than another slasher genre picture, giving fans all of the obvious/expected kills they crave.  I confess that I'm not the target audience.  I don't like slasher films and see little worth in them.  I haven't seen any other Halloween film, either originals or remake.  This is also the first Zombie film I've ever submitted myself to.  If this is Zombie at his best, I feel fine continuing to ignore all of his previous output.

Inglourious Basterds is just as good at home on DVD.  I've spent the money now to rent it.  I'm waffling on whether or not to buy a copy.  Maybe when Hollywood Video starts selling copies for $5 a year from now.  

The entire short film Nation's Pride, included on the disc, is worth watching.  It's a lot funnier than I thought it would be.

The 7th Voyage of Sinbad is a movie that I loved when I was younger.  Now, my daughters have seen it and have become exposed to the genius of Harryhausen.  The look of awe and wonder on Annie's face at the beginning of the film when the cyclops first appears was enough to make a father proud. Millie is fast becoming a more sophisticated viewer.  I especially love when she'll point at a frame and let me know that she loves the composition of the shot (though she doesn't use those words).  She'll also often comment on when she thinks the music is especially appropriate.   Susie is way too impressed by all of the gushy romance, but I don't mind too much if she builds up expectations for impossibly chivalrous gentleman.  Little Pip still just squawks through movies.