Third Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge: The Lists
05-29-12, 01:04 PM
#26
Re: Third Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge: The Lists
Ash Ketchum’s Second Annual Historical Challenge
June 2, 2012
1. SOUTH SHAOLIN VS. NORTH SHAOLIN (1984/Hong Kong-Taiwan-South Korea, 90 min., color, kung fu adventure) VHS (in Mandarin with English subs.)
Dir.: Woo Ka Chin. Cast: Casanova Wong, Eagle Han. The one about Ming Dynasty princes being smuggled as babies into South China and pursued by Qing enforcers even as the babies grow up, separately, into adulthood. One of the princes is raised as a Shaolin monk and winds up rescuing the brother he doesn’t know. Not much narrative coherence, but lots of great fights.
June 3, 2012
2. KINGS GO FORTH (1958/U.S., 110 min., b&w, war drama/United Artists) DVD
Dir.: Delmer Daves. Cast: Frank Sinatra, Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood.
Romantic melodrama set in France during WWII in the aftermath of D-Day, with Sinatra and Curtis both in love with Wood, who plays an American girl raised in France and the daughter of an interracial marriage. Typical 1950s big-star vehicle, but its racial angle is muted by Wood’s casting. June 3 is Tony’s birthday. He would have turned 87.
June 4, 2012
3. DEADLY DUO (1971/Hong Kong, 81 min., color, historical martial arts adventure/Shaw Bros.) DVD (in Mandarin with English subs.)
Dir.: Chang Cheh. Cast: Ti Lung, David Chiang, Ku Feng.
The conquering Jins hold the Sung Dynasty prince in captivity in an impregnable castle and a handful of heroes break in to try and free him. Lots of action, simple plot in smaller-scale version of the historical kung fu epics Chang Cheh was making at the time (THE HEROIC ONES, BLOOD BROTHERS).
4. JAMAICA INN (1939/U.K., 98 min., b&w, historical adventure) DVD
Dir.: Alfred Hitchcock. Cast: Charles Laughton, Maureen O’Hara, Robert Newton.
A gang of cutthroats operating out of the title inn in the 1820s lure cargo ships to their doom on the rocky Cornish coast and plunder them. An Irish girl gets involved and hooks up with an undercover agent for the King. Not bad, but its cramped sets and low budget cried out for a widescreen big-budget color remake, which we never got. Very un-Hitchcockian.
June 5, 2012
5. THE GREEN DRAGON INN (1977/Taiwan, 93 min., color, kung fu adventure) VHS (English-dubbed)
Dir.: Wu Min-hsiung. Cast: Yueh Hua, Lo Lieh, Polly Shang-Kwan.
In Old China, a rich man’s son is wanted for murder and an imperial officer and his men arrest the criminal and must get him to court despite an army of warriors sent to stop them. The three stars are old hands at this kind of thing, but this isn’t one of the best of the genre.
June 6, 2012
6. WHY WE FIGHT, PART 1: "PRELUDE TO WAR" (1942/U.S., 53 min., b&w, documentary) DVD
Directors: Frank Capra, Anatole Litvak. Narrator: Walter Huston.
Wartime documentary aimed at educating viewers about the aggressive behavior of Germany, Italy and Japan in the years leading up to the war and why it was necessary to go to war against them.
June 7-10
[Break from Challenge to attend AnimeNext Convention in New Jersey. No historical material except for the occasional Cosplayer in traditional costume.]
June 11, 2012
7. THE MASTER OF KUNG FU (1973/Hong Kong, 92 min., color, kung fu drama/Shaw Bros.) R3 DVD (in Mandarin with English subs.)
Dir.: Ho Meng-Hua. Cast: Ku Feng, Chen Ping, Wang Hsieh.
Ku Feng plays Wong Fei-Hung (1847-1924), the legendary Chinese herbalist/martial artist, as a mature character in a low-key film that's a little more serious than most of the films I’ve seen about Master Wong and less flamboyant in terms of its kung fu. Starts out well, but devolves in its last third into a routine crime drama about stolen jade, corrupt merchants and an elaborate frame-up.
June 12, 2012
[Wild Card]
8. HIGH FLIGHT (1957/UK, 102 min., color, aviation drama/Columbia) VHS (taped off TCM)
Dir.: John Gilling. Cast: Ray Milland, Kenneth Haigh, Anthony Newley.
Dull drama about flight training in the RAF. Good aerial scenes. I thought it had a historical setting, but there are absolutely no historical markers in it, other than a reference to flying saucers, which definitely places it post-war. The cars look older than 1957, so I’m using this as a Wild Card. This was made in color, but released theatrically in the U.S. in a cut black-and-white print. TCM ran a complete color print, but it was pan-and-scan, not Cinemascope.
9. JUDGE PRIEST (1934/U.S., 80 min., b&w, comedy-drama/Fox) DVD (Mill Creek Western Classics)
Dir.: John Ford. Cast: Will Rogers, Tom Brown, Stepin Fetchit.
Ford gets folksy in this snapshot of an old Kentucky town in the 1890s. Somehow, the spectacle of blacks happily performing “Dixie” while the “Little Colonel” from BIRTH OF A NATION (Henry B. Walthall) waxes nostalgic about the Confederacy throws me off a bit. Time to break out THE GRAPES OF WRATH and THE SEARCHERS.
June 13, 2012
10. APPOINTMENT IN TOKYO (1945/U.S., 110 min., b&w, documentary) DVD (Mill Creek Pearl Harbor set)
Compilation of four documentaries about the war against Japan: “Pearl Harbor Payback,” “Target Tokyo,” “Air War Against Japan,” “Appointment in Tokyo”
It’s always amazing to see the wealth of combat footage that was taken in World War II battles. The last film here has a street-by-street, building-by-building account of the Battle of Manila. I’ve never seen this footage before.
June 14, 2012
11. DECISIVE VICTORY (1942/U.S. 81 min., b&w and color, documentary) DVD (Mill Creek Pearl Harbor set)
Compilation of documentaries about the war against Japan: "Death March," "Decisive Victory," "They Beat the Japs"
The second film is actually John Ford's "The Battle of Midway," only retitled "Decisive Victory" and shown here in b&w, not its original color. "They Beat the Japs" compiles profiles of different generals who led the American forces in battle against the Japanese. Much of this material was compiled and produced long after the war, but I'm not sure when. This is a confusing box set containing several government-produced documentaries with the original credits removed and the films retitled for this set.
12. THE CARSON CITY KID (1940/U.S., 53 min., b&w, B-western/Republic Pictures) DVD (Mill Creek Western Classics)
Dir.: Joseph Kane. Cast: Roy Rogers, Bob Steele, Noah Beery Jr., Gabby Hayes.
In Gold Rush-era California, Roy Rogers plays an outlaw—who’s never seen actually stealing anything—seeking to get the goods on the gambler who’d murdered his brother and now runs the town of Sonora. Good cast, but not the most exciting Rogers western I’ve seen.
June 15, 2012
13. INHERITOR OF KUNG FU (1978/Hong Kong, 92 min., color, kung fu adventure) VHS (English-dubbed)
Dir.: Pao Hsueh Li. Cast: Ti Lung, Chang Lin, Philip Cheung.
Convoluted kung fu movie about rival clans searching for a special kung fu manual. Lots of fighting, but little sense.
14. SHINSENGUMI CHRONICLES: I WANT TO DIE A SAMURAI (1963/Japan, 93 min., color, historical adventure/Daiei) DVD (in Japanese with English subs.)
Dir.: Kenji Misumi. Cast: Raizo Ichikawa, Tomisaburo Wakayama, Shiho Fujimura.
Well-mounted drama about the ill-fated “shinsengumi,” a motley band of would-be samurai seeking to defend the waning Tokugawa Shogunate from imperial factions in the years before the Meiji restoration. Set in 1863, 100 years before it was made.
15. THE SUN SHINES BRIGHT (1953/U.S., 100 min., b&w, period drama/Republic) VHS
Dir.: John Ford. Cast: Charles Winninger, Arleen Whelan, John Russell, Stepin Fetchit.
Very odd remake of Ford’s own JUDGE PRIEST (1934, see #9), set in the early 1900s, but without the humor supplied in the original by Will Rogers. Old-fashioned even by 1953 standards and racially quite retrograde. Ford considered this film his favorite. I don’t get it.
June 16, 2012
Female Pirate Day
16. ANNE OF THE INDIES (1951/U.S., 81 min., color, pirate adventure/Fox) VHS
Dir.: Jacques Tourneur. Cast: Jean Peters, Louis Jourdan, Debra Paget.
Jean Peters plays a pirate captain loosely based on the real-life female pirate, Anne Bonney. She’s brutal and ruthless, but softens, temporarily, when she falls for Louis Jourdan, a captured French naval officer. When he betrays her…well, hell hath no fury like a pirate woman scorned. Pretty hard-edged for 1951 and Jean is great in the role.
17. CUTTHROAT ISLAND (1995/U.S., 124 min., color, pirate adventure/Carolco) VHS
Dir.: Renny Harlin. Cast: Geena Davis, Matthew Modine, Frank Langella.
Overlong, overblown big-budget compendium of pirate movie clichés. Entertaining in parts, but it could have used more charismatic actors in the two lead roles.
June 17, 2012
18. THE PRICE OF POWER (1969/Italy, 108 min., color, western) 35mm – seen at Film Forum’s “Spaghetti Westerns” series. In Italian with English subs.
Dir.: Tonino Valerii. Cast: Giuliano Gemma, Fernando Rey, Van Johnson.
Bizarre Italian western that mixes gimmicky spaghetti western violence with a heavy-handed political allegory about the Kennedy assassination transplanted to 1881 Dallas and the assassination of then-President Garfield (played by Van Johnson).
June 18, 2012
19. THE YOUNG HERO OF SHAOLIN (1984/China, 91 min., color, kung fu biopic) VHS (English-dubbed)
Directors: Yang Fan, Ye Hoi Fung. Cast: Shi Bao Hua, Chen Yong Xia.
Mainland Chinese biopic covering the early years of Fong Sai Yuk, who went on to become a legendary Shaolin rebel. Not as flashy as the Hong Kong films about the hero, but still appealing.
20. COLORADO (1940/U.S., 53 min., b&w, B-western/Republic Pictures) DVD (Mill Creek Western Classics)
Dir.: Joseph Kane. Cast: Roy Rogers, Milburn Stone, Gabby Hayes.
Civil War tale with Rogers as a government agent seeking to stop Confederate saboteurs in Colorado, one of whom is his brother. Interesting ideas left undeveloped because of the low budget and short running time, but filled with action nonetheless. Rogers and Stone are very good in this.
