Marie Antoinette

"Letting everyone down would be my greatest unhappiness."

I just watched this film and was supremely disappointed. Friends who had already seen it said you either love it or you hate it...I find myself somewhere in the middle. Here are some major issues/thoughts I have regarding the film (along with the opinions of the friends I saw this with)

1. The costumes were amazing! Gorgeous, colorful, fun...they deserve the awards they are nominated for
2. The scenery (Palace of Versailles) is breathtaking: the French government granted special permission for the crew to film in the Palace of Versailles.
3. The infusion of modern music and period pieces (18th century music) was an interesting choice, but definitely works with the rest of the film.
4. None of the main characters are French or even attempt French accents and Kirsten Dunst did not even try to butcher an Austrian accent. The film does not take place in America, so why do American actors have the leads (especially Dunst who I found to be annoying)
5. If I never see a film where Kirsten Dunst is naked (or partially naked) it will be too soon!!
6. Why does the film end where it does? We were all P.O.ed when they did not show the guillotine (not that I want to see all the blood and gore when people are beheaded, but it could be done tactfully...it is a crucial moment in her life, why the hell don't they show it??)

The film begins as the teenage (15 yr. old) Marie Antoinette (Dunst) leaves her home in Austria to serve as a pawn between her beloved Austria and France, by marrying the air to the throne, Louis XVI (Schwartzman). She leaves her home with the knowledge that her union is crucial to her country. She carries her beloved dog and two friends...but anyone marrying into the French royalty is not permitted to retain anything that is not French, so at the exchange point (I believe they have a different name for it in the film) she must bid adieu to her companions (and her dog) and is stripped naked so she can be clothed in French garments and taken to meet her fiance. There is no chemistry between Marie and Louis as they meet and marry. She quickly learns that her place in the court is not permanent: she must 1. consummate her marriage, 2. speak to the King's mistress (Torn is the King, and Asia Argento is his mistress Madame du Barry), 3. produce a male air to the throne. She must observe a strict protocol (she cannot dress herself, and is waited on hand-and-foot), but is able to enjoy the finer things in life: gambling, expensive clothing, lavish parties, large quantities of food...it's sickening
This film drove me crazy...everything was beautiful, but this is not a beautiful story. Honestly I didn't care that Marie and Louis were having relationship difficulties...I couldn't identify with her and I didn't want to. I was not a big fan of "Lost in Translation" also by Coppola, so perhaps that fact clouded my judgment, but this film just doesn't work. Some scenes are funny, but at other times I just wanted to slap Marie. Perhaps her life was boring, but I was sick of the montages of her doing the same thing by the second one...it just made the 2 hours seem like an eternity.
I would have preferred a darker film (considering the subject), and a different ending...but hey, I've seen it and can now move on with my life!

Don't waste your money: Wait till it is shown on television or watch it online but don't buy/rent this film... (I only spent a dollar to see it and I feel ripped off)...but don't take my word for it, I know people that loved this film and Roger Ebert gave this film a positive review...basically it's all up to you

Marie Antoinette (2006) 123 min
Rating: PG-13 for sexual content, partial nudity and innuendo
Director: Sofia Coppola
Starring: Kirsten Dunst as Marie Antoinette
Jason Schwartzman as Louis XVI
Rip Torn as Louis XV
Steve Coogan as Ambassador Mercy
Judy Davis as Contesse de Noailles

The Prestige

"Every great magic trick consists of three acts. The first act is called "The Pledge"; The magician shows you something ordinary, but of course... it probably isn't. The second act is called "The Turn"; The magician makes his ordinary some thing do something extraordinary. Now if you're looking for the secret... you won't find it, that's why there's a third act called, "The Prestige"; this is the part with the twists and turns, where lives hang in the balance, and you see something shocking you've never seen before."

This quote...said at the beginning of the film explains not only the breakdown of a magic trick, but also the film as a whole: we are shown two ordinary men who seem to be friends. We watch them age and change and become well-known magicians, and we watch them slowly deteriorate due to their feud. And just when we think things are evening out, the stakes are raised and a new set of problems are introduced.

