True Grit (2010)

Cinema Sweetheart's Rating: 9 out of 10

Director: Ethan and Joel Coen

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Hailee Steinfeld, Matt Damon

Rated: PG-13

Genre: Western, Adventure, Drama

Runtime: 110 minutes

Original Version: True Grit (1969)

When fourteen year old Mattie Ross's (Steinfeld) father is killed in a drunken rage by gunman Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), she makes it her life's mission to see him hang for his crimes.  However, after the murder, Chaney ran away and joined ranks with a band of outlaws.  To track him down, Mattie enlists the assistance of Marshal Reuben "Rooster" Cogburn (Bridges), the meanest, drunkest, most ornery marshal around, old and fat and one-eyed.  It's only reluctantly that she is able to get him to come with her, and once he does, they are both aided and hindered by Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Damon), who also wants to arrest Chaney, but plans on retrieving him for a bounty in Texas, where he killed a senator; whereas Mattie wants him to know that he killed her father and that is why he is being hanged.

They often say that the remakes aren't as good as the original, and I'm sure that for most die-hard John Wayne fans, the same holds true for True Grit.  However, since I haven't seen the original, I'll be able to give a less biased opinion.

I thought that True Grit was absolutely wonderful!  Even though it was a drama, and said to be darker than the original, I thought that it was hilarious at many points and very touching at others.  Jeff Bridges was wonderful as the rough, drunken marshal.  His Rooster Cogburn was very funny, especially when drunk.  His sassy attitude and smart mouth made him a character that you liked in spite of yourself.

Matt Damon was wonderful as LaBoeuf the Texas Ranger, and Josh Brolin was a very convincing villain.  However, I have to say that it as Hailee Steinfeld who stole the show.  Her portrayal of little Mattie Ross was not only incredibly convincing, but amusing, too.  She's so serious for someone so young, and absolutely adorable at the same time.  One of the best scenes is where she attempts to bargain a sale of some of her late father's horses back to the man who sold them to him in the first place. 

I think the best part though, would have to be the cinematography.  The scenery was beautiful and made you feel like you were right there in the "Wild West" of Arkansas. 

However, there are a few things that you might want to be aware of.  For those of you who have seen the original True Grit, this film is a lot edgier.  Furthermore, there is one scene in particular which I thought was a little too intense for a PG-13 movie.  I won't provide a spoiler about what happens, but I'll give you a heads up that it takes place when Rooster and Mattie are in the cabin.

All in all, this is a film that I truly enjoyed.  If you like Westerns, then this is a must. Personally, I'm not a fan of Westerns for the most part, but I loved this movie.  Also, to give you the opinion of my dad (a huge John Wayne fan), this was very good for a remake, and better than he expected it to be.  Rating: 8.5

By the Sun's Rays (1914)

Cinema Sweetheart's Rating: 5 out of 10

Director: Tod Browning

Starring: M.J. Macquarrie, Lon Chaney, Seymour Hastings

Rated: Not Rated

Genre: Silent, Drama, Western

Runtime: 11 minutes

By the Sun's Rays is one of silent film star Lon Chaney's earliest films (possibly his earliest surviving), during an era where he was mostly scripted as a villain.  In this short film, even though Chaney is listed second to Macquarrie, its obvious who's the real star.  With his mastery of pantomime and facial expressions, Chaney creates a captivating villain.

Frank Lawler (Chaney) is a corrupt clerk who uses his position to alert a posse of outlaws when shipments of gold are coming through the area using a small mirror to reflect the sunlight and act as a beacon.  Detective John Murdock is called in to investigate the situation, and once Lawler is found out, pretty young Dora Davis (Agnes Vernon), the object of Lawler's affections plays bait to stall for time.

Since this film is so short, instead of posting a trailer, I'm simply going to post the entire film.  It's only eleven minutes, and despite its mediocre rating is still worth seeing.  Mostly, I gave it a lower rating because there's not enough time to build up a great plot, and I couldn't help but wish that Chaney's role had been more substantial.  A nice tidbit, though, for Chaney fans, and enjoyable overall.