June 19, 2012
21. WHY WE FIGHT #6: THE BATTLE OF CHINA (1944/U.S., 65 min., b&w, documentary/U.S. War Dept.) DVD
Narrator: Anthony Veiller. Japan's war on China and China's efforts to fight back, with the help of the Allies. Japan's atrocities are well-known to me, but the footage of them remains horrifying. No mention of Mao Tse Tung or the Chinese Communists.
22. AMERICAN EMPIRE (1942/U.S., 81 min., b&w, western/UA) DVD (Mill Creek Western Classics)
Dir.: William McGann. Cast: Richard Dix, Preston Foster, Leo Carrillo.
Two men who run a rickety riverboat on the Mississippi decide to go into cattle ranching in post-Civil War Texas, but must contend with a French cattle rustler from Louisiana. Great climactic battle, with dozens of horse-riding extras, but not much excitement until then.
June 20, 2012
23. WHY WE FIGHT #4: THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN (1943/U.S. 54 min., b&w, documentary/U.S. War Dept.) DVD
Narrators: Anthony Veiller, Walter Huston. Shows how England stood up to the Nazi invasion and the bombing raids on London. As I watched the destruction, I kept wondering why the U.S. didn't join the war much sooner. I guess I don't know as much about WWII history as I thought I did.
24. YOUNG BILL HICKOK (1940/U.S., 54 min., b&w, B-western/Republic) DVD (Mill Creek Western Classics)
Dir.: Joseph Kane. Cast: Roy Rogers, Gabby Hayes, Sally Payne.
Roy plays Bill Hickok during the Civil War as he works for the Union to thwart Morrell's Raiders out west who are robbing gold shipments meant for the Union Army. We see him earn his nickname, "Wild Bill," early on. Pretty exciting B-western with a great performance by Sally Payne as Calamity Jane.
June 21, 2012
25. FLYING TIGERS (1942/U.S., 102 min., b&w, WWII combat/Republic) VHS
Dir.: David Miller. Cast: John Wayne, John Carroll, Anna Lee.
Since the Flying Tigers, an American volunteer flying unit, was mentioned in BATTLE OF CHINA (see #21), I decided to re-watch this film, which was about that unit, which fought against the Japanese in China well before the U.S. entered the war. There weren't many Hollywood films about the war in China; this might be the most prominent.
26. THREE CAME HOME (1950/U.S., 105 min., b&w, WWII drama/Fox) DVD (Mill Creek Combat Classics set)
Dir.: Jean Negulesco. Cast: Claudette Colbert, Patric Knowles, Sessue Hayakawa.
An American woman and her son spend three-and-a-half years in a prison camp run by the Japanese on Borneo during WWII. Unstinting portrayal of the Japanese captors' brutality. Scenes of torture, physical and mental agony, and attempted rape certainly pushed the limits for Hollywood in 1950. Based on a true story and partly filmed on location.
June 22, 2012
27. TALL IN THE SADDLE (1944/U.S., 87 min., b&w, western/RKO) DVD
Dir.: Edwin L. Marin. Cast: John Wayne, Ella Raines, Ward Bond.
I needed a break from Japanese wartime brutality, so I shifted to this classic John Wayne western where he plays a cowboy caught between rival ranching factions in a western town. Smoothly written, fast-paced, beautifully shot, and wonderfully played. Ella Raines plays a hard-riding ranch girl—mean, hot-tempered, passionate, and absolutely stunning!
28. FIVE SHAOLIN MASTERS (1974/Hong Kong, 105 min., color, kung fu adventure/Shaw Bros.) R3 DVD (in Mandarin with English subtitles)
Dir.: Chang Cheh. Cast: David Chiang, Ti Lung, Fu Sheng, Chi Kuan Chun, Meng Fei.
Five fighters survive the burning of Shaolin Temple and fan out to recruit other patriots to resist the Manchu takeover. Five villains target the five heroes. Based on real-life figures. One of the best of Shaw Bros.’ Shaolin cycle.
29. EMPIRE OF THE SUN (1987/U.S., 152 min., color, wartime drama/Warner Bros.) VHS
Dir.: Steven Spielberg. Cast: Christian Bale, John Malkovich, Nigel Havers.
An English boy is interned with other white civilians in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp during WWII and tries to make the best of it. Based on a book by J.G. Ballard, who actually lived it. Visually impressive, but the harshness of the experience is considerably softened.
June 23, 2012
30. SHANGHAI JOE (aka IL MIO NOME E' SHANGHAI JOE, 1973/Italy, 97 min., color, Italian western) VHS (English-dubbed)
Dir.: Mario Caiano. Cast: Chen Lee, Piero Lulli, Klaus Kinski.
A Chinese immigrant and kung fu expert in the 19th century travels to Texas and encounters bigotry, discrimination, and humiliation and is forced to frequently defend himself. Not bad, but clearly inspired by TV’s “Kung Fu” series.
31. THE LONE RANGER (1952/U.S. 65 min., b&w, western) DVD (Mill Creek Western Legends set)
Dir.: George B. Seitz, Jr. Cast: Clayton Moore, Jay Silverheels, Walter Sande, Glenn Strange.
Feature compilation originally released in 1952 as “The Legend of the Lone Ranger,” containing three 1949 episodes from “The Lone Ranger” TV series showing the origin of the character and how he met his sidekick, Tonto. They round up the Butch Cavendish gang in this one.
32. CHALLENGE OF THE MASTERS (1976/Hong Kong, 96 min., color, kung fu drama/Shaw Bros.) DVD (in Mandarin with English subs.)
Dir.: Lau Kar Leung. Cast: Gordon Liu, Chen Kuan Tai, Lily Li.
The legendary herbalist and martial artist Wong Fei Hung (1847-1924) is seen here as a youth whose father refuses to teach him kung fu, so he instead goes to his dad’s teacher to train and comes back in time to help his dad’s school in the annual Lion Dance. Not much plot, but lots of great kung fu.
June 24, 2012
33. RETURN OF THE BAD MEN (1948/U.S., 90 min., b&w, western/RKO) VHS
Dir.: Ray Enright. Cast: Randolph Scott, Gabby Hayes, Robert Ryan.
RKO outlaw mash-up, with lots of unrelated outlaws (Billy the Kid, the Sundance Kid, the Younger Bros., the Dalton Bros., Bill Doolin) awkwardly thrown into the same mix, along with the Oklahoma Land Rush. This is a follow-up to BADMAN’S TERRITORY, which was much better.
June 25, 2012
34. BEST OF THE BADMEN (1951/U.S., 84 min., color, western/RKO) VHS
Dir.: William D. Russell. Cast: Robert Ryan, Claire Trevor, Robert Preston.
Another RKO outlaw mash-up, but the outlaws here, the James brothers and the Younger brothers, actually did ride together after the Civil War. Ryan plays an ex-Union army major who leads the former Quantrill raiders on a robbery spree, all to get back at a vicious Pinkerton-like detective. Lawrence Tierney and Tom Tyler play Jesse and Frank James, just like they did in BADMAN’S TERRITORY (1946).
35. STAGECOACH TO DENVER (1946/U.S., 53 min., b&w, B-western/Republic) DVD (Mill Creek Western Classics)
Dir.: R.G. Springsteen. Cast: Allan Lane, Peggy Stewart, Roy Barcroft, Bobby Blake.
Murder and landgrabbing in Colorado as the stage lines expand. Red Ryder (Lane) and Little Beaver (Blake) get involved when a little boy is paralyzed after a stagecoach is derailed in a fake accident designed to kill the new Land Commissioner. Pretty good B-western.
36. THE STILWELL ROAD (1945/U.S., 82 min., b&w, wartime documentary) DVD (Mill Creek Pearl Harbor set)
“The Stilwell Road” is 49 min. and narrated by Ronald Reagan. It offers amazing footage of the campaign by the Allies (U.S, England, China, India, Burma, etc.) to retake Burma from the Japanese. Followed on the DVD by “The Battle of Saipan,” about a key battle in the Pacific, and a short about the battle for Guam.
June 26, 2012
37. MARY OF SCOTLAND (1936/U.S., 123 min., b&w, historical drama/RKO) VHS
Dir.: John Ford. Cast: Katharine Hepburn, Frederic March, Florence Eldridge.
Drama about the rivalry between Mary, Queen of Scots, and Queen Elizabeth I of England, with generous helpings of Mary's love life and the intrigue she faced in court. One of the few Ford films I hadn't seen before. It's an odd one and way too long. I don't quite get the point of it. It makes Elizabeth look bad, but, unlike Mary, she actually accomplished something. Did Mary actually do anything? The film doesn't say.
38. WE TAKE NEW GUINEA (1944/U.S., 85 min., b&w/color, wartime documentary) DVD (Mill Creek Pearl Harbor set)
Compilation of four documentaries on the Pacific War: “We Take New Guinea” (39 min.), narrated by Ronald Reagan; “The Pacific War” (16 min.), in color and done decades after the war; “Battles of Tarawa and Makin” (10 min.); and “Fury in the Pacific” (1945, 20 min.), narrated by Richard Carlson, about the battle to take Palau. Great combat footage throughout.
June 27, 2012
39. KINPATSU NO JEANIE (JEANIE WITH THE LIGHT BROWN HAIR) (1979/Japan, 100 min., color, animated historical drama) R2 DVD (in Japanese, no subtitles) Episodes 1-4 (of a 13-part series)
Anime series about a family in Virginia during the Civil War. Odd historical mix-ups include cowboys, covered wagons and saloons—in Virginia! Unusual in that, unlike such celebrated anime series as “Little Women,” this one was not based on a famous literary work, but was a completely original idea. The theme song is a Japanese-language version of the Stephen Foster song, “I Dream of Jeannie…”
40. THE BANDIT OF SHERWOOD FOREST (1946/U.S., 86 min., color, costume adventure/Columbia) VHS
Directors: George Sherman, Henry Levin. Cast: Cornel Wilde, Anita Louise, Henry Daniell.
The son of Robin Hood (Wilde) shows up in Sherwood when a new tyrant tries to assassinate the boy king and do away with the Magna Carta. Modeled on Flynn’s THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, but not nearly as good.
41. ROGUES OF SHERWOOD FOREST (1950/U.S., 80 min., color, costume adventure/Columbia) VHS
Dir.: Gordon Douglas. Cast: John Derek, Diana Lynn, Alan Hale.
The son of Robin Hood, again, but this time played by Derek. He goes up against King John and helps the enlightened nobles get the Magna Carta instated. Not quite a sequel, not quite a prequel, sort of a reboot. Alan Hale Sr. plays Little John for the third time in 28 years, but he died before this came out. Fast-paced, but lightweight.