Robert Angier (Jackman) is a rich man: his family is wealthy, he has a steady career (aiding a magician) and a lovely wife. At his side is Alfred Borden (Bale): an innovative, streetwise man with big dreams and a secret to hide. Together they serve as plants in the audience, chosen by Angier's wife Julia (Piper Perabo) for a dangerous trick: they bind her hands and feet and she is dropped into a tank of water. Offstage the engineer Cutter (Caine) stands with an ax and a timer just in case things don't work. Angier is content and happy, but Borden wishes their magician would try a new trick: something more challenging. Julia dies doing the trick (she was unable to get her hands free and Cutter did not break the glass in enough time) and Angier blames Borden. The two men part on bad terms. Borden begins his own magic act which is sabotaged by Angier and the two men begin a life-long feud: learning each others tricks and then creating problems during the tricks. Caught in the middle is Borden's family: his wife Sarah (Rebecca Hall) and daughter Jess (Samantha Mahurin), and Angier's (and later Borden's) assistant/mistress Olivia Wenscombe (Scarlett Johansson). Also involved is scientist Nikola Tesla (apparently he was a real person...played by David Bowie) and his magic-loving assistant Alley (Andy Serkis) who become involved in Angier's illusion.


Like his film Memento Director Christopher Nolan tells the story out of sequential order, causing the audience to learn things before or after an action occurs in real time and forces the viewer to be involved in the story. Also, at the end of the film, while the storyline is wrapped up and there is a feeling of closure, you still have questions (none of which I can present here). Including this one, I have seen 3 films directed by Nolan and I must say that I am impressed: Memento (it makes you think...but I've only seen it once, and that is plenty for me!!), Batman Begins (totally revamping the Batman legend is worth the kudos, but the film also boasts an impressive cast) and now the Prestige....wow!

Is this film really a prestige: something we've never seen before, or is it just portrayed in a new light? Honestly I think thats up to you!

Dude, it's quotable: ok, so they aren't hysterical quotes but the characters make interesting points about themselves, their professions and just life in general: "Man's reach exceeds his imagination!"
Rent it multiple times: After reading countless reviews of the film (and having a bit of background knowledge about the novel it is based on) I knew what was going to happen...so at each turn in the plot I was able to follow and appreciate the clues the filmmakers added, but my friends did not know anything about the film (other than seeing previews on television) and although in the end they did get it, they spent a good bit of time trying to understand what was going on....therefore I would suggest seeing this film a few times to fully appreciate/understand the nuances of the script (and the fact that Christian Bale is in the film just makes those multiple viewings more enjoyable...::wink, wink::)

The Prestige (2006) 128 min
Rating: PG-13 for violence and disturbing images
Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale as Alfred Borden
Hugh Jackman as Robert Angier
Michael Caine as Cutter

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

"Do you share my madness?"

"No, not madness."
"What, then?"
"There is a passage to the North Pole. And I will find it!"
"At the cost of your own life and the lives of your own crew?"
"Lives come and go. If we succeed, our names will live on forever. I will be hailed as the benefactor of our species."
"You're wrong. I of all men know that."

**To begin with I should warn you that I wrote a paper comparing this film to the novel and over the course of many viewings of this film I have to come to despise this film, especially as someone loves the novel.**
This film SHOULD be called something like 'Frankenstein 2000' (even though it was made in the mid-nineties) or something campy like that...calling the film MARY SHELLEY'S Frankenstein implies that this adaptation, unlike all others, is the way Mary would make the film, HA! While I respect Branagh for trying to stay close to the original text, he is too ambitious. I showed this film to a group of English majors who screamed throughout the film and were overly disgusted with Branagh by the end of it...but I digress
Branagh, unlike other filmmakers, bookends the film the way the novel begins and ends: with Victor and the creature encountering Captain Walton (Aidan Quinn) and his crew as they explore the Arctic, but this information is unnecessary to the rest of the film...if this were a made for television film (such as the excellent ones made by A&E) then yes, this section should be included, but for a 2 hour film it just confuses the film.

The REAL story begins with Victor (Branagh). He is the only child of a happy couple (Ian Holm & Cherie Lunghi), but shares his parents with Elizabeth (Carter) who lost her parents. They have grown up together, but have the chemistry of a couple not siblings. Victor's mother dies in childbirth with his younger brother. Her death leads Victor to become obsessed with the reanimation of dead tissue. His obsession leads him to college where he meets Henry Clerval (Hulce), a fellow scientist who does not seem to understand or reciprocate Victor's passion. They meet and befriend the rebellious Professor Waldman (John Cleese) who shows them his own experiments with reanimation (a hand...which is disgusting) and urges Victor to stop pursuing this obsession. Days later Waldman is stabbed when he tries to vaccinate an unwilling subject (played by DeNiro). Victor ignores the advice of the late Waldman and Henry and takes the body of Waldman's murderer along with Waldman's brain and infuses this creature with life (the creature is also played by DeNiro). After a disgusting creation scene, reminiscent of a birth (the creature is in a vat of amniotic fluids, and is naked...Victor tries to help him stand which works as well as teaching an infant to walk--on ice), Victor realizes how wrong it was to pursue this task and strings up his creation hoping it was all a bad dream (although the creature gets lose). Victor returns home to the comfort of his family and Elizabeth, while the creature lives in a barn and learns to talk by watching a family (although this family is afraid of the creature when they finally see him).