Juno (2007)

Cinema Sweetheart's Rating: 10 out of 10

Director: Jason Reitman

Starring: Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner

Rated: PG-13

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Runtime: 96 minutes

There are some movies that are just wonderful every time you see them, and for me, Juno totally makes that list!  When 16 year old Juno MacGuff (Page) learns that her best friend Paulie Bleeker (Cera) got her pregnant, the only option seems to be getting an abortion.  Unable to go through with it, however, she puts the child up for adoption.  Sounds simple enough, right?  Not quite!  Filled with witty dialogue and an amazing cast, this film takes a simple enough plot and blows it out of the water.  Juno is a movie that simply just has to be seen.

Ellen Page is hilarious as the smart-mouthed Juno MacGuff, and Michael Cera is adorable as her clueless best friend.  However, there are several wonderful actors who don't get the recognition they deserve.  Rainn Wilson is hilarious as the weird and snarky convenient store clerk, and J.K. Simmons is one of my favorite characters as Juno's father Mac.

Prepare for a fun-filled hour-and-a-half of hamburger phones, orange tic-tacs, and classic lines like, "That ain't no Etch-A-Sketch. This is one doodle that can't be un-did, Homeskillet."  Besides that, the soundtrack is amazing!

I totally love this movie, and strongly recommend it.  A must see; put this at the top of your list!

The Tooth Fairy (2010)

Cinema Sweetheart's Rating: 9 out of 10
Director: Michael Lembeck
Starring: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Ashley Judd, Stephen Merchant
Rated: PG
Genre: Comedy, Family
Runtime: 101 minutes

When Derek Thompson (Johnson), a hardened hockey player (stuck in the minor leagues after a shoulder injury) tells his girlfriend’s little daughter that there is no such thing as the Tooth Fairy, he receives a shocking surprise: as punishment for his thoughtlessness, the council in the Fairy World has decreed that he take on the role of Tooth Fairy for one week.  Any attempts to skirt his duties will only end with more time being tacked onto his sentence.  So, dressed in powder-blue satin pajamas and big, fuzzy, fairy wings, Derek has to serve out his sentence AND hide his new “condition” from his girlfriend and teammates.  He is accompanied by Tracey (Merchant), his fairy advisor who keeps track of his progress. 

This is an adorable movie, and a great film for the entire family.  Dwayne Johnson continues to amaze me every time he comes out with another silly children’s movie.  I have a lot of respect for a former pro-wrestler who is totally cool with playing silly, possibly emasculating roles for the sake of a comedic children’s film.  Also, Stephen Merchant is a delight.  This is the first time I’ve seen a film with him in it, and with his considerable height, stick figure build, and large eyes, he’s quite a comedic presence.

For children, this movie provides inspirational lessons, including the importance of following your dreams and never giving up.  In addition, it reminds them that anything is possible and that dreams do come true.  The feel-good nature of this film will be felt by the whole family.

Hello Dolly (1969)

Cinema Sweetheart's Rating: 8 out of 10

Director: Gene Kelly

Starring: Barbara Streisand, Walter Matthau, Michael Crawford

Rated: G

Genre: Musical, Comedy, Romance

Runtime: 146 minutes

Hello Dolly is the story of Ms. Dolly Levi, a widow and matchmaker who has decided that she's going to marry her rich client Horace Vandergelder.  Several plots all overlap with each other when Dolly is supposed to take Horace's niece Ermengarde to New York to keep her away from her poor artist boyfriend who wants to marry her against her uncle's wishes.  The plot soon expands to accommodate several subplots as Dolly tries to match up the cast's multiple couples.

This is a wonderful, feel-good sort of musical, with upbeat songs and lots of fun plot twists.  Besides that, you have a wonderful cast, including Michael Crawford, who was the original Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and in London.  Of course, his character, the bumbling clerk Cornelius Hackl is very different from the dark and brooding Phantom, showing the wide range of Crawford’s acting skills.  Walter Mattau is delightfully stubborn as Horace Vandergelder, and of course, Barbara Streisand is a charming, beautiful, and clever Dolly Levi.