42. MACARTHUR (1977/U.S., 130 min., color, biopic/Universal) DVD
Dir.: Joseph Sargent. Cast: Gregory Peck, Ed Flanders, Dan O’Herlihy.
Covers General Douglas MacArthur from the beginning of World War II to the Korean War and his dismissal by Truman. Flawed film with a very uneven performance by Peck, but there are some powerful scenes, including MacArthur’s return to the Philippines, the Japanese surrender aboard the U.S.S. Missouri, and the occupation of Japan, which make the film worth seeing.
June 28, 2012
43. THE MOUNTAIN ROAD (1960/U.S., 102 min., b&w, war drama/Columbia) VHS
Dir.: Daniel Mann. Cast: James Stewart, Lisa Lu, Harry Morgan, Glenn Corbett.
A rare Hollywood film about the war in China. Stewart plays an army engineer who leads a demolition squad to blow up roads to slow the Japanese advance west. Lisa Lu plays an American-educated Chinese woman who accompanies them. The biggest threats to Stewart and his team come from the Chinese they encounter. Fascinating, incisive attempt to explore the cultural divide between China and America during the war.
44. CHINA DOLL (1958/U.S., 99 min., b&w, war-themed romantic drama/UA) DVD
Dir.: Frank Borzage. Cast: Victor Mature, Li Li Hua, Ward Bond.
Another rare Hollywood film about the war in China. An American Air Corps Captain inadvertently “buys” a Chinese woman bondservant while stationed in China during WWII and—long story short—winds up marrying her and fathering a baby. There’s too much of the subservient “China doll” stereotype in play here, esp. in contrast with the strong, independent Chinese woman in MOUNTAIN ROAD (see #43). But it turns out to be a real tearjerker.
June 29, 2012
45. WINDS OF THE WASTELAND (1936/U.S., 54 min., b&w, B-western/Republic) DVD (Mill Creek Western Legends set)
Dir.: Mack V. Wright. Cast: John Wayne, Phyllis Fraser, Lane Chandler.
In Old California, the Pony Express gives way to telegraph lines and stage lines. John Wayne plays a former Pony Express rider who starts up a stage line in a near-ghost town and competes in a stage race to Sacramento to win a government contract. Wayne is good and the stage race is very well done.
46. TV Westerns featuring Robert Redford DVD
Collection of TV western episodes in which Redford made guest appearances. Four half-hours:
The Deputy: “The Last Gunfight” (1960, b&w)
Whispering Smith: “The Grudge” (1961, b&w)
Tate: “The Bounty Hunter” (1960, b&w)
Tate: “Comanche Scalps” (1960, b&w)
Redford plays a bad guy in the first three, either a hotshot gunslinger or someone seeking revenge against the hero. In the last, he plays a good guy who goes after some raiding Comanches led by Leonard Nimoy!
June 30, 2012
47a. The Virginian: “The Evil That Men Do” (1963, color, 75 min., TV western/NBC-Universal) DVD (TV Westerns featuring Robert Redford)
Dir.: Stuart Heisler. Cast: Lee J. Cobb, James Drury, Robert Redford.
Redford plays an angry young convict paroled into Judge Garth’s custody to see if he can be rehabilitated. It’s a touch-and-go proposition throughout. Redford’s quite good and you can see why he became a movie star a few short years later.
47b. Buffalo Bill Jr.: “The Fight for Texas” (1955, b&w, 26 min., TV western) DVD (Mill Creek Ultimate TV Westerns) Dir.: George Archainbaud. Cast: Dick Jones, Nancy Gilbert, Richard Powers.
I needed a half-hour western to fill out this entry, so I picked one that dealt with the Texas Rangers. Now it’s on to the Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge.
June 2, 2012
1. SOUTH SHAOLIN VS. NORTH SHAOLIN (1984/Hong Kong-Taiwan-South Korea, 90 min., color, kung fu adventure) VHS (in Mandarin with English subs.)
Dir.: Woo Ka Chin. Cast: Casanova Wong, Eagle Han. The one about Ming Dynasty princes being smuggled as babies into South China and pursued by Qing enforcers even as the babies grow up, separately, into adulthood. One of the princes is raised as a Shaolin monk and winds up rescuing the brother he doesn’t know. Not much narrative coherence, but lots of great fights.
June 3, 2012
2. KINGS GO FORTH (1958/U.S., 110 min., b&w, war drama/United Artists) DVD
Dir.: Delmer Daves. Cast: Frank Sinatra, Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood.
Romantic melodrama set in France during WWII in the aftermath of D-Day, with Sinatra and Curtis both in love with Wood, who plays an American girl raised in France and the daughter of an interracial marriage. Typical 1950s big-star vehicle, but its racial angle is muted by Wood’s casting. June 3 is Tony’s birthday. He would have turned 87.
June 4, 2012
3. DEADLY DUO (1971/Hong Kong, 81 min., color, historical martial arts adventure/Shaw Bros.) DVD (in Mandarin with English subs.)
Dir.: Chang Cheh. Cast: Ti Lung, David Chiang, Ku Feng.
The conquering Jins hold the Sung Dynasty prince in captivity in an impregnable castle and a handful of heroes break in to try and free him. Lots of action, simple plot in smaller-scale version of the historical kung fu epics Chang Cheh was making at the time (THE HEROIC ONES, BLOOD BROTHERS).
4. JAMAICA INN (1939/U.K., 98 min., b&w, historical adventure) DVD
Dir.: Alfred Hitchcock. Cast: Charles Laughton, Maureen O’Hara, Robert Newton.
A gang of cutthroats operating out of the title inn in the 1820s lure cargo ships to their doom on the rocky Cornish coast and plunder them. An Irish girl gets involved and hooks up with an undercover agent for the King. Not bad, but its cramped sets and low budget cried out for a widescreen big-budget color remake, which we never got. Very un-Hitchcockian.
June 5, 2012
5. THE GREEN DRAGON INN (1977/Taiwan, 93 min., color, kung fu adventure) VHS (English-dubbed)
Dir.: Wu Min-hsiung. Cast: Yueh Hua, Lo Lieh, Polly Shang-Kwan.
In Old China, a rich man’s son is wanted for murder and an imperial officer and his men arrest the criminal and must get him to court despite an army of warriors sent to stop them. The three stars are old hands at this kind of thing, but this isn’t one of the best of the genre.
June 6, 2012
6. WHY WE FIGHT, PART 1: "PRELUDE TO WAR" (1942/U.S., 53 min., b&w, documentary) DVD
Directors: Frank Capra, Anatole Litvak. Narrator: Walter Huston.
Wartime documentary aimed at educating viewers about the aggressive behavior of Germany, Italy and Japan in the years leading up to the war and why it was necessary to go to war against them.
June 7-10
[Break from Challenge to attend AnimeNext Convention in New Jersey. No historical material except for the occasional Cosplayer in traditional costume.]
June 11, 2012
7. THE MASTER OF KUNG FU (1973/Hong Kong, 92 min., color, kung fu drama/Shaw Bros.) R3 DVD (in Mandarin with English subs.)
Dir.: Ho Meng-Hua. Cast: Ku Feng, Chen Ping, Wang Hsieh.
Ku Feng plays Wong Fei-Hung (1847-1924), the legendary Chinese herbalist/martial artist, as a mature character in a low-key film that's a little more serious than most of the films I’ve seen about Master Wong and less flamboyant in terms of its kung fu. Starts out well, but devolves in its last third into a routine crime drama about stolen jade, corrupt merchants and an elaborate frame-up.
June 12, 2012
[Wild Card]
8. HIGH FLIGHT (1957/UK, 102 min., color, aviation drama/Columbia) VHS (taped off TCM)
Dir.: John Gilling. Cast: Ray Milland, Kenneth Haigh, Anthony Newley.
Dull drama about flight training in the RAF. Good aerial scenes. I thought it had a historical setting, but there are absolutely no historical markers in it, other than a reference to flying saucers, which definitely places it post-war. The cars look older than 1957, so I’m using this as a Wild Card. This was made in color, but released theatrically in the U.S. in a cut black-and-white print. TCM ran a complete color print, but it was pan-and-scan, not Cinemascope.
9. JUDGE PRIEST (1934/U.S., 80 min., b&w, comedy-drama/Fox) DVD (Mill Creek Western Classics)
Dir.: John Ford. Cast: Will Rogers, Tom Brown, Stepin Fetchit.
Ford gets folksy in this snapshot of an old Kentucky town in the 1890s. Somehow, the spectacle of blacks happily performing “Dixie” while the “Little Colonel” from BIRTH OF A NATION (Henry B. Walthall) waxes nostalgic about the Confederacy throws me off a bit. Time to break out THE GRAPES OF WRATH and THE SEARCHERS.
June 13, 2012
10. APPOINTMENT IN TOKYO (1945/U.S., 110 min., b&w, documentary) DVD (Mill Creek Pearl Harbor set)
Compilation of four documentaries about the war against Japan: “Pearl Harbor Payback,” “Target Tokyo,” “Air War Against Japan,” “Appointment in Tokyo”
It’s always amazing to see the wealth of combat footage that was taken in World War II battles. The last film here has a street-by-street, building-by-building account of the Battle of Manila. I’ve never seen this footage before.
June 14, 2012
11. DECISIVE VICTORY (1942/U.S. 81 min., b&w and color, documentary) DVD (Mill Creek Pearl Harbor set)
Compilation of documentaries about the war against Japan: "Death March," "Decisive Victory," "They Beat the Japs"
The second film is actually John Ford's "The Battle of Midway," only retitled "Decisive Victory" and shown here in b&w, not its original color. "They Beat the Japs" compiles profiles of different generals who led the American forces in battle against the Japanese. Much of this material was compiled and produced long after the war, but I'm not sure when. This is a confusing box set containing several government-produced documentaries with the original credits removed and the films retitled for this set.
12. THE CARSON CITY KID (1940/U.S., 53 min., b&w, B-western/Republic Pictures) DVD (Mill Creek Western Classics)
Dir.: Joseph Kane. Cast: Roy Rogers, Bob Steele, Noah Beery Jr., Gabby Hayes.
In Gold Rush-era California, Roy Rogers plays an outlaw—who’s never seen actually stealing anything—seeking to get the goods on the gambler who’d murdered his brother and now runs the town of Sonora. Good cast, but not the most exciting Rogers western I’ve seen.
June 15, 2012
13. INHERITOR OF KUNG FU (1978/Hong Kong, 92 min., color, kung fu adventure) VHS (English-dubbed)
Dir.: Pao Hsueh Li. Cast: Ti Lung, Chang Lin, Philip Cheung.
Convoluted kung fu movie about rival clans searching for a special kung fu manual. Lots of fighting, but little sense.