The creature has Victor's diary so he learns of his origins and seeks Victor for the answers to the rest of his questions along with his request for another creature (a woman) so he would not be alone. Victor refuses and the blood begins......I wouldn't go into further detail, but it for anyone who has read the novel the film is pretty good until the killings begin and then it takes on it's own lifeforce, occasionally returning to Mary's story.


This film is disgusting: we see all the blood and gore during the killings, we witness his mother's death during childbirth (which is bloody and gross) along with part of a birth in a later scene. Branagh was too ambitious...thats the nicest way I can phrase it. I mean his version (the parts which are like the novel) are probably more accurate than any other film: the process, the scarring etc, BUT he went too far. Everything is over the top including his MAJOR change from the novel, which I can't really explain here, but everytime I watch that part of the film I get mad and disgusted (it was one of the scenes which grossed out my friends and involved a few screams). If he had toned it down...and did not take a huge step away from the novel it would be an excellent adaptation, but now it's just o.k.

One positive thing I will say is, Robert DeNiro is convincing...it is an excellent performance. He does his part well and you do pity him (for a bit)...and I like that he (the creature) refers to Victor as his father and one of his final lines in the film is "He never gave me a name" which is insightful, most people think Frankenstein is the name of the monster, NOT the scientist creating him. There are clever lines...but it's not worth watching just for those moments, sorry Branagh...your other films worked, but this doesn't!

Don't waste your money: While I do own this film, I hate it. Everyone I have shown it to had one of two reactions: disgust or anger (depending on whether they have read the novel)...its just not worth it...I don't ever remember it receiving hype or being talked about, so it will probably just fade away like so many bad films do
--: Just don't watch it...I can't say that enough. But if you do any project on Frankenstein, it might be worthwhile just for comparisons sake

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994) 123 min
Rating: R for horrific images
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Kenneth Branagh as Victor Frankenstein
Robert DeNiro as the Creature
Helena Bonham Carter as Elizabeth
Tom Hulce as Henry Clerval

Kill Bill Volume 2

"Are you calling me a superhero?"

"I'm calling you a killer. A natural born killer. You always have been, and you always will be."

The film begins with the Bride behind the wheel of a convertible talking to the audience, recapping the first volume and explaining that she is on her way to kill Bill. And then, like the first volume, it jumps to a completely different scene. To sum it all up, after Sofie (Julie Dreyfus) was found she informed Bill that the Bride had been asking for information about the other members of the Deadly Viper Squad, so Bill paid personal visits to the other assassins to warn them. His brother Budd (Madsen) is now the bouncer at a strip club and hasn't worked with a sword or any other martial arts weaponry for years, he even sold his Hanzo sword. When he fights the Bride it is his instincts that keep him alive, although they get him in trouble later. Since the first two assassins were killed in the other volume (Lucy Liu as O-Ren Ishii and Vivica A. Fox as Vernita Green), the only other member of the DVAS (Deadly Viper Assassination Squad) is Elle Driver (Hannah) who with only one eye is the Brides biggest competition for Bills affection and praise. Interspersed with these fights is the backstory of the Brides relationship with Bill. It is at his suggestion that she trains with his master Pai Mei (Liu). Pai Mei has a long white beard and wears all white. He is able to transcend normal human abilities with his fighting skills and forces the Bride to carry water, punch through a thick board that is 3 inches from her body, and other "fun" tasks until she meets his standards, which apparently she does. We also learn that her daughter is still alive, although she does not know this.

The fight scenes are less gruesome (other than with Elle) and more calculating (including lengthy discussions between characters). While the first volume had homages to martial arts films along with changes between color & black-and-white, this volume uses more technical changes such as changing the type of film to make the scene appear more claustrophobic and more scenes of self-mockery done in a tasteful, loving way.
While both volumes are intense, exploiting what Tarantino does best: action & dialogue, I prefer the second volume. It unwinds the story, filling in the gaps and showing why the characters react the way they do. And at the end of the film there is closure, which the first film was unable to deliver (it wrapped up what it had, but left you wanting more). The battle between the two blondes is intense, and less artful than you would imagine, but still unexpected and absorbing. Also watch for the short scene involving Esteban (Parks), Bill's stepfather who adds more depth to Bill while still charming the Bride and the audience. The snake symbolism is more pronounced in this volume, which made me realize all the assassins have snake code name which define their personalities...the black mamba is the deadliest and Bill is the leader, the only one able to control the snakes and use them for his bidding while 'charming' and loving the deadliest one.