All in all, I would recommend this film very highly.  The music is lots of fun and the choreography is BRILLIANT!  However, it is very long, and there did come a point where I was dying to get up and walk around a bit, even though I was enjoying the movie.  Also, I did find the characters of Irene Molloy and Minnie Fay to be a bit annoying; but of course, not enough to make me want to stop watching.  And of course, I’m sure that I’m in the minority on this; Irene/Cornelius and Minnie/Barnaby are often considered the cutest couples in the film.  Speaking of couples, I also found the pairing of Joyce Ames and Tommy Tune as Horace’s niece and her boyfriend, to be a comical choice, since at 6’6 ½”, Tommy towers over tiny little Joyce.

A Few New Developments

Hello, Movie Buffs :)

I just wanted to update you all on a few things that I've added to the blog.  First of all, you might have already seen the new addition to "Pages," namely, "Movie Archives".  This basically lists all the movies I've published reviews for on the blog.  They're all listed by year, and I include links to their individual pages when you click on them.  I'd like to have pages that list movies by director and genre, but for the time being, this is just going to be easier.

Second, I've added another section that lists the movies I'm going to be reviewing soon (namely, I've seen them, but just haven't had the time to sit down and review them.)  This section is listed as "Coming Soon".

I have a few questions now to ask you.  Is there anything I can do to make this blog better? Do you prefer if I just list movies and review?  Would you like trivia posts or actor profiles with a list of some of their movies?  How about comparisons of different versions of the same films?   Do you like the format I currently use?  Please let me know. You can let me know via the comments feed or send me an email at cinema.sweetheart@gmail.com. Thanks for your time.  I know there are only six subscribers currently, but your opinions matter to me.  Have a wonderful day, and enjoy the movies :)

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1999)

Cinema Sweetheart's Rating: 10 out of 10

Director: David Mallet

Starring: Donny Osmond, Maria Friedman, and Richard Attenborough, Joan Collins

Rated:Not rated

Genre: Musical, Religious, Family

Runtime:78 minutes

This is one of my favorite movies.  I've loved Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat since I was in THE FOURTH GRADE, and even now, this is a movie I treasure.  It's cute, quirky, and fun, with music that makes you want to get up and dance!  I can't even remember how many times I've seen this film.....but at least 20, to give a conservative estimate.

This is based off of Andrew Lloyd Webber's first musical: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, written in collaboration with Tim Rice. It retells the Biblical story of Joseph (Osmand), son of Jacob (Attenborough), and his eleven jealous brothers.  Joseph is his father's favorite, and when Jacob buys him a brilliant coat of many colors so that everyone will know how much his father cares about him, his brothers decide they've had enough of being second best, and decide to get rid of him.  While a slave in Egypt, Joseph gets falsely accused, thrown in prison, and eventually rises though the ranks to become second in command to the Pharaoh, who needs him to interpret his dreams.

This is a movie that the whole family can enjoy; not just the adults or just the kids.  Most of the entries on this blog will be geared toward teens and adults since those are the kinds of movies I choose to watch, however, this is one of the few films that is for everyone.  Full of fun songs such as "Go, Go, Go Joseph," "Benjamin Calypso," and "Any Dream Will Do".

Yes, this production is a bit cheesy, but that's a part of the charm.  Just trust me on this.  So, get some popcorn, a friend, or the whole family, and enjoy this wonderful, energetic film!

Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)

Cinema Sweetheart's Rating: 3 out of 10

Director: Norman Jewison

Starring: Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, Yvonne Elliman

Rated:G

Genre: Musical, Religious, Historical

Runtime:108 minutes

Other Versions:Jesus Christ Superstar (2000)

Because I had just watched the 2000 version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's classic "rock opera," I thought it was time to review this one as well.  Jesus Christ Superstar is a musical sensation that details the last few days of Christ's (Neeley) life through the eyes of Judas Iscariot (Anderson).

I had quite a few issues with this version of the film.  Although I love the music, and enjoyed the "Millennium" edition quite a bit, this movie was greatly lacking.  It takes place in the deserts of Palestine, where a group of actors drive up in a bus and proceed to act out the story of Christ's passion.  There were minimal set pieces, but lots and lots of expansive sand, which was very boring after a while.