14. SHINSENGUMI CHRONICLES: I WANT TO DIE A SAMURAI (1963/Japan, 93 min., color, historical adventure/Daiei) DVD (in Japanese with English subs.)
Dir.: Kenji Misumi. Cast: Raizo Ichikawa, Tomisaburo Wakayama, Shiho Fujimura.
Well-mounted drama about the ill-fated “shinsengumi,” a motley band of would-be samurai seeking to defend the waning Tokugawa Shogunate from imperial factions in the years before the Meiji restoration. Set in 1863, 100 years before it was made.
15. THE SUN SHINES BRIGHT (1953/U.S., 100 min., b&w, period drama/Republic) VHS
Dir.: John Ford. Cast: Charles Winninger, Arleen Whelan, John Russell, Stepin Fetchit.
Very odd remake of Ford’s own JUDGE PRIEST (1934, see #9), set in the early 1900s, but without the humor supplied in the original by Will Rogers. Old-fashioned even by 1953 standards and racially quite retrograde. Ford considered this film his favorite. I don’t get it.
June 16, 2012
Female Pirate Day
16. ANNE OF THE INDIES (1951/U.S., 81 min., color, pirate adventure/Fox) VHS
Dir.: Jacques Tourneur. Cast: Jean Peters, Louis Jourdan, Debra Paget.
Jean Peters plays a pirate captain loosely based on the real-life female pirate, Anne Bonney. She’s brutal and ruthless, but softens, temporarily, when she falls for Louis Jourdan, a captured French naval officer. When he betrays her…well, hell hath no fury like a pirate woman scorned. Pretty hard-edged for 1951 and Jean is great in the role.
17. CUTTHROAT ISLAND (1995/U.S., 124 min., color, pirate adventure/Carolco) VHS
Dir.: Renny Harlin. Cast: Geena Davis, Matthew Modine, Frank Langella.
Overlong, overblown big-budget compendium of pirate movie clichés. Entertaining in parts, but it could have used more charismatic actors in the two lead roles.
June 17, 2012
18. THE PRICE OF POWER (1969/Italy, 108 min., color, western) 35mm – seen at Film Forum’s “Spaghetti Westerns” series. In Italian with English subs.
Dir.: Tonino Valerii. Cast: Giuliano Gemma, Fernando Rey, Van Johnson.
Bizarre Italian western that mixes gimmicky spaghetti western violence with a heavy-handed political allegory about the Kennedy assassination transplanted to 1881 Dallas and the assassination of then-President Garfield (played by Van Johnson).
June 18, 2012
19. THE YOUNG HERO OF SHAOLIN (1984/China, 91 min., color, kung fu biopic) VHS (English-dubbed)
Directors: Yang Fan, Ye Hoi Fung. Cast: Shi Bao Hua, Chen Yong Xia.
Mainland Chinese biopic covering the early years of Fong Sai Yuk, who went on to become a legendary Shaolin rebel. Not as flashy as the Hong Kong films about the hero, but still appealing.
20. COLORADO (1940/U.S., 53 min., b&w, B-western/Republic Pictures) DVD (Mill Creek Western Classics)
Dir.: Joseph Kane. Cast: Roy Rogers, Milburn Stone, Gabby Hayes.
Civil War tale with Rogers as a government agent seeking to stop Confederate saboteurs in Colorado, one of whom is his brother. Interesting ideas left undeveloped because of the low budget and short running time, but filled with action nonetheless. Rogers and Stone are very good in this.
June 19, 2012
21. WHY WE FIGHT #6: THE BATTLE OF CHINA (1944/U.S., 65 min., b&w, documentary/U.S. War Dept.) DVD
Narrator: Anthony Veiller. Japan's war on China and China's efforts to fight back, with the help of the Allies. Japan's atrocities are well-known to me, but the footage of them remains horrifying. No mention of Mao Tse Tung or the Chinese Communists.
22. AMERICAN EMPIRE (1942/U.S., 81 min., b&w, western/UA) DVD (Mill Creek Western Classics)
Dir.: William McGann. Cast: Richard Dix, Preston Foster, Leo Carrillo.
Two men who run a rickety riverboat on the Mississippi decide to go into cattle ranching in post-Civil War Texas, but must contend with a French cattle rustler from Louisiana. Great climactic battle, with dozens of horse-riding extras, but not much excitement until then.
June 20, 2012
23. WHY WE FIGHT #4: THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN (1943/U.S. 54 min., b&w, documentary/U.S. War Dept.) DVD
Narrators: Anthony Veiller, Walter Huston. Shows how England stood up to the Nazi invasion and the bombing raids on London. As I watched the destruction, I kept wondering why the U.S. didn't join the war much sooner. I guess I don't know as much about WWII history as I thought I did.
24. YOUNG BILL HICKOK (1940/U.S., 54 min., b&w, B-western/Republic) DVD (Mill Creek Western Classics)
Dir.: Joseph Kane. Cast: Roy Rogers, Gabby Hayes, Sally Payne.
Roy plays Bill Hickok during the Civil War as he works for the Union to thwart Morrell's Raiders out west who are robbing gold shipments meant for the Union Army. We see him earn his nickname, "Wild Bill," early on. Pretty exciting B-western with a great performance by Sally Payne as Calamity Jane.
June 21, 2012
25. FLYING TIGERS (1942/U.S., 102 min., b&w, WWII combat/Republic) VHS
Dir.: David Miller. Cast: John Wayne, John Carroll, Anna Lee.
Since the Flying Tigers, an American volunteer flying unit, was mentioned in BATTLE OF CHINA (see #21), I decided to re-watch this film, which was about that unit, which fought against the Japanese in China well before the U.S. entered the war. There weren't many Hollywood films about the war in China; this might be the most prominent.
26. THREE CAME HOME (1950/U.S., 105 min., b&w, WWII drama/Fox) DVD (Mill Creek Combat Classics set)
Dir.: Jean Negulesco. Cast: Claudette Colbert, Patric Knowles, Sessue Hayakawa.
An American woman and her son spend three-and-a-half years in a prison camp run by the Japanese on Borneo during WWII. Unstinting portrayal of the Japanese captors' brutality. Scenes of torture, physical and mental agony, and attempted rape certainly pushed the limits for Hollywood in 1950. Based on a true story and partly filmed on location.
June 22, 2012
27. TALL IN THE SADDLE (1944/U.S., 87 min., b&w, western/RKO) DVD
Dir.: Edwin L. Marin. Cast: John Wayne, Ella Raines, Ward Bond.
I needed a break from Japanese wartime brutality, so I shifted to this classic John Wayne western where he plays a cowboy caught between rival ranching factions in a western town. Smoothly written, fast-paced, beautifully shot, and wonderfully played. Ella Raines plays a hard-riding ranch girl—mean, hot-tempered, passionate, and absolutely stunning!
28. FIVE SHAOLIN MASTERS (1974/Hong Kong, 105 min., color, kung fu adventure/Shaw Bros.) R3 DVD (in Mandarin with English subtitles)
Dir.: Chang Cheh. Cast: David Chiang, Ti Lung, Fu Sheng, Chi Kuan Chun, Meng Fei.
Five fighters survive the burning of Shaolin Temple and fan out to recruit other patriots to resist the Manchu takeover. Five villains target the five heroes. Based on real-life figures. One of the best of Shaw Bros.’ Shaolin cycle.
29. EMPIRE OF THE SUN (1987/U.S., 152 min., color, wartime drama/Warner Bros.) VHS
Dir.: Steven Spielberg. Cast: Christian Bale, John Malkovich, Nigel Havers.
An English boy is interned with other white civilians in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp during WWII and tries to make the best of it. Based on a book by J.G. Ballard, who actually lived it. Visually impressive, but the harshness of the experience is considerably softened.
June 23, 2012
30. SHANGHAI JOE (aka IL MIO NOME E' SHANGHAI JOE, 1973/Italy, 97 min., color, Italian western) VHS (English-dubbed)
Dir.: Mario Caiano. Cast: Chen Lee, Piero Lulli, Klaus Kinski.
A Chinese immigrant and kung fu expert in the 19th century travels to Texas and encounters bigotry, discrimination, and humiliation and is forced to frequently defend himself. Not bad, but clearly inspired by TV’s “Kung Fu” series.
31. THE LONE RANGER (1952/U.S. 65 min., b&w, western) DVD (Mill Creek Western Legends set)
Dir.: George B. Seitz, Jr. Cast: Clayton Moore, Jay Silverheels, Walter Sande, Glenn Strange.
Feature compilation originally released in 1952 as “The Legend of the Lone Ranger,” containing three 1949 episodes from “The Lone Ranger” TV series showing the origin of the character and how he met his sidekick, Tonto. They round up the Butch Cavendish gang in this one.
32. CHALLENGE OF THE MASTERS (1976/Hong Kong, 96 min., color, kung fu drama/Shaw Bros.) DVD (in Mandarin with English subs.)
Dir.: Lau Kar Leung. Cast: Gordon Liu, Chen Kuan Tai, Lily Li.
The legendary herbalist and martial artist Wong Fei Hung (1847-1924) is seen here as a youth whose father refuses to teach him kung fu, so he instead goes to his dad’s teacher to train and comes back in time to help his dad’s school in the annual Lion Dance. Not much plot, but lots of great kung fu.
June 24, 2012
33. RETURN OF THE BAD MEN (1948/U.S., 90 min., b&w, western/RKO) VHS
Dir.: Ray Enright. Cast: Randolph Scott, Gabby Hayes, Robert Ryan.
RKO outlaw mash-up, with lots of unrelated outlaws (Billy the Kid, the Sundance Kid, the Younger Bros., the Dalton Bros., Bill Doolin) awkwardly thrown into the same mix, along with the Oklahoma Land Rush. This is a follow-up to BADMAN’S TERRITORY, which was much better.
June 25, 2012
34. BEST OF THE BADMEN (1951/U.S., 84 min., color, western/RKO) VHS
Dir.: William D. Russell. Cast: Robert Ryan, Claire Trevor, Robert Preston.
Another RKO outlaw mash-up, but the outlaws here, the James brothers and the Younger brothers, actually did ride together after the Civil War. Ryan plays an ex-Union army major who leads the former Quantrill raiders on a robbery spree, all to get back at a vicious Pinkerton-like detective. Lawrence Tierney and Tom Tyler play Jesse and Frank James, just like they did in BADMAN’S TERRITORY (1946).
35. STAGECOACH TO DENVER (1946/U.S., 53 min., b&w, B-western/Republic) DVD (Mill Creek Western Classics)
Dir.: R.G. Springsteen. Cast: Allan Lane, Peggy Stewart, Roy Barcroft, Bobby Blake.