Rent it once: If you want to watch it, I'd suggest watching Volume 1 first...both films can stand on their own, but they make more sense together. And it's worth the watch, less disgusting and more about what the characters say and why they say it.
--: It shows the other side to Tarantino's skill and I love that Michael Madsen is in this film since he was in Tarantino's first film Reservoir Dogs...it's not for everyone but this volume is easier to watch than the first one (even though it is significantly longer)

Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004) 136 min
Rating: R for violence, language, and brief drug use
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Uma Thurman as The Bride (Black Mamba)
David Carradine as Bill (Snake Charmer)
Daryl Hannah as Elle Driver (California Snake Charmer)
Michael Madsen as Budd (Sidewinder)
Chia Hui Liu as Pai Mei
Michael Parks as Esteban

Kill Bill Volume 1

"Revenge is never a straight line. It's a forest, And like a forest it's easy to lose your way... To get lost... To forget where you came in."

'Revenge is a dish best served cold' are the first words that appear on the black screen, in the background there is someone having trouble breathing. The opening shot is the face of The Bride (Thurman), even though it is in black-and-white, she is obviously bleeding profusely and in a lot of pain. A hand reaches out with a handkerchief and wipes at the blood while the voice talks to her and then shoots her in the head (thankfully the screen goes black and we just hear the shot)...did I mention this is a Tarantino film? Quentin Tarantino has a reputation for making bloody films, with intense language (almost every character will swear...significantly), a broken story (told out of order, many flashbacks and such), but still excellent...if you overlook the language and violence.

Anyway, the Bride (as she is called throughout the film...her real name is beeped out b/c it is not our time to know her true identity) was a member of The Deadly Viper Assassination Squad (the five assassins are identified by snake names...the Bride is the Black Momba), but leaves the group to get married. At the dress rehearsal for the wedding The DVAS including their boss Bill (Carradine) kill the wedding party and everyone else in the church and Bill puts a bullet in the Bride's head (she's pregnant with his child). She does not die, but lands in a coma for four years. Her first thoughts on waking up are about her child, and after finding herself to no longer be pregnant she cries and plans her revenge, after killing two men who impede her progress at the hospital. She makes a death list of the other four assassins: 1. Cottonmouth (Liu), 2. Copperhead (Fox), 3. Sidewinder (Madsen), 4. California Mountain Snake (Hannah), and 5. BILL.
She goes to Japan to obtain a samurai sword from the best, Hattori Hanzo (Chiba): he is a legend, but has retired. He agrees to make her a sword which he later deems the best sword he's ever made, and The Bride begins her killing rampage. First on the list is O-Ren Ishii, whose backstory is told through anime (otherwise it wouldn't be able to still be considered R...theres a pedophile and lots of gruesome killing). She is the head of the Chinese mob and likes to decapitate people who disagree with her. This is the longest and most complicated battle: O-Ren Ishii has several bodyguards along with her team 'The Crazy 88s', all of which fight. The only person she does not fight is Sofie (Dreyfus) a former student of Bill she is useful to get information and also to get closer to O-Ren Ishii. The second on the list is Vernita Green who has changed her lifestyle: given up being an assassin and now has a family and a normal life.

The plot is out of order, jumping from the wedding to a confrontation with Vernita to a million other things just to keep the plot from being predictable. At the end of the first film Sofie is the only survivor and tells Bill and the other assassins that The Bride is on her way to kill them and they had better be ready...but are you ready for a second film?

Although we knew WHO is playing Bill, we never see his face (only hand gestures and his voice) adding to his mystique, similar to never hearing the Bride's name...it leaves you wanting more, wanting the second volume to see what will happen next. Don't assume she lives, don't assume she doesn't live...don't assume anything. The two films are connected so don't assume the events of this film occur before the events of the second volume...

Rent it once: it is fast-paced, complicated, and bloody but there is an art form to it...some scenes are in black & white for artistic purposes and there are homages to other films/acts (The Brides yellow suit is similar to one Bruce Lee wore in a film)
--: IF you decide to watch this film then you need to give it your attention or you will be lost/confused, but don't let children (or anyone with a weak stomach) near the TV b/c sometimes the blood is overwhelming (and I'm not usually upset by blood in films)

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) 93 min
Rating: R for violence (lots of blood), language, and some sexual content
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Uma Thurman as The Bride (Black Momba)
Lucy Liu as O-Ren Ishii (Cottonmouth)
Vivica A. Fox as Vernita Green (Copperhead)
Julie Dreyfus as Sofie
David Carradine as Bill (The Snake-Charmer)
Chiaki Kuriyama as Gogo
Sonny Chiba as Hattori Hanzo
Daryl Hannah as Elle Driver (California Mountain Snake)
Michael Madsen as Budd (Sidewinder)

Young Frankenstein

"Igor, would you mind telling me whose brain I did put in?"