My biggest issues were with the acting.  Not to be mean, but Ted Neeley cannot sing.  At least, not well enough to play the role of Jesus.  Also, I felt as though his performance was greatly lacking in emotion; he was very flat.  Carl Anderson's Judas was better, but even his singing was not the best.  Joshua Mostel, who played King Herod, some sort of creepy bi-sexual beach bum with a mixed harem of guys and girls covered in paint and body glitter.  In my opinion, the only actors who sang well were Bob Bingham as Caiaphas, Yvonne Elliman as Mary Magdalene, and Barry Dennen as Pontias Pilate.

While the 2000 version of Jesus Christ Superstar focused on Judas as the main character, this movie pushed him into the background, making it hard to understand what his motivation was for his betrayal.  Jerome Pradon's Judas was distressed, overwrought, and easy to sympathise with.  You could understand his motives, whether you agreed with him or not.  Anderson's performance left me scratching my head, wondering what his justification was, seeing as I didn't understand it myself.  Whereas Pradon seemed to be doing everything for the greater good when Jesus wouldn't listen to him, Anderson just seemed to be smoldering in his own jealousy of what Jesus had.

All in all, I found this whole film to be a huge disappointment. If you're interested in this rock opera, I would suggest staying away from this production and watch the 2000 version instead.  It's so much better!

Jesus Christ Superstar (2000)

Cinema Sweetheart's Rating: 5 out of 10

Director: Gale Edwards, Nick Morris

Starring: Glenn Carter, Jerome Pradon, Renee Castle

Rated: Not Rated

Genre: Musical, Religious

Run Time:107 minutes

Other Versions: Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)

Based off of Andrew Lloyd Webber's famous "rock opera" of the same name, Jesus Christ Superstar is an epic musical production.  The story details the last week of Jesus' (Carter) life through the eyes of Judas Iscariot (Pradon), his best friend and right-hand man, who will later betray him.  Although a delight to watch, this movie is filled with Biblical inaccuracies, portraying Jesus as a self-centered, ignorant young man who has allowed his new-found popularity to go to his head, while Judas is the level-headed apostle who tries to keep him on the right path.  The setting is more modern than its 1973 counterpart, with revolutionaries and gangs instead of hippies.

I enjoyed this movie, however, there were quite a few things that bothered me.  First of all, I don't agree with how Jesus was portrayed as naive, oblivious, and a conceited drama queen.  Plus, I was not a fan of how they overly sexualized his  relationship with Mary Magdalene.  Also, Carter has a wonderful voice, but he launched into falsetto tones far too many times, and at parts that didn't need falsetto.  The chief priests, especially Annas (Michael Shaeffer), besides looking like a cross between The Matrix and the Spanish Inquisition, were absolutely demonic (but wonderful), making it nearly impossible to understand why Judas would go to them to betray his friend.
 

Speaking of Judas, I have to say that next to Ben Vereen, Jerome Pradon is my favorite Judas.  His performance is powerful, moving, and emotional, making the viewer really sympathise with him.  I loved his role, and honestly, Pradon made the movie for me.

All in all, an okay movie.  Not the best I have seen, but enjoyable, and reminiscent of Donny Osmand's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.  Although, I have to say that I preferred Godspell to Jesus Christ Superstar.  However, if you enjoy the works of Andrew Lloyd Webber, I would say that this film is worth it.  If musicals really aren't your thing, then I'd suggest looking for a different movie.

Inception (2010)

Cinema Sweetheart's Rating: 7 out of 10

Director: Christopher Nolan

Starring:Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levit, Ellen Page

Rated: PG-13

Genre:Action, Crime, Thriller, Sci-Fi

Run Time:148 minutes

Dom Cobb (DiCaprio) can go into your dreams.  As a highly skilled thief, Cobb and his team enter the dreams of others as well as bringing them into their own dreams to extract information from them.  However, this line of work is slowly tearing his life apart.  Kept away from his family, and harboring a dark secret, he grasps the only redemption he has left: perform the most intense dream invasion possible: 5th level inception.  This involves going into a dream within a dream and planting an idea in the subconsciousness of a person, in the hopes that they will accept it as their own upon waking.  However, as he dives deeper and deeper into the dream layers, will Cobb be able to come back out?  Or will he be consumed by the darkness hidden away in his deepest subconsciousness?