Murder and landgrabbing in Colorado as the stage lines expand. Red Ryder (Lane) and Little Beaver (Blake) get involved when a little boy is paralyzed after a stagecoach is derailed in a fake accident designed to kill the new Land Commissioner. Pretty good B-western.
36. THE STILWELL ROAD (1945/U.S., 82 min., b&w, wartime documentary) DVD (Mill Creek Pearl Harbor set)
“The Stilwell Road” is 49 min. and narrated by Ronald Reagan. It offers amazing footage of the campaign by the Allies (U.S, England, China, India, Burma, etc.) to retake Burma from the Japanese. Followed on the DVD by “The Battle of Saipan,” about a key battle in the Pacific, and a short about the battle for Guam.
June 26, 2012
37. MARY OF SCOTLAND (1936/U.S., 123 min., b&w, historical drama/RKO) VHS
Dir.: John Ford. Cast: Katharine Hepburn, Frederic March, Florence Eldridge.
Drama about the rivalry between Mary, Queen of Scots, and Queen Elizabeth I of England, with generous helpings of Mary's love life and the intrigue she faced in court. One of the few Ford films I hadn't seen before. It's an odd one and way too long. I don't quite get the point of it. It makes Elizabeth look bad, but, unlike Mary, she actually accomplished something. Did Mary actually do anything? The film doesn't say.
38. WE TAKE NEW GUINEA (1944/U.S., 85 min., b&w/color, wartime documentary) DVD (Mill Creek Pearl Harbor set)
Compilation of four documentaries on the Pacific War: “We Take New Guinea” (39 min.), narrated by Ronald Reagan; “The Pacific War” (16 min.), in color and done decades after the war; “Battles of Tarawa and Makin” (10 min.); and “Fury in the Pacific” (1945, 20 min.), narrated by Richard Carlson, about the battle to take Palau. Great combat footage throughout.
June 27, 2012
39. KINPATSU NO JEANIE (JEANIE WITH THE LIGHT BROWN HAIR) (1979/Japan, 100 min., color, animated historical drama) R2 DVD (in Japanese, no subtitles) Episodes 1-4 (of a 13-part series)
Anime series about a family in Virginia during the Civil War. Odd historical mix-ups include cowboys, covered wagons and saloons—in Virginia! Unusual in that, unlike such celebrated anime series as “Little Women,” this one was not based on a famous literary work, but was a completely original idea. The theme song is a Japanese-language version of the Stephen Foster song, “I Dream of Jeannie…”
40. THE BANDIT OF SHERWOOD FOREST (1946/U.S., 86 min., color, costume adventure/Columbia) VHS
Directors: George Sherman, Henry Levin. Cast: Cornel Wilde, Anita Louise, Henry Daniell.
The son of Robin Hood (Wilde) shows up in Sherwood when a new tyrant tries to assassinate the boy king and do away with the Magna Carta. Modeled on Flynn’s THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, but not nearly as good.
41. ROGUES OF SHERWOOD FOREST (1950/U.S., 80 min., color, costume adventure/Columbia) VHS
Dir.: Gordon Douglas. Cast: John Derek, Diana Lynn, Alan Hale.
The son of Robin Hood, again, but this time played by Derek. He goes up against King John and helps the enlightened nobles get the Magna Carta instated. Not quite a sequel, not quite a prequel, sort of a reboot. Alan Hale Sr. plays Little John for the third time in 28 years, but he died before this came out. Fast-paced, but lightweight.
42. MACARTHUR (1977/U.S., 130 min., color, biopic/Universal) DVD
Dir.: Joseph Sargent. Cast: Gregory Peck, Ed Flanders, Dan O’Herlihy.
Covers General Douglas MacArthur from the beginning of World War II to the Korean War and his dismissal by Truman. Flawed film with a very uneven performance by Peck, but there are some powerful scenes, including MacArthur’s return to the Philippines, the Japanese surrender aboard the U.S.S. Missouri, and the occupation of Japan, which make the film worth seeing.
June 28, 2012
43. THE MOUNTAIN ROAD (1960/U.S., 102 min., b&w, war drama/Columbia) VHS
Dir.: Daniel Mann. Cast: James Stewart, Lisa Lu, Harry Morgan, Glenn Corbett.
A rare Hollywood film about the war in China. Stewart plays an army engineer who leads a demolition squad to blow up roads to slow the Japanese advance west. Lisa Lu plays an American-educated Chinese woman who accompanies them. The biggest threats to Stewart and his team come from the Chinese they encounter. Fascinating, incisive attempt to explore the cultural divide between China and America during the war.
44. CHINA DOLL (1958/U.S., 99 min., b&w, war-themed romantic drama/UA) DVD
Dir.: Frank Borzage. Cast: Victor Mature, Li Li Hua, Ward Bond.
Another rare Hollywood film about the war in China. An American Air Corps Captain inadvertently “buys” a Chinese woman bondservant while stationed in China during WWII and—long story short—winds up marrying her and fathering a baby. There’s too much of the subservient “China doll” stereotype in play here, esp. in contrast with the strong, independent Chinese woman in MOUNTAIN ROAD (see #43). But it turns out to be a real tearjerker.
June 29, 2012
45. WINDS OF THE WASTELAND (1936/U.S., 54 min., b&w, B-western/Republic) DVD (Mill Creek Western Legends set)
Dir.: Mack V. Wright. Cast: John Wayne, Phyllis Fraser, Lane Chandler.
In Old California, the Pony Express gives way to telegraph lines and stage lines. John Wayne plays a former Pony Express rider who starts up a stage line in a near-ghost town and competes in a stage race to Sacramento to win a government contract. Wayne is good and the stage race is very well done.
46. TV Westerns featuring Robert Redford DVD
Collection of TV western episodes in which Redford made guest appearances. Four half-hours:
The Deputy: “The Last Gunfight” (1960, b&w)
Whispering Smith: “The Grudge” (1961, b&w)
Tate: “The Bounty Hunter” (1960, b&w)
Tate: “Comanche Scalps” (1960, b&w)
Redford plays a bad guy in the first three, either a hotshot gunslinger or someone seeking revenge against the hero. In the last, he plays a good guy who goes after some raiding Comanches led by Leonard Nimoy!
June 30, 2012
47a. The Virginian: “The Evil That Men Do” (1963, color, 75 min., TV western/NBC-Universal) DVD (TV Westerns featuring Robert Redford)
Dir.: Stuart Heisler. Cast: Lee J. Cobb, James Drury, Robert Redford.
Redford plays an angry young convict paroled into Judge Garth’s custody to see if he can be rehabilitated. It’s a touch-and-go proposition throughout. Redford’s quite good and you can see why he became a movie star a few short years later.
47b. Buffalo Bill Jr.: “The Fight for Texas” (1955, b&w, 26 min., TV western) DVD (Mill Creek Ultimate TV Westerns) Dir.: George Archainbaud. Cast: Dick Jones, Nancy Gilbert, Richard Powers.
I needed a half-hour western to fill out this entry, so I picked one that dealt with the Texas Rangers. Now it’s on to the Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge.
Last edited by Ash Ketchum; 06-30-12 at 08:19 PM.
05-29-12, 04:27 PM
#27
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Third Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge: The Lists
Screwadu's June Challenge 2012
[i][SIZE="1"]
Week One: June 1-2
1. A&E Biography: Confucius/A&E Biography: Nostradamus
2. Ride Him, Cowboy (1932)
3. Jin bei tong (1979)
4. Hatfields & McCoys pt 1(2012)
5. Hatfields & McCoys pt 2(2012)
6. Hatfields & McCoys pt 3(2012)
Week Two: June 3-9
7. Zhong kui niang zi (1971)
8. Cha chi hu (1970)
9. Jin mao shi wang (1975)
10. Hong Xi Guan: Zhi Shao Lin wu zu (1994)
11. Xiao ao jiang hu zhi: Dong Fang Bu Bai (1992)
12. Xiao nian Su Qi Er (1985)
13. Feng shen jie (1983)
14. Da nei gao shou (1972)
15. She diao ying xiong chuan (1977)
16. She diao ying xiong chuan xu ji (1978)
Week Three: June 10-16
17. She diao ying xiong chuan san ji (1981)
18. American Graffiti (1973)
19. Ching gung kai si luk (1983)
20. Lonesome Dove (1989) pt 1
21. Lonesome Dove (1989) pt 2
22. Lonesome Dove (1989) pt 3
23. Lonesome Dove (1989) pt 4
24. Clash of the Titans (1981)
The Checklist
Spoiler:
Last edited by Whiskey Warfield; 06-29-12 at 02:02 PM.
05-29-12, 10:00 PM
#28
DVD Talk Special Edition
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Re: Third Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge: The Lists
June 8
Too Big To Fail (2011) - Excellent HBO film regarding the financial meltdown of 2008. Superb acting, gripping script, and an understandable plot for those not completely familiar with America's financial system.
Too Big To Fail (2011) - Excellent HBO film regarding the financial meltdown of 2008. Superb acting, gripping script, and an understandable plot for those not completely familiar with America's financial system.
Last edited by gp1086; 06-08-12 at 09:05 PM.
05-30-12, 08:01 PM
#29
Re: Third Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge: The Lists
Hear ye, hear ye! It is so decreed that my list will go here!
* = First time viewing.
Title in black bold: DVD from my personal collection
Title in purple bold: Seen on TV broadcast
Title in blue bold: DVD/Blu Ray rental
Title in green bold: Seen online.
June 1
1. Guinevere (1994) An Arthurian tale that like the much superior The Mists of Avalon tells the tale through a woman's eyes, in this case Guinevere, Arthur's wife. There's much new age-y talk about how men and Christianity are evil and all was much better when they worshiped "the goddess". See The Mists of Avalon instead.
June 2
2. Introducing Dorothy Dandridge* (1999) Biopic of the first black actress nominated for an Oscar. Halle Berry gives a great performance.
June 3
3. Ray* (2004) Biopic of the rhythm & blues legend. Jamie Fox's performance is really astounding.
June 4
4. The Great Waldo Pepper (1975) I couldn't believe it when I found this DVD in a local supermarket after having looked for it for ages. A sentimental favorite of mine since I saw for the first time in the movie theater when I was a kid (yes, I'm that old). Great adventure film set in the 30's that tells the tale of an ex-fighter pilot (Robert Redford) who still dreams of the days of the flying aces but who now works in a flying circus doing aerial stunts.
June 5
5. Anonymous* (2011) Alternate history? Pure fiction? Or a great truth uncovered?. You be the judge. This movie proposes that the Earl of Oxford wrote the plays attributed to William Shakespeare and did so because writing was considered an ignoble act beneath a man of his royal lineage. William Shakespeare himself is portrayed as a vain actor who is a mere figurehead for the Earl's writings. The plot moves back and forth in time between the Earl's youth and his later years and that makes for confusing viewing at times but still a very good movie.