"And you won't be angry?"
"I will NOT be angry."
"Abby someone."
"Abby someone. Abby who?"
"Abby Normal."
"Abby Normal?"
"I'm almost sure that was the name."
"Are you saying that I put an abnormal brain into a seven and a half foot long, fifty-four inch wide GORILLA? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME?"

We all, more or less, know the story of Victor Frankenstein and his creation of a monster..but how did that affect future generations? Banking on the success of the 2 James Whale films (Frankenstein in 1931 and its sequel The Bride of Frankenstein in 1935) Universal Studios released two films where Victor's sons brought the monster to life (Wolf in The Son of Frankenstein in 1939 and Ludwig in The Ghost of Frankenstein in 1942). Thirty years (and many BAD Frankenstein films later) Victor's grandson Frederick takes the reins, but satirizing Whales films in the process.

The films open in an homage to Citizen Kane with the death and decay of Victor Frankenstein (he's a skeleton when the audience sees him). At the reading of his will (which was cut from the film, but is available on the DVD version) his grandson Frederick (Wilder) inherits everything. Frederick lives in New York and is a medical professor. He doesn't want to be associated with the legend of his grandfather and orders his students to call him Fronkenstein and gets into heated arguments about his grandfathers work (which he dismisses). After learning about his inheritance he leaves his fiance Elizabeth (Madeline Kahn) and journeys to Transylvania. He is met by his assistant Igor (pronounced eye-gore, Feldman), "My grandfather used to work for your grandfather" (the character of Igor was introduced in The Son of Frankenstein not the James Whale film), and his attractive assistant Inga (Teri Garr) "Would you care for a roll in the hay?" At the castle they meet his housekeeper Frau Blucher (Cloris Leachman), in German the word 'Blucher' means glue, so everytime a character says her name the horses rear up and whinny in fright. After a fruitless search for Victor's laboratory Frederick, Inga, and Igor follow the sound of an eerie violin which leads them to the lab and to Victor's diary called "How I Did It". This diary causes Frederick to dream the impossible and create his own monster (Boyle). Two note-worthy characters are the blind monk (Gene Hackman) and the Police Inspector (Kenneth Mars). Mel Brooks likes to use the same actors in his features, and they somehow always make it believable. Major Kudos go to Hackman's monk...the scene where he meets and feeds the monster is one of the funniest moments in the film.

While this film is a satire, it takes on a personality of its own and actually brings the story (or atleast the characteristics of the monster) closer to the novel: the monster begins confused but also has child-like qualities...it is easier to pity and laugh at him (or with him). This is my favorite Frankenstein adaptations (even though it is an adaptation of other films) and in my top three favorite Mel Brooks films (the others being Blazing Saddles and The Producers).


Dude, it's quotable: the conversation I quoted at the top is my favorite part of the film...and there are many other crazy moments like that
Buy it: I would suggest seeing the 2 Whale films first so this one makes more sense, but it can also stand on its own (I saw this film prior to seeing any Frankenstein films or reading the novel and I still love and appreciate it!)

Young Frankenstein (1974) 106 min
Rating: PG
Director: Mel Brooks
Starring: Gene Wilder as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein
Peter Boyle as the Monster
Marty Feldman as Igor

The Bride of Frankenstein

"To a new world of gods and monsters!"

The tagline for this film reads: The Monster Demands a Mate and completely removes itself from the guidelines of Mary's novel. Ironically Whale (director) chose to open the film with Mary Shelly (Lancaster) talking to her husband Percy Shelly and their friend Lord Byron about her novel, essentially recapping the first movie in case the audience had not seen the first film. Apparently Whale did not want to make a second Frankenstein film, but he was entranced by the idea of a female monster.....he did not think this film would amount to anything, so he had fun with the script and added humor almost a self-parody which makes this film more popular/fascinating than it's predecessor.

At the start of the film Henry (Clive) and Elizabeth (Hobson...a different woman than in the 1931 Frankenstein film, also directed by Whale) are married and he is recovering from the events of the last film (no, I won't give you details). Elizabeth is overprotective of him, and he wants nothing to do with science or his experiments. This changes when Dr. Pretorius (Thesiger who steals every scene he's in) enters his life. Pretorius is also a scientist who has experimented with life...on a smaller scale (it's a weird scene but he has minature people which he keeps in bottles). Pretorius has discovered the Monster (Karloff) is still alive, and now able to talk (which is shown in the film). The Monster insists that Frankenstein make him a female "Alone bad, friend good", and as insurance for this deed he kidnaps Elizabeth.

