cedra

Years ago I saw a wonderful movie with imaginitive sets, quirky direction, a memorable and magical story, and of course, Johnny Depp. This was the movie that made me a devoted fan of his and cemented my love of Tim Burton's films. Recently, I re-watched this gem and felt that it still holds up after 13 years. Depp is unforgettable in this role of an outsider who is at first joyously welcomed into suburbia, only to be cruelly shunned and driven away by those same "friendly folks". It's a testament to his great acting and a well-written screenplay that would make me fall in love with this odd character.Despite heavy make-up that renders him practically unrecognizable and a voice that is equally unrecognizable, I was quite taken with this incredible actor. (It was not until I saw "Cry-Baby" that I realized what an attractive guy he is too.)Anyway, "Edward Scissorhands" was one of my favorite films of the '90's and I think one of the best and unforgettable of the decade. An instant classic.

WOW! What a great film. After seeing this film I feel like taking a drive to the Santa Anita track and catching a race. (I have never been to a horse race before. But there's always a first time.) Anyway, I feel that this is definitely one of the best (if not THE BEST) films of the summer. I know it's too early to tell, but I feel that this is a worthy candidate for Oscar contention. Great writing, direction, acting, set direction, and cinematography. I loved the race scenes. I felt like I was one of the racers, yet I also felt like a spectator rooting for Seabiscuit to win. Kudos to the team who put together such incredible sequences. I'm also glad to see Tobey Maguire follow up a huge hit like "Spiderman" with a moving drama such as this film. Other notable actors follow up on commercial hits with more commercial (and mindless) movies that may make them richer, but lose their credibility as great actors. I also like to comment on the fact that rarely have I sat in a movie theatre where the audience applauses at the end and when the actors names appear on the screen. Obviously we all loved this movie and appreciate a great film. I loved the character development and the theme of the story. There's an underdog in each one of us and if given a chance, we too can succeed. Again kudos to the filmmakers who brought such a fine film to the screen. :)

Whenever I watch movie documentaries I always end up compiling lists of what to see or I'm reminded of certain films and I re-watch the movie to refresh my memory of it. Such is the case with "Barry Lyndon". What a beautiful piece of filmmaking. I can see why it won Oscars for cinematography, art direction and costume (as well as musical adaptation). I agree with others who have said that "Barry Lyndon" is like an 18th century painting that has come to life. Although it is a bit slow at times, I was completely engrossed in the story and the setting. The cinematography is outstanding! Each frame is a painting that can be considered a mini-masterpiece. Those interior shots are unforgettable and (I believe) unmatched to this day. There's a timeliness to it that pulls the viewer deeper into the story. The costumes are a delight and as a fashion history buff, I was mesmerized by the sumptuous materials and styles. I loved the music and as is the case with a lot of Kubrick films, classical music is used to "amplify" an emotion or scene. To this day, when I hear Strauss, I think of "2001: A Space Odyssey". It is a shame that "Barry Lyndon" was considered a flop. Fortunately for film buffs like us, it will always be regarded as one of Kubrick's best.