Before I say anything more, I'd just like to admit that action films are really not my thing.  I just don't really like them.  However, Inception was amazing.  I saw it with a group of friends, and was blown away by the amazing plot, acting, and special effects that the film contained.  DiCaprio and Page were both amazing, but DiCaprio really stole the show. The intensity of his performance was thrilling.

Although the plot of this movie sounds a bit complex, its really easy to pick up on.  This is totally a group film, and I highly recommend checking it out.  You won't be disappointed.  There is something for everyone, with lots of action and suspense, drama, romance, and redemption.  And as I've said before, the special effects are to die for!

Germinal (1993)

Cinema Sweetheart's Rating: 6 out of 10
Director: Claude Berri

Starring: Renaud, Judith Henry, Gérard Depardieu, Miou-Miou
Rated:R

Genre: Drama, Romance, Foreign (French)

Run Time: 160 Minutes

Language: French with English subtitles

Germinal is a story of struggle, pain, romance, and desperation.  Its incredibly heavy to watch, but well worth  the time.  Its a good movie for a slow, rainy day when you're really not interested in going out or doing anything, because it can make you a little depressed to watch it.  Still, it is a powerful story based off the novel by Emile Zola.

Germinal takes place in France in the 1800s.  Étienne Lantier (Renaud) comes to a small mining community in search of work.  He is taken under the wing of the large, personable miner Toussaint Maheu (Depardieu) and is brought to live with him and his family.  Étienne soon falls in love with Maheu's daughter Catherine (Henry) and she falls in love with him.

Soon, however, troubles flare on the horizon as the mine owner continues to lower the pay of his workers, eventually forcing them to strike.  Étienne and Maheu lead the rebellion, but when things become too difficult, Catherine runs off to live with her lover, the slimy drunk Chaval, who works for a neighboring mine.

Germinal shows us all a glimpse into the heart of the human spirit.  When the pressure becomes too great, when families are starving because their wages are not enough to feed them all, when the very place that gives you money to keep you alive is also killing you, what do you do?  It's a powerful movie, incredibly sad, but incredibly beautiful and intense.  If you enjoy foreign dramas this is the film for you.

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Cinema Sweetheart's Rating: 10 out of 10

Director: Jonathan Demme

Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster, Scott Glen

Rated: R

Genre: Thriller, Drama, Crime

Run Time:118 minutes

Prequel: Manhunter (1986), Red Dragon (2002), Hannibal Rising (2007)

Sequel: Hannibal (2001)

The Silence of the Lambs has been sitting somewhere at the bottom of my movie list for a very long time.  I'm usually not the best with horror films, so this was one that I staunchly decided that I would never actually watch, seeing as I had no one to watch it with (ah, excuses, excuses!)  And, up until this point, I didn't even really know what the movie was about!  All I had to go off of was the iconic image of Anthony Hopkins in a straight jacket and bite mask, but since I was unfamiliar with the plot, this meant nothing to me.

So, I finally saw the film thanks to my wonderful roommate's comments of quid pro quo, and attempts to freak me out by telling me about Silence.  I finally decided that it would just be a good idea to see the movie.  I LOVED IT!  It was one of the best movies I've seen in a very long time!  Graphic?  Yes (perhaps too much for me).  Suspenseful?  Yes.  Thrilling?  Yes.  If you're a fan of crime drama or suspense, have a strong stomach, and don't faint at the sight of blood (or Anthony Hopkins), then this is the film for you!

A brief summary is in order: Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) is a young FBI trainee who is trying to track down serial killer "Buffalo Bill," (Ted Levine) who kills his victims and then skins them.  To do so, she must enlist the help of captured serial killer and cannibal Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins).  In return, however, Dr. Lecter requests a quid pro quo: the right to "pick her mind," uncovering painful memories from her childhood.  The question hanging in the air during almost the entire movie: Does Hannibal Lecter know the identity of Buffalo Bill?  And if he does, will he give up the information before yet another victim dies?