Random fact: "The Bride", the most obscure of Universal Studios' Classic Monsters, is on screen for less than five minutes and is the only "Classic Monster" never to have killed anyone. (Information found at IMDb.com).


Rent it once: it's better than any other Frankenstein film...and Roger Ebert considers it a Great Movie (it's in the first addition of his Great Film Books)
Dude, it's quotable: and even if you don't think it is, at least it's memorable!!

The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) 75 min
Rating: Unrated
Director: James Whale
Starring: Boris Karloff as the Monster
Elsa Lancaster as Mary Shelly/Bride
Colin Clive as Henry
Valerie Hobson as Elizabeth
Ernest Thesiger as Pretorius

Frankenstein 1931

"Oh, in the name of God! Now I know what it feels like to be God!"

Honestly, I can't be objective when it comes to the topic of Frankenstein...mini rant: the movies don't get it...VICTOR (the creator) is the novels "monster" while the films make the creature a monster...and there are other glaring differences between any film version of Frankenstein and the original novel, end rant.

This film is considered to be the first horror film (even though technically Dracula was made first), Frankenstein achieved a different level of popularity. I can't blame audiences for flocking to this film, while it may not be the shocking gory horror films we are used to, Whale (the director) knows how to tell a story. Also, this film is responsible for what most people know/believe about the Frankenstein story: appearance, characteristics, character names, etc.

Everyone knows (or thinks they know) the story of Frankenstein: a "mad" scientist with a hunchback assistant named Igor lurks around graveyards and creates a green skinned monster with a flat head and bolts in his neck, and the creator is evil...yes, this all happens, but there is a little more to the story. Taking its cue (a very overarching cue) from the novel by Mary Shelly, Whale tried to show the humanity and madness in all of his characters. Henry (Clive....in the novel the scientist is Victor and his friend is Henry, but this film and its sequels switch the names) is driven by his desire to discover something new and his excitement cannot be contained as he yells his memorable line "It's alive!" a few moments later remarking "Oh, in the name of God! Now I know what it feels like to be God!" (which was removed from the original film by censors, but since it's been re-released the lines are back in place)...he's not crazy, just driven. Also, his creature (Karloff) acts more like a confused child. Whale wisely chose to build up the suspense and then introduce his 'monster' by having him walk into the light, wow. Also involved is Henry's assistant Fritz (Dwight Frye....this character is not present in the novel, and in a later sequel is named Igor which is the name which has stuck) who tortures the creature whenever Henry is not in the room. Watching this unravel is Elizabeth (Mae Clarke...she screams--a lot but is otherwise pretty boring) Henry's fiance, Victor (John Boles) Henry's best friend, Professor Waldman (Edward Van Sloan) Henry's mentor who is horrified by Henry's experiment, Baron Frankenstein (Frederick Kerr) Henry's father who provides comic relief, and the Burgermeister Herr Vogel (Lionel Belmore...in German Burgermeister means mayor, and Vogel means bird). While this isn't a long film it is powerful. I showed this film to a group of English majors who (despite reading the book...and knowing what was going to happen) reacted to every scene in the same way a person unfamiliar with the story or film would react. I can't say that I love this film...but after choosing this topic for my Undergraduate Senior Research Paper, I have a new-found respect for Whale's efforts.


Rent it once: it's a classic horror film....or I should say a REAL horror film, and definitely worth seeing at least once (its culture...deal with it)
--: yes, some parts are corny and not nearly as advanced as we're used to, but that is the beauty of this film...it's not bogged down by technology, the actors are reacting to one another in a natural progression and maybe it's not realistic but you'll still be creeped out!

Frankenstein (1931) 71 min
Rating: Unrated
Director: James Whale
Starring: Boris Karloff as the Monster
Colin Clive as Henry Frankenstein

The Blues Brothers

"They look like they're from the CIA, or somethin'."

"What they want to eat?"
"The tall one wants white toast, dry, with nothin' on it."
"Elwood."
"And the short one wants four whole fried chickens, and a Coke."
"And Jake. Shit, the Blues Brothers."

During their time as regulars on Saturday Night Live John Belushi & Dan Aykroyd would help the band warm up before the show, often playing blues songs. This led the duo to become The Blues Brothers and appear as the musical guest on the show a few times. Due to the popularity of their performances The Blues Brothers recorded a blues album and in 1980 made a movie. The film begins as Jake (Belushi) is released from prison...he robbed a store to pay the band, but was caught. Although the film begins when he is still dressed as an inmate (and without his trademark suit, hat & sunglasses) the audience does not see his face until he is outside the prison walls. He is met by his brother Elwood (Aykroyd) who also sports a black suit, hat, and sunglasses and they drive away in a used police car. The brothers go to the orphanage where they were raised by a strict nun, Sister Mary Stigmata whom they call 'the Penguin' (Kathleen Freeman), and Curtis (Cab Calloway) a blues lover who dresses like the brothers (including the sunglasses). The orphanage is in debt several thousand dollars and it is up to the brothers to save it. They seek guidance from a local church and during a moving speech/song by the honorable Rev. James (James Brown) they believe this is a mission from God. Their solution: find their former bandmates (who still haven't been paid and now have "straight" jobs) and perform to raise the money.

