Category: Movies

This time around I am trying to close some gaps in my movie watching that go back to 1960s. Particularly, comedy of those times. I rented a couple of movies with and by Jerry Lewis. Since it is already late at night, I just watched “The Patsy“.

In the whole film I found about 3 funny episodes. Neither one of them involved Jerry Lewis though. Don’t take me wrong – he is a comedian and he is good at what he does. It’s just that I don’t like that kind of comedy. Somehow I feel his relation to Charles Chaplin. Olga on the other hand said that he must be an inspiration for young Jim Carrey and Steve Martin. I like something along the Buster Keaton lines.

I’ll rate the film as 3 out of 10, but don’t take my word too seriously on this one. Not my type of comedy. Period.

P.S.: Just to give a fair chance to Jerry Lewis I am going to watch the second movie that I rented anyway. I’ll let you know what I think.

Finishing my Star Wars education, I watched the last missing bit – “Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi“. This part was done in 1983. It was closer and easier to watch than the previous two that I have mentioned recently.

This film is better paced for my taste, with a good mix of action, comedy, and romance. It also opened my eyes at origins of few ideas that I have seen elsewhere. For example, “Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000” just became an even worse movie than it was.

It is interesting to see the progress of ideas, technology, acting and cinematography through the Star Wars series. If I wasn’t so tired from them as I am now, I would really want to watch the two most recent episodes that I have seen in the cinema. Purhaps, I will do so in the future.

I’ll rate this one as 9 out of 10. Outstanding work in all departments.

Watched “The Big Bounce” on DVD.

It is a very light movie with bits of crime, comedy, and romance. The events pictured take place in Hawaii and thus avoid anything remotely serious in nature. There are no car chaces, impressive fights, or lots of swearing. Even the “The Big Bounce” title is a bit off, with the target of the main crime being about $200,000USD, which is close to nothing in the movies nowadays.

Good cast, good acting, good photography, light soundtrack and a simple story with some plot holes – is all there is to this film. It does provide a good entertainment though for those who seek it while resting from holiday celebrations.

6 out of 10.

I continued with the Star Wars saga and watched “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back” on DVD today.

This one seemed to have much more action than Episode IV. It was all busy with happenings, characters, and location changes. It was still difficult to watch being in 21st century and having to set back the measurements 20+ years back.

Still recommended for all the sci-fi and space wars fanatics. 9 out of 10.

Is there a better way to spend the last couple of days of the year rather than doing things that you wanted to do for a long time now? Certainly not. That’s why I rented the three Star Wars episodes that came out long time ago. I was going to fill in these blanks in my movie watching education for some time, but never managed. Today I started with “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope“.

Of course it is not as easy going and exciting to watch as many nowadays movies, but it was still shocking and impressing. With some scenes I couldn’t believe my eyes. Not many people dare to repeat things today that George Lucas did back in 1977. Excellent special effects, costumes, ideas, and technological innovations.

The movie is worth every second of the time. Digital remastering of the DVD did it some good too. I cannot imagine what would have happened to me if I watched this in the cinema back than… when it was still 1 year before I was born! :)

9 out of 10. Watch it if you haven’t done so yet.