June 6
6. J. Edgar* (2011) Bio pic of famed FBI director J. Edgar Hoover. Hoover's obsessive nature is fully explored as well as his contributions to modern forensic science. His flaws are also on display, prime among them was his giant ego, self-serving morals and eagerness to take credit for anything his agents did. The story bounces back and forth between the past and the present (something I normally don't like) but since the same actors play their young and old selves, with the aid of makeup effects, the story never gets confusing thanks to the steady hand of director Clint Eastwood.
June 7
7. Cole Miner's Daughter* (1980) Bio pic of famed country singer Loretta Lynn.
June 8 - Nothing
June 9
8. Far And Away (1992) An epic tale that spans the continents, sweeping Panavision vistas, rousing score, star-crossed lovers... Director Ron Howard pushes all the right buttons to make this film feel epic. Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman star in a tale of Irish immigrants who want to participate in the Oklahoma Land Rush and start a new life.
June 10
9. Georgia O'Keefe* (2009) Biopic of famed American painter Georgia O'Keefe.
10. Spartacus: Gods of the Arena* Episodes: Past transgressions / Missio
June 11
11. Ali (2001) Bio pic of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali (Will Smith) and his struggles with the law when he refuses to enlist in the Army.
June 12
12. The Eagle* (2011) Based on the novel by Rosemary Sutcliff, The Eagle of the Ninth, this movie tells the tale of a young officer seeking to regain his family's honor by reclaiming a golden eagle which was the standard of the Roman ninth legion and had been lost. There's plenty of action and adventure and I quite enjoyed this movie, also the cinematography was outstanding.
June 13
13. Red Tails* (2012) George Lucas produces (but doesn't direct) this tale based on the real life all-negro fighter squadron in World War II. Sadly the acting is atrocious and the script is just as awful. There's even a pointless (and unlikely) love story forced in there that is so cliché-ridden it hurts to watch.
June 14
14. The Borgias*, S1 (2011) Episodes: The poisoned chalice / The assassin
June 15
15. Roy Rogers movies:* Hands across the border (1944) / Billy the Kid Returns (1938)
June 16
16. Lagardère - TV miniseries part 1 (2003) French TV miniseries based on the novel Le Bossu (The Hunchback) which has been filmed at least twice before. Since I haven't read the book I can't say how closely it sticks to the story but I can say that it's a rousing adventure tale with lots of intrigue and fantastic sword fighting scenes. Despite it's almost 4 hour length the movie remains entertaining throughout and never lags. Recommended if you come across it.
June 17
17. Lagardère - TV miniseries part 2 (2003)
June 18
18. Une Lumière Dans la Nuit - TV miniseries part 1 (2009) WILDCARD 1 French TV miniseries that tells the story of the invention of Braille - the reading and writing system used by blind people - and combines it with a murder mystery. The story is told in two timelines, one in the past with Louis Braille and his invention are pursued by both the French and English armies who want the Braille system to be used for military means instead of for blind people and the other in the present where a young blind woman and her friend seek to find the original apparatus used by Louis Braille and which could be of incalculable historic and economic value. They must as well escape a murderous cult who also seek the Braille apparatus which is central to their evil ways. I use a WILDCARD because only half the miniseries is set in the past while the other half in the present, though both stories are linked.
June 19
19. Une Lumière Dans la Nuit - TV miniseries part 2 (2009)
June 20
20. Sophie Scholl* (2005) German film about a young woman in Nazi Germany during World War II that gets arrested because she and her brother were printing and distributing anti-Nazi pamphlets. Mostly a courtroom drama with long scenes of interrogation but the narrative is never boring and there are scenes of great tension. If you didn't hate the Nazis before, you sure will after seeing this movie. Fantastic performances throughout. Nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.
June 21-22-23
21. Lawrence of Arabia* (1962) Yes, it took me three days to see the this movie spread across 2 DVDs. Incredibly enough I had never seen this most epic of movies. Lives up to its legend for sure.
June 24
22. Hollywoodland (2006) Based on the true life (and death) of George Reeves, TV's Superman. Faithfully recreates 50's Hollywood with all its glamour and seedy underbelly as well. The story is only a "what if?" since it doesn't seek to solve the mystery of Reeves' death. Incredible performances all round especially from Ben Affleck in the main role and Diane Lane as his mistress Toni Mannix.
23. Spartacus: Gods of the Arena* (2011) Episodes: Paterfamilias / Beneath the mask
June 25
24. American Experience Into the Deep: America, Whaling and the World* (2012?) Excellent documentary about the history of the whaling industry in America. Seen online at the PBS website here.
June 26
25. Water for Elephants* (2011) Romance/drama set in a 1930's travelling circus. Based on the popular book. Entertaining.
June 27
26. American Experience* (2012?) Episodes: Annie Oakley / Jesse James
June 28
27. My Week With Marilyn* (2011) Very enjoyable telling of the events surrounding the filming of The Prince and the Showgirl. Michelle Williams does a superb Marilyn and Kenneth Branagh is dead on as Laurence Olivier. Highly recommended.
28. Secrets of the Dead* (200?) Episodes: The Airmen and the Headhunters / The Sinking of the Andrea Doria
29. The Help* (2011) Movie about the plight of black maids in 1950's Mississippi. All the white people (save one) are pictured as totally evil and the black people as noble and oppressed. Quite frankly the whole movie reeked of white guilt and sure enough, upon seeing the making-of feature on the disc, the writer of the book and the director of the movie are as white as can be.
June 29
30. The Edge of Love* (2009) I really went out of my comfort zone with this one but the movie was very slow-moving and It seemed to have no plot, it was all character-driven, not something I appreciate. Even the endless closeups of Keira Knightley and Siena Miller didn't help me enjoy this drama set in WWII England.
31. The Conspirator* (2010) Courtroom drama set during the end of the civil war about the trial of Lincoln's assassins, meaning those who aided John Wilkes Booth in his task.
June 30
32. U-571 (2000) Set in World War II, an American Navy task force captures a German U-boat in order to obtain their Enigma encoding machine, but things go awry as their own submarine is destroyed and they must now use the German U-boat to escape. Nail-biting suspense and fantastic underwater action scenes makes this one almost as good as Das Boot.
33. Greystoke: the Legend of Trazan Lord of the Apes (1984) WILDCARD 2 Even though there are no purely fantasy elements in this movie, I think the very concept of a man raised by apes stretches the limits of credibility so I use a WILDCARD on this one. Retelling Tarzan's origin in the first half with incredible ape makeup by Rick Baker, I never really liked Christopher Lambert in the role but he does a good job nonetheless. The secon hald becomes a costume drama with a fish out of water story as Tarzan is reintroduced into British society. Upon seeing it again after all these years I must say it goes a bit overboard on the sentimentality and Tarzan's childlike behavior, but still a very good movie. The photography alone is breathtaking as are the aforementioned ape suits.
34. Frost/Nixon* (2008) This had the potential to be incredibly boring - a movie about a political interview? Not exactly exciting one might think - but under thecapable difrection of Ron Howard and the incredible performace by Frank Langella this becomes a very riveting view, with nary a dull moment.
CHECKLIST
* = First time viewing.
Title in black bold: DVD from my personal collection
Title in purple bold: Seen on TV broadcast
Title in blue bold: DVD/Blu Ray rental
Title in green bold: Seen online.
June 1
1. Guinevere (1994) An Arthurian tale that like the much superior The Mists of Avalon tells the tale through a woman's eyes, in this case Guinevere, Arthur's wife. There's much new age-y talk about how men and Christianity are evil and all was much better when they worshiped "the goddess". See The Mists of Avalon instead.
June 2
2. Introducing Dorothy Dandridge* (1999) Biopic of the first black actress nominated for an Oscar. Halle Berry gives a great performance.
June 3
3. Ray* (2004) Biopic of the rhythm & blues legend. Jamie Fox's performance is really astounding.
June 4
4. The Great Waldo Pepper (1975) I couldn't believe it when I found this DVD in a local supermarket after having looked for it for ages. A sentimental favorite of mine since I saw for the first time in the movie theater when I was a kid (yes, I'm that old). Great adventure film set in the 30's that tells the tale of an ex-fighter pilot (Robert Redford) who still dreams of the days of the flying aces but who now works in a flying circus doing aerial stunts.
June 5
5. Anonymous* (2011) Alternate history? Pure fiction? Or a great truth uncovered?. You be the judge. This movie proposes that the Earl of Oxford wrote the plays attributed to William Shakespeare and did so because writing was considered an ignoble act beneath a man of his royal lineage. William Shakespeare himself is portrayed as a vain actor who is a mere figurehead for the Earl's writings. The plot moves back and forth in time between the Earl's youth and his later years and that makes for confusing viewing at times but still a very good movie.
June 6
6. J. Edgar* (2011) Bio pic of famed FBI director J. Edgar Hoover. Hoover's obsessive nature is fully explored as well as his contributions to modern forensic science. His flaws are also on display, prime among them was his giant ego, self-serving morals and eagerness to take credit for anything his agents did. The story bounces back and forth between the past and the present (something I normally don't like) but since the same actors play their young and old selves, with the aid of makeup effects, the story never gets confusing thanks to the steady hand of director Clint Eastwood.
June 7
7. Cole Miner's Daughter* (1980) Bio pic of famed country singer Loretta Lynn.
June 8 - Nothing
June 9
8. Far And Away (1992) An epic tale that spans the continents, sweeping Panavision vistas, rousing score, star-crossed lovers... Director Ron Howard pushes all the right buttons to make this film feel epic. Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman star in a tale of Irish immigrants who want to participate in the Oklahoma Land Rush and start a new life.
June 10
9. Georgia O'Keefe* (2009) Biopic of famed American painter Georgia O'Keefe.
10. Spartacus: Gods of the Arena* Episodes: Past transgressions / Missio
June 11
11. Ali (2001) Bio pic of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali (Will Smith) and his struggles with the law when he refuses to enlist in the Army.
June 12
12. The Eagle* (2011) Based on the novel by Rosemary Sutcliff, The Eagle of the Ninth, this movie tells the tale of a young officer seeking to regain his family's honor by reclaiming a golden eagle which was the standard of the Roman ninth legion and had been lost. There's plenty of action and adventure and I quite enjoyed this movie, also the cinematography was outstanding.
June 13
13. Red Tails* (2012) George Lucas produces (but doesn't direct) this tale based on the real life all-negro fighter squadron in World War II. Sadly the acting is atrocious and the script is just as awful. There's even a pointless (and unlikely) love story forced in there that is so cliché-ridden it hurts to watch.