The rest of the film is ODTAA (one darn thing after another) as the brothers run from the local cops (led by John Candy) and the Illonois Nazi Party (Henry Gibson) and a country-western band (led by Charles Napier) and from the mysterious woman who is trying to kill them (Carrie Fischer) and try to raise awareness for the orphanage and their show. In between the crazy car chases and other random events are songs (Roger Ebert calls this film "a sort of musical Mad Mad Mad Mad World" (check out the rest of his review here also look at my review of It's a Mad (x4) World) sung by the Blues Brothers and a diverse group of popular musicians: Aretha Franklin (Mrs. Murphy), James Brown (mentioned above), Cab Calloway (Curtis), Chaka Khan (Choir Soloist) and Ray Charles (Ray).

Almost all the members of the band performed with the Brothers on their SNL appearances (some were unable to appear in the film for various reasons) and are as follows: guitarists Steve (Colonel) Cropper and Matt (Guitar) Murphy, saxophonist Lou Marini, and trombonist Tom (Bones) Malone, drummer Willie (Too Big) Hall (added for the film) and keyboardist Murphy Dunne (also added for the film).
While there is a lot going on in the film its a fun ride! Probably my favorite scene is the band's first gig after regrouping. They play in a bar where the patrons only like two kinds of music "country & western". Separating the band from its audience is a wall of wire mesh. This wall is for the bands protection since the customers continually throw their beer bottles at the stage. O my! Despite all this, the chaos is controlled by the plot (and director) and Aykroyd & Belushi have amazing chemistry, plus the music is AMAZING and the car chases are a riot.

Buy it b/c it's good: it's hardly a 'classic' or a 'great' film, but definitely worthwhile in the long run...and you can totally impress your friends with your comic selection
Dude, it's quotable: ITS THE HUFFING BLUES BROTHERS! They are cultural icons...even if you don't (or didn't) like SNL they are memorable, funny characters with some fascinating dialogue (and by 'fascinating' i mean funny but a tad risky)

The Blues Brothers (1980) 133 min (extended version is 148 min)
Rating: R (mostly for language...they drop the F-bomb a few times)
Director: John Landis
Starring: John Belushi as Jake
Dan Aykroyd as Elwood

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

"If you ain't first, you're last!"

Riding on the coattails of biopics Ray and Walk the Line is the fictional biography of NASCAR driver Ricky Bobby (Ferrell). The film opens with Ricky's birth: his father, Reese (Gary Cole) is a racecar driver and driving his car over 100 mph to get his pregnant wife Lucy (Jane Lynch) to the hospital, but he is so excited about his speed that he drives past the hospital. After listening to his wife yell he tells her to hold on to something and he slams on the breaks and his son is born. Beginning life in this way it is no wonder Ricky Bobby loved speed. His motto (the quote he lives his life by) "If you ain't first, you're last" was said Reese (his dad) when he was drunk and these words have motivated all of Ricky's actions. At his side is his best friend and teammate Cal Naughton (Reilly) and together they make up the dynamic duo of "Shake & Bake" which means Cal positions his car so Ricky can slingshot into the lead and Cal can finish in second place because as Ricky points out "You can't have two number ones" and Cal concurs, "Cause that would be eleven". Along for the ride is Ricky's smokin' hot wife Carley (Leslie Bibb), who only wants to be a driver's wife and his out-of-control sons Walker (Houston Tumlin) & Texas Ranger (Grayson Russel). When Carley's father complains about the behavior of the boys Ricky explains that his sons are winners and they act like winners and Carley responds with the funniest line of the film "If we wanted two wussies, we would have named them Dr. Quinn and Medicine Woman!". Keeping Ricky racing is his team: Lucius (Michael Clarke Duncan) his crew chief and friend, and Susan (Amy Adams) his assistant.

At the prime of his career "I wake up in the morning and I piss excellence!" his team adds a French driver, Jean Girard (Cohen). Girard immediately becomes Ricky's nemesis by 1.playing jazz on the jukebox "Nobody plays jazz at the Pit Stop!", 2.being French "You sound like a dog with peanut butter on the roof of your mouth", 3.being gay (he passes out from all the 'gayness') and 4.for continually beating him. Look for some hilarious cameos and minor characters such as Girard's husband Gregory (Andy Richter) and Ricky's car owner's wife Mrs. Dennit (Molly Shannon).