I can't recommend this film enough, although I want to warn you that its not for the faint of heart.  There are some pretty nasty scenes in here, but I'd say its worth it to see an amazing performance by Hopkins, Foster, and Levine.  Hopkins was especially memorable as the sophisticated sociopath.  And I'd love to see more of his movies specifically because of this one!

All in all, 10 out of 10 for this film.  And hopefully, the other movies in this series will soon be popping up on this blog, since I had requests from one of my film buff friends that he would like to see the others, too.  (And of course, its always nicer to watch a movie with someone else, even if they do laugh at all the scary scenes and scare you during the suspenseful ones....)

**This movie has 3 bonus features!**

Godspell (1973)

Cinema Sweetheart's Rating: 8 out of 10

Director: David Greene

Starring: Victor Garber, Lynne Thigpen, and Katie Hanley

Rated: G

Genre: Musical, Religious

Run Time: 103 minutes

Godspell is a modern interpretation of the life of Jesus Christ based off the Gospel according to Matthew.  A group of New Yorkers are approached by John the Baptist (David Haskell) who encourages them to come and follow the words of Jesus.  Soon, the group of eclectic misfits, dressed like hippies in bright colors with painted faces begin to retell the Gospel of Matthew through stories, songs, and performances that they put on for Jesus and for each other.  A fun, feel-good movie, with unforgettable songs such as "Day By Day" and "Turn Back, O Man".

In all honesty, I found this movie to be a bit strange.  I'm a Catholic, and so I was a bit perturbed about some of the representations of Jesus (like why is he wearing pompoms on his shoes, face paint, and a superman shirt with suspenders?  He looks like a clown).  But, I think the reason that it was done this way was to show through the hippie movement that Jesus was counter cultural.  He was not like everyone else; he went against the grain.  Also, I felt that the film portrays Jesus as gentle, caring, and fun.  He seems like someone you'd want to hang out with and who would be happy to just spend time with you and be silly. This Jesus is not too serious, which I kind of liked.

All in all, I thought this was an incredible movie with great music and a great cast.  Sometimes, however, I will say that I thought it was a bit over-the-top in how silly they made it, but still, I would happily recommend it. 

Mickey Blue Eyes (1999)

Cinema Sweetheart's Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Director: Kelly Makin

Starring: Hugh Grant, James Caan, Jeanne Tripplehorn

Rated: PG-13

Genre: Romantic Comedy, Crime

Run Time:102 minutes

Michael Felgate (Grant), an English auctioneer, decides that after three months, he is ready to marry the love of his life, Gina (Tripplehorn), daughter of Mafia leader Frank Vitale (Caan).  Despite his better judgement, Michael allows himself to "help" his soon to be father-in-law with a few small "favors".  And soon, "Mickey Blue Eyes" is in over his head.

This was the first time I've seen a movie that Hugh Grant starred in (although I have seen him in Sense and Sensibility). And I can just say that I'm totally hooked.  I can't believe how sweet, adorable, and FUNNY Hugh Grant was in this film!  He had me laughing until I cried; until my face hurt...and he's so cute, too!

This movie was absolutely hilarious!  Especially once Hugh starts trying to act like a gangster and talk with a "New Yawk" accent. Haha.  A must see for anyone who loves Hugh Grant, Romantic Comedies, or gangster films. :)

Shanghai Noon (2000)

Cinema Sweetheart's Rating: 8 out of 10

Director: Tom Dey

Starring: Jackie Chan, Owen Wilson, and Lucy Liu

Rated:PG-13

Genre: Comedy, Western, Action

Run Time: 110 minutes

Sequel: Shanghai Knights (2003)

When a Chinese princess is kidnapped and held for ransom in the Wild West United States, the emperor sends the three greatest of his imperial guards to bring her back.  Imperial guard Chon Wang (Chan) saw the princess leave but failed to protect her, and now feels that its his duty to accompany the others, even if its just to carry their bags.  Meanwhile, wild west outlaw and ladies man Roy O'Bannon (Wilson) is double crossed by his own bandits.  A freak accident that involves the death of Chon's uncle bring the two men together, first as enemies, and then as reluctant allies.