June 14
14. The Borgias*, S1 (2011) Episodes: The poisoned chalice / The assassin
June 15
15. Roy Rogers movies:* Hands across the border (1944) / Billy the Kid Returns (1938)
June 16
16. Lagardère - TV miniseries part 1 (2003) French TV miniseries based on the novel Le Bossu (The Hunchback) which has been filmed at least twice before. Since I haven't read the book I can't say how closely it sticks to the story but I can say that it's a rousing adventure tale with lots of intrigue and fantastic sword fighting scenes. Despite it's almost 4 hour length the movie remains entertaining throughout and never lags. Recommended if you come across it.
June 17
17. Lagardère - TV miniseries part 2 (2003)
June 18
18. Une Lumière Dans la Nuit - TV miniseries part 1 (2009) WILDCARD 1 French TV miniseries that tells the story of the invention of Braille - the reading and writing system used by blind people - and combines it with a murder mystery. The story is told in two timelines, one in the past with Louis Braille and his invention are pursued by both the French and English armies who want the Braille system to be used for military means instead of for blind people and the other in the present where a young blind woman and her friend seek to find the original apparatus used by Louis Braille and which could be of incalculable historic and economic value. They must as well escape a murderous cult who also seek the Braille apparatus which is central to their evil ways. I use a WILDCARD because only half the miniseries is set in the past while the other half in the present, though both stories are linked.
June 19
19. Une Lumière Dans la Nuit - TV miniseries part 2 (2009)
June 20
20. Sophie Scholl* (2005) German film about a young woman in Nazi Germany during World War II that gets arrested because she and her brother were printing and distributing anti-Nazi pamphlets. Mostly a courtroom drama with long scenes of interrogation but the narrative is never boring and there are scenes of great tension. If you didn't hate the Nazis before, you sure will after seeing this movie. Fantastic performances throughout. Nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.
June 21-22-23
21. Lawrence of Arabia* (1962) Yes, it took me three days to see the this movie spread across 2 DVDs. Incredibly enough I had never seen this most epic of movies. Lives up to its legend for sure.
June 24
22. Hollywoodland (2006) Based on the true life (and death) of George Reeves, TV's Superman. Faithfully recreates 50's Hollywood with all its glamour and seedy underbelly as well. The story is only a "what if?" since it doesn't seek to solve the mystery of Reeves' death. Incredible performances all round especially from Ben Affleck in the main role and Diane Lane as his mistress Toni Mannix.
23. Spartacus: Gods of the Arena* (2011) Episodes: Paterfamilias / Beneath the mask
June 25
24. American Experience Into the Deep: America, Whaling and the World* (2012?) Excellent documentary about the history of the whaling industry in America. Seen online at the PBS website here.
June 26
25. Water for Elephants* (2011) Romance/drama set in a 1930's travelling circus. Based on the popular book. Entertaining.
June 27
26. American Experience* (2012?) Episodes: Annie Oakley / Jesse James
June 28
27. My Week With Marilyn* (2011) Very enjoyable telling of the events surrounding the filming of The Prince and the Showgirl. Michelle Williams does a superb Marilyn and Kenneth Branagh is dead on as Laurence Olivier. Highly recommended.
28. Secrets of the Dead* (200?) Episodes: The Airmen and the Headhunters / The Sinking of the Andrea Doria
29. The Help* (2011) Movie about the plight of black maids in 1950's Mississippi. All the white people (save one) are pictured as totally evil and the black people as noble and oppressed. Quite frankly the whole movie reeked of white guilt and sure enough, upon seeing the making-of feature on the disc, the writer of the book and the director of the movie are as white as can be.
June 29
30. The Edge of Love* (2009) I really went out of my comfort zone with this one but the movie was very slow-moving and It seemed to have no plot, it was all character-driven, not something I appreciate. Even the endless closeups of Keira Knightley and Siena Miller didn't help me enjoy this drama set in WWII England.
31. The Conspirator* (2010) Courtroom drama set during the end of the civil war about the trial of Lincoln's assassins, meaning those who aided John Wilkes Booth in his task.
June 30
32. U-571 (2000) Set in World War II, an American Navy task force captures a German U-boat in order to obtain their Enigma encoding machine, but things go awry as their own submarine is destroyed and they must now use the German U-boat to escape. Nail-biting suspense and fantastic underwater action scenes makes this one almost as good as Das Boot.
33. Greystoke: the Legend of Trazan Lord of the Apes (1984) WILDCARD 2 Even though there are no purely fantasy elements in this movie, I think the very concept of a man raised by apes stretches the limits of credibility so I use a WILDCARD on this one. Retelling Tarzan's origin in the first half with incredible ape makeup by Rick Baker, I never really liked Christopher Lambert in the role but he does a good job nonetheless. The secon hald becomes a costume drama with a fish out of water story as Tarzan is reintroduced into British society. Upon seeing it again after all these years I must say it goes a bit overboard on the sentimentality and Tarzan's childlike behavior, but still a very good movie. The photography alone is breathtaking as are the aforementioned ape suits.
34. Frost/Nixon* (2008) This had the potential to be incredibly boring - a movie about a political interview? Not exactly exciting one might think - but under thecapable difrection of Ron Howard and the incredible performace by Frank Langella this becomes a very riveting view, with nary a dull moment.
CHECKLIST
Spoiler:
Last edited by pagefrance; 07-02-12 at 11:22 AM.
06-01-12, 03:49 AM
#30
Re: Third Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge: The Lists
List Complete
2010 List: 14
2011 List: 5.5
*= FTV (19.5/20.5)
Goals:
John Adams (1/7)
The Pacific (10/10)
Finish S.1 of Mad Men (0/8)/start S.2
1 John Wayne movie
Check out Downton Abbey?
Pass my 2010 total (20.5/14)
June 1st
.5. John Adams "Join or Die"*
June 2nd
1. The Pacific "Part 1"*
June 4th
2. The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939)*
June 5th
3. My Week With Marilyn (2011)*
June 6th
4. The Pacific "Part 2*/Part 3"*
June 7th
5. The Pacific "Part 4*/Part 5"*
5.5. The Pacific "Part 6"*
June 8th
6. The Pacific "Part 7"*
6.5.The Pacific "Part 8"*
June 9th
7. The Pacific "Part 9"*
7.5. The Pacific "Part 10"*
June 10th
8.5. J. Edgar (2011)*
9.5. You Don't Know Jack (2010)*
June 11th
10.5. Band of Brothers "Currahee"/"Day of Days"
11. Band of Brothers "Carentan"*
June 13th
~watching history be made with Matt Cain's perfect game
~
June 14th
12. Band of Brothers "Replacements"*/"Crossroads"*
June 18th
13. Recount (2008)*
June 19th
13.5. Band of Brothers "Bastogne"*
June 20th
14.5. Soul Surfer (2011)*
June 21st
15.5. Grey Gardens (1975)*
June 22nd
16. Band of Brothers "The Breaking Point"*
June 23rd
17. Band of Brothers "The Last Patrol"*/"Why We Fight"*
17.5. Band of Brothers "Points"*
June 24th
18.5. In the Shadow of the Moon (2007)*
June 27th
19.5. 9/11 (2002)*
June 29th
20.5. Who Is Clark Rockefellar (2010)*
2010 List: 14
2011 List: 5.5
*= FTV (19.5/20.5)
Goals:
John Adams (1/7)
Finish S.1 of Mad Men (0/8)/start S.2
1 John Wayne movie
Check out Downton Abbey?
June 1st
.5. John Adams "Join or Die"*
June 2nd
1. The Pacific "Part 1"*
June 4th
2. The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939)*
June 5th
3. My Week With Marilyn (2011)*
June 6th
4. The Pacific "Part 2*/Part 3"*
June 7th
5. The Pacific "Part 4*/Part 5"*
5.5. The Pacific "Part 6"*
June 8th
6. The Pacific "Part 7"*
6.5.The Pacific "Part 8"*
June 9th
7. The Pacific "Part 9"*
7.5. The Pacific "Part 10"*
June 10th
8.5. J. Edgar (2011)*
9.5. You Don't Know Jack (2010)*
June 11th
10.5. Band of Brothers "Currahee"/"Day of Days"
11. Band of Brothers "Carentan"*
June 13th
~watching history be made with Matt Cain's perfect game
~June 14th
12. Band of Brothers "Replacements"*/"Crossroads"*
June 18th
13. Recount (2008)*
June 19th
13.5. Band of Brothers "Bastogne"*
June 20th
14.5. Soul Surfer (2011)*
June 21st
15.5. Grey Gardens (1975)*
June 22nd
16. Band of Brothers "The Breaking Point"*
June 23rd
17. Band of Brothers "The Last Patrol"*/"Why We Fight"*
17.5. Band of Brothers "Points"*
June 24th
18.5. In the Shadow of the Moon (2007)*
June 27th
19.5. 9/11 (2002)*
June 29th
20.5. Who Is Clark Rockefellar (2010)*
Last edited by HyperWeather; 07-01-12 at 12:53 AM.
06-02-12, 05:30 PM
#31
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: Third Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge: The Lists
Undeadcow's "Surprised I Own So Many Boring Historical Films" Challenge
June 1
Salon Kitty - the first half was pretty gonzo and sleazy but most of all I appreciated the theme of sexual liberation versus fascism.
June 2
2. Gladiator [Extended Edition] - Ripley Scott seems like a hit or miss kind of direct and Gladiator sinks in my opinion. There was some fleeting action fun but the drama weighs it down and the story is unconvencing. Also the tinting of the movie seems off. I can't believe this won an Academy Award and has been so hyped... can't believe I saw the same film (maybe the theatrical edition is better?)
June 4
3. Wyatt Earp - Entertaining but anticlimatic with the actual ending feeling more like a tacked on epilogue following the showdown. Despite Kevin Costner, who is a horrible actor, Wyatt Earp mostly works.
June 5
4. The Other Boleyn Girl - vastly under rated film, perhaps distorted by my appreciation of Natalie Portman. The tension and grand political spectical pays off.
June 6
5. Saving Private Ryan - a well executed war film but at times a bit too syrupy. The mid-section drags and becomes preachy but the last 40 minutes are intense gold. My grandfather was a sniper in World War 2 and said as far as any movie capturing the experience Saving Private Ryan is the most realistic war film he has seen although still off the mark.
June 10
6. 300 - fun but feels empty due to the negative space and barren backgrounds creating a stage play vibe that contrasts with the vibrant action.
7. Brotherhood of the Wolf - an epic film with some pacing issues but a grand ambition that pays off. Watching it now some of the effects are dated but there's a lot of content here. ...Plus I had to sneak in at least one horror film. I am curious that there are not more french historical dramas.