My dad, a NASCAR fan, LOVES this film as do my brother & I (who remain apathetic towards racing in general). Ferrell is great, but don't count out the talents of Cohen & Reilly who hold their own. Like most biopics this film chronicles Ricky's rise to fame, the obstacles he can't seem to overcome (he has a bad accident), and his triumph over the obstacles...but unlike other biopics this is consistently funny and over-the-top but thats what is great about this film. Enjoy!

Dude, it's quotable: not always appropriate, but there are some classic one-liners and funny conversations
Buy it w/o seeing it: Will Ferrell movies, in my opinion, are either hit-or-miss but a lot of the appeal is based on what you think if funny...I don't currently own this film but it is definitely missing from my collection. If you aren't convinced then rent it a few times and you'll be sold!

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)
Rating: PG-13 for crude & sexual humor, language, drug references and brief comic violence
Director: Adam McKay
Starring: Will Ferrell as Ricky Bobby
Sacha Baron Cohen as Jean Girard
John C. Reilly as Cal Naughton

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

"The following is based on actual events. Only the names, locations and events have been changed"

Living in an age where both men and women anchor the news and have their own talk shows we sometimes forget about a time when this was not the case. It's the 1970s when "There was a time, a time before cable. When the local anchorman reigned supreme. When people believed everything they heard on TV. This was an age when only men were allowed to read the news" and the Channel 4 News Team from San Diego is no exception. Holding the position as top evening news team are four men: Ron, Brian, Brick, & Champ. Ron (Ferrell) is the beloved team leader and anchorman: he has great hair, a great job, and great dog named Baxter (they wear the same pjs & both wear head-gear to bed...and Ron talks to Baxter and seems to interpret his barks). Brian (Rudd) is the self-proclaimed "stylish" one of the group and the field reporter. Champ (Koechner) is the macho-man sports guru who has a thick southern accent (and Stetson) and the catch-phrase "whammy!". And rounding out the team is Brick (Carell) the weatherman, Brick doesn't always understand what's going on " I don't know what we're yelling about!" but the rest of the team doesn't notice (in his opening comments Brick mentions that years after the events of the film he learns that he has an IQ of 48 and is considered "mentally retarded"). The crew is a tight-knit group who broadcast by day and party alllllllllllllllll night, much to the disappointment of their boss Ed (Fred Willard) and despite the intervention of his assistant Garth (Chris Parnell). But their whole world changes when a female reporter is assigned to their group for diversity. Veronica (Applegate) is a serious reporter hoping to someday be the head anchor for a news program. Her good looks have the guys competing for her, but her ambition makes them go to war. She begins a secret affair with Ron until a tragedy occurs, making Ron miss the broadcast and Veronica reads the news in his place. Who is the better anchor? Who will give-up/in first? What will happen to their ratings? And can the crew take on 19 other reporters in gang warfare?

While this isn't the best film I've seen (it's not even close) it is a worthwhile film with the talents of Ferrell & Carell doing what they do best: crazy characters, along with a talented cast of well-known comedians. My favorite scene was the rumble between the four or five news teams: our heros the Channel 4 team (led by Ferrel), the 2nd place news team led by Wes Mantooth (Vince Vaughn), the 3rd place team led by Frank Vitchard (Luke Wilson), the Public News team (led by Tim Robbins), and the Spanish news team led by Arturo Mendes (Ben Stiller with a "Spanish" accent and mustache). It's chaos, but random enough to make you laugh till it hurts. Keep in mind that this film features sexist language, along with some crude language...but keep in mind the time period for the former, and the actors involved for the latter. Even though at times it seems over the top (the zoo scene) there is something uncanny about their resemblance to real news teams: the commercials where they smile at each other and the camera, the end of each broadcast when Ron & later Veronica are shown on the screen while the credits roll and they smile and shuffle papers while actually dissing each other, etc. You can't help but love these characters even if you don't understand them and wonder does this really happen? Regardless, the film will keep you laughing or at least groaning...enjoy!

Rent it multiple times: This film has staying potential so it COULD be worth buying, but regardless Will Ferrell is always outrageous and worth a watch
Dude, it's quotable!: just looking at the quotes from IMDb.com is funny, but they are even funnier in context

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) 94 min
Rating: PG-13 for sexual humor, language, & comic violence
Director: Adam McKay
Starring: Will Ferrell as Ron Burgundy
Christina Applegate as Veronica Corningstone
Paul Rudd as Brian Fantana
Steve Carell as Brick Tamland
David Koechner as Champ Kind