It was wonderful to finally see Shanghai Noon from start to finish.  Bad timing in the past has always ended with me seeing the movie in chunks.  I've seen the beginning and end, but missed most of the middle of the film.  So, it wasn't an entirely new film to me (as many of these are) since I've seen most of it, just not all at once.  Ironically, I've actually seen the sequel to the movie before I saw the actual movie itself.  (But enough about Shanghai Knights--I'll talk about that film in another post).

I really think this film has a little something for everyone.  Action, comedy, romance...It's a western, its a martial arts movie, its a historic film...And of course, Owen Wilson and Jackie Chan are just an amazing team!  The two of them had me laughing until I cried, and the drinking games scene is not one to be missed!  I love both of these actors on their own, but putting both together is simply a stroke of genius!

Another fun little tidbit...this movie is full of historical jokes and ironic references (although not as many as in the sequel).  Be sure to look for them all! ;)

The Phantom of the Paradise (1974)

Cinema Sweetheart's Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Director: Brian de Palma

Starring: Paul Williams, William Finley, Jessica Harper, and Garrit Graham

Rated: PG

Genre: Horror, Musical, Cult Classic

Run Time: 92 minutes

A disfigured, Phantom-esque anti-hero, a Faustian deal, and a trade straight out of The Picture of Dorian Gray; add a some awesome 70s music, a transvestite rock star, and black leather, and you have The Phantom of the Paradise. After his life's work is stolen by a demonic music producer and his face crushed in a record press, timid composer Winslow Leach sells his soul to ensure that the woman he loves will be able to sing his rendition of Faust at the opening of Swan's new music hall, The Paradise.

To be completely honest, I didn't think I was going to like this movie when I first started.  In fact, I thought it looked pretty dumb.  Mostly, I was watching it because of the Phantom of the Opera ties, and I just love POTO.  Looking at the trailer online, though, I couldn't help but think it was a nasty cross-over between POTO and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.  But, The Phantom of Paradise is so much more!

Finley portrays a wonderfully sympathetic protagonist, Winslow Leach; tormented, abused, and eventually destroyed by Swan (Williams).  Besides his heart-wrenching portrayal of a 1970s American version of Leroux's classic character Erik, he also had really awesome makeup and a cool costume.  Its not too often that you see a Phantom dressed in black leather and donning a silver helmet instead of just a mask.  He was by far my favorite character in the movie.

As for the villainous Swan, Paul Williams was perfect!  Definitely one of the best "devils" I've seen in films.  His aura of mystery in the beginning leaves the audience in the dark just as much as Winslow, but the more we learn the more devious he becomes.  This is the first Paul Williams movie I've seen, and I'm very impressed with his acting.  He doesn't over act.  His character is powerful, devious, and harboring a dark secret, but he seems pretty cool with that.  Nothing worries him because he's already attained eternity.

Even though the movie was only rated PG, one must remember that PG-13 was not yet a rating, and honestly, I would not show this film to any children.  Its definitely PG-13.  The topics are too heavy for younger audiences, and the double unmasking at the end is going to be a little too intense.  That being said, the makeup was amazing for both of the unmaskings (although a little graphic); and (I believe) provided the desired effect. 

The best scene in the movie, though, without a doubt, had to be the shower scene when Winslow, in the guise of the Phantom, confronts rock-star Beef (Graham).  I'm not going to say too much, but it does involve a plunger. ^_^

If you're a POTO fan, you might enjoy this film, although I will say that its not as true to the story as some of the other versions are; in fact, apart from a disfigurement, a mask, an "opera house" (in this case a rock hall), and a character very loosely based on Christine, its not very POTO at all.  There's no Raoul, the manger is the villain, and the Phantom actually works for him!  Finley's Phantom is much more timid and weak than most of the others; you would never see Lon Chaney's cowering from an unarmed man who's over a foot shorter than him!  (6'4"/5'2")  But even so, I'd recommend this movie to anyone who's curious about it; its well worth it to check it out.  If nothing else, at least listen to the amazing soundtrack.  Most of the songs are written by Paul Williams (Swan).

**This movie has 2 bonus features!**

Easy A (2010)

Cinema Sweetheart's Rating: 7 out of 10

Director: William Gluck

Starring: Emma Stone, Amanda Bynes, Penn Bagdley, and Dan Byrd

Rated: PG-13

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Chick Flick

Run Time: 92 minutes

When a rumor starts to spread around her high school that Olive has lost her virginity, her whole life is flipped upside down.  It doesn't help her reputation much when she pretends to sleep with the obviously gay, constantly bullied Brandon for a gift card.  Soon, tons of unpopular guys are coming to her to "boost their reputations," and when Olive starts wearing a red letter "A" on all of her clothes, its Hester Prynne and The Scarlet Letter all over again.

Easy A is a hilarious chick flick about the labels we're given verses who we really are. I actually saw it with a group of girls from school, so the whole "chick flick" experience was just perfect!  Ladies, this is a perfect film to see with your girlfriends, although I'm not so sure that this is the right film to drag the boyfriend to.  He probably won't find it as interesting as you will.  Emma Stone is hilarious as Olive, and Penn Bagdley is an adorable supporting actor.

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of "chick flicks," but I really enjoyed the overall performance of this one.  There was romance, comedy, a lot of drama, and an interesting, fast-moving plot.  And of course, I loved the connections to The Scarlet Letter.  I thought that it was actually pulled off in a rather creative manner; a wonderful modern interpretation of Hawthorne's immortal classic.

Oh, and the soundtrack is amazing!  Believe me, once you've seen Easy A, you'll be humming "Pocketful of Sunshine" for the next day or two.  I know I was :P

The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)

Cinema Sweetheart's Rating: 5 out of 10

Director: Robert Fuest

Starring: Vincent Price, Joseph Cotton, Hugh Griffith, and Terry-Thomas

Rated: PG-13

Genre: Horror
Run Time: 94 minutes
Sequel: Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972)

When a group of doctors all begin to die in mysterious circumstances, the murders are linked to madman Anton Phibes, a scholar and theologian who considers them responsible for the death of his wife several years previously.

Dr. Phibes is a dreadfully creepy film, sometimes thrilling, all times suspenseful, and often down right vile.  Dr. Anton Phibes, played by horror film master Vincent Price, attempts to avenge the death of his beautiful wife Victoria by killing all the doctors who performed the surgery she died during.  Of course, a good horror film needs more than just a simple string of murders, and Dr. Phibes does not disappoint.  All of the murders committed are reminiscent of the Biblical plagues, such as locusts, rats, blood, and the death of the first born child.  It's a very creepy movie and often, the murders are pretty disturbing.  I enjoy a good scare every once in a while, but seeing a man being completely drained of his blood via IV, or another being eaten by rats is rather unsettling to me.  Several sources actually say that The Abominable Dr. Phibes was actually the inspiration for the Saw movies, and while I haven't seen them (and honestly don't plan to) I can believe that this would inspire something as gruesome as Saw.

Vincent Price was wonderful as the title role.  Because his character wears a "flesh" mask to cover his horrendously deformed face, he is unable to communicate with facial expressions, and for the most part relies on just his eyes, which get quite a few creepy close-ups.  The other thing I found to be interesting is Price's vocal roles.  In the accident that disfigured him, Phibes loses the ability to talk, but using a strange phonograph device, he is able to talk though his throat in a broken, choppy dialogue.  Personally, I just adore Vincent Price's voice, and it was weird hearing him talk this way.  But, even with his words a bit garbled and broken, he's still amazing.

If you enjoy old horror films or Vincent Price, I would highly recommend this to you.  If you're really not a fan of either one, then perhaps you would be better off watching something a little more pleasant.  I'm a Vincent Price fan, so for me, this was totally worth it.

**This movie has 1 bonus feature!**

Hello :)

Hi, Everyone!  I just wanted to give a quick introduction of myself before I start off this blog.  I'm Cinema Sweetheart, and as a college student with a passion for movies, I thought it would be fun to create a blog with reviews of various films that I have seen and enjoyed (or not enjoyed).  If you have any ideas for movies, have a question or comment, or even just want to say "hi," then you can either leave me a message via the comments feed or email me at cinema.sweetheart@gmail.com. In the meantime, just sit back, grab some popcorn, and prepare to enjoy the show ;)