June 11
8. Alexander - worst movie I've seen so far this challenge, I still haven't finished it because it's so long and horrible ... and why is Colin Farrel portraying a Greek warlord using a Irish accent? However, watching this after 300 was insightful because Alexander in part follows the exploits of perisan king Darius the father of 300's Xerxes so there is some continuity.
June 12
9. Aguirre, Wraith of God - a minor masterpiece with great sceanery and a simple but compelling plot. I love the over-exaggerated political commentary and the ending is seething. Spanish Conquestidor centered films are an under norished cinematic niche that needs more entries. I can't wait for a high definition upgrade.
Planning: Missing In Action 1+2, Burmese Harp, Troy, King Arthur, The Good/Bad/Ugly, Assassination of Jesse James by..., Centurion (Neil Marshall film that snuck by me), Thou Shall Not Kill... Except (it's Vietnam era)
June 1
Salon Kitty - the first half was pretty gonzo and sleazy but most of all I appreciated the theme of sexual liberation versus fascism.
June 2
2. Gladiator [Extended Edition] - Ripley Scott seems like a hit or miss kind of direct and Gladiator sinks in my opinion. There was some fleeting action fun but the drama weighs it down and the story is unconvencing. Also the tinting of the movie seems off. I can't believe this won an Academy Award and has been so hyped... can't believe I saw the same film (maybe the theatrical edition is better?)
June 4
3. Wyatt Earp - Entertaining but anticlimatic with the actual ending feeling more like a tacked on epilogue following the showdown. Despite Kevin Costner, who is a horrible actor, Wyatt Earp mostly works.
June 5
4. The Other Boleyn Girl - vastly under rated film, perhaps distorted by my appreciation of Natalie Portman. The tension and grand political spectical pays off.
June 6
5. Saving Private Ryan - a well executed war film but at times a bit too syrupy. The mid-section drags and becomes preachy but the last 40 minutes are intense gold. My grandfather was a sniper in World War 2 and said as far as any movie capturing the experience Saving Private Ryan is the most realistic war film he has seen although still off the mark.
June 10
6. 300 - fun but feels empty due to the negative space and barren backgrounds creating a stage play vibe that contrasts with the vibrant action.
7. Brotherhood of the Wolf - an epic film with some pacing issues but a grand ambition that pays off. Watching it now some of the effects are dated but there's a lot of content here. ...Plus I had to sneak in at least one horror film. I am curious that there are not more french historical dramas.
June 11
8. Alexander - worst movie I've seen so far this challenge, I still haven't finished it because it's so long and horrible ... and why is Colin Farrel portraying a Greek warlord using a Irish accent? However, watching this after 300 was insightful because Alexander in part follows the exploits of perisan king Darius the father of 300's Xerxes so there is some continuity.
June 12
9. Aguirre, Wraith of God - a minor masterpiece with great sceanery and a simple but compelling plot. I love the over-exaggerated political commentary and the ending is seething. Spanish Conquestidor centered films are an under norished cinematic niche that needs more entries. I can't wait for a high definition upgrade.
Planning: Missing In Action 1+2, Burmese Harp, Troy, King Arthur, The Good/Bad/Ugly, Assassination of Jesse James by..., Centurion (Neil Marshall film that snuck by me), Thou Shall Not Kill... Except (it's Vietnam era)
Last edited by Undeadcow; 06-14-12 at 05:19 PM.
06-02-12, 09:20 PM
#32
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Millville, New Jersey
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16 Posts
Re: Third Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge: The Lists
I'll play- Got a late start. Don't know how much I can do but i'm in.
June 2
(1) The Warlords (2010)- Jet Li 8/10
June 3
(2) A Distant Trumpet (1964) Troy Donahue 7/10
(3) Snow White and the Huntsman (2012) I'm using as a Wild Card. 8.5/10
(4) Remembering Pelle Lindberg- Philadelphia Flyers goalie from the 80's with playoff game footage of May 1985
vs. the Quebec Nordiques. He was killed in a car accident in 11/85.
June 5
(5) 40 Guns to Apache Pass (1967) Audie Murphy. 7/10
June 6
(6) The Longest Day (1962) John Wayne and a host of others. I had to put this in on this day. 10/10
June 9
(7) Rio Grande (1950) John Wayne. 8/10
June 11
(8) Richard Dawson Tribute- Hogans Heroes
Season 1 Disc 1, 4 Episodes
(a) The Intruder- The first and best one-in B&W to boot.(b) Hold that Tiger (c) Kommandant of the Year (d) German Bridge is Falling Down.
June 12
(9) War Horse (2012) Great Movie. 9/10
June 13
(10) Broken Arrow (1950) Jimmy Stewart. I have watched this classic for many years now and it still holds up 9/10
June 15
(11) War of Arrows (2012) Okay, Asian film set in Korea in the 1600's. 7/10
June 16
(12) War Arrow (1953) Jeff Chandler. One of my favorite old-time Calvary vs. Indians Western. 8/10
June 18
(13) The 13th Warrior (1999) Antonio Banderas. Great movie. One of my favorites. 9/10
June 20
(14) I Will fight no more forever (1978) Ned Romero. Chronicles the plight of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce 9/10
June 21
(15) Geronimo- An American Legend (1993) Wes Studi. Good adaption of the Geronimo tale 9/10
June 23
(16) Full Metal Jacket (1987) Matthew Modine. Excellent Viet Nam era movie. 9/10
June 25
(17) The Great Sioux Massacre (1965) Darren McGavin. Custer and the Little Big Horn 7/10
June 27
(18) Namath (2012) HBO Documentary about Joe Namath 8/10
June 2
(1) The Warlords (2010)- Jet Li 8/10
June 3
(2) A Distant Trumpet (1964) Troy Donahue 7/10
(3) Snow White and the Huntsman (2012) I'm using as a Wild Card. 8.5/10
(4) Remembering Pelle Lindberg- Philadelphia Flyers goalie from the 80's with playoff game footage of May 1985
vs. the Quebec Nordiques. He was killed in a car accident in 11/85.
June 5
(5) 40 Guns to Apache Pass (1967) Audie Murphy. 7/10
June 6
(6) The Longest Day (1962) John Wayne and a host of others. I had to put this in on this day. 10/10
June 9
(7) Rio Grande (1950) John Wayne. 8/10
June 11
(8) Richard Dawson Tribute- Hogans Heroes
Season 1 Disc 1, 4 Episodes
(a) The Intruder- The first and best one-in B&W to boot.(b) Hold that Tiger (c) Kommandant of the Year (d) German Bridge is Falling Down.
June 12
(9) War Horse (2012) Great Movie. 9/10
June 13
(10) Broken Arrow (1950) Jimmy Stewart. I have watched this classic for many years now and it still holds up 9/10
June 15
(11) War of Arrows (2012) Okay, Asian film set in Korea in the 1600's. 7/10
June 16
(12) War Arrow (1953) Jeff Chandler. One of my favorite old-time Calvary vs. Indians Western. 8/10
June 18
(13) The 13th Warrior (1999) Antonio Banderas. Great movie. One of my favorites. 9/10
June 20
(14) I Will fight no more forever (1978) Ned Romero. Chronicles the plight of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce 9/10
June 21
(15) Geronimo- An American Legend (1993) Wes Studi. Good adaption of the Geronimo tale 9/10
June 23
(16) Full Metal Jacket (1987) Matthew Modine. Excellent Viet Nam era movie. 9/10
June 25
(17) The Great Sioux Massacre (1965) Darren McGavin. Custer and the Little Big Horn 7/10
June 27
(18) Namath (2012) HBO Documentary about Joe Namath 8/10
Last edited by JOE29; 06-28-12 at 09:15 AM.
06-05-12, 12:00 AM
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
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Re: Third Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge: The Lists
Forgot about this. I'm in. Participation will be light.
1. Duck, You Sucker: Last year (I think), I watched the other three films in the Sergio Leone Anthology. I can easily say this is my least favorite of the four films, although, I'm aware they are not intended as sequels to one another. It was good, not great by any means, but the slow motion didn't work for me. It's not that I'm an impatient person, it's just that I felt those moments didn't resonate like Leone intended. I still like the "completeness" of each of the characters, but I wanted some backstory in with some characters and needless pauses out with the rest.
1. Duck, You Sucker: Last year (I think), I watched the other three films in the Sergio Leone Anthology. I can easily say this is my least favorite of the four films, although, I'm aware they are not intended as sequels to one another. It was good, not great by any means, but the slow motion didn't work for me. It's not that I'm an impatient person, it's just that I felt those moments didn't resonate like Leone intended. I still like the "completeness" of each of the characters, but I wanted some backstory in with some characters and needless pauses out with the rest.
Last edited by CardiffGiant; 06-08-12 at 12:16 AM.
06-08-12, 09:28 PM
#34
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Join Date: May 2007
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Re: Third Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge: The Lists
* Denotes first viewing
1. Stalag 17 (World War II)
2. Jules et Jim * (Decades 1910's)
3. Quiz Show * (Historical Event)
4. Midnight Express * (General Bio Pic)
4.5. Code Breakers: The Lost Heroes of Bletchley Park * (Documentary War)
5. Stanley Kubrick's Boxes (General Documentary)
6. Let Me In * (Decades 1980's)
7. Ravenous * (Centuries 1800's)
8. Man On Wire (Sports/Humanities Doc)
9. Night Of The Hunter (Decades 1930's)
9.5. H. H. Holmes: America's First Serial Killer *
10.5. Reds * (Decades 1910's)
11.5. Singin' In The Rain (General Musical)
12. Pompeii: Back From The Dead * (Historical Event Doc)
13. Joe Kidd * (Clint Eastwood Western)
14. To Kill A Mockingbird
15. Apollo 13
16. La Grande Illusion * (War, Other Country)
17. William S. Burroughs: A Man Within * (Documentary Biographical)
18. Treasure Of The Sierra Madre
19. Mad Men "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes", "Ladies Room"
20. Mad Men "Marriage of Figaro", "New Amsterdam"
21. Mad Men "5G", "Babylon" *
22. Mad Men "Red in the Face" *, "The Hobo Code" *
23. Mad Men "Shoot" *, "Long Weekend" *
24. Mad Men "Indian Summer" * , "Nixon vs. Kennedy" *
25. Mad Men "The Wheel" *, "For Those Who Think Young" *
26. True Grit (Coen Bros.) (Western Based On A Novel)
27. Ride With The Devil * (American War: Civil War)
Check List
1. Stalag 17 (World War II)
2. Jules et Jim * (Decades 1910's)
3. Quiz Show * (Historical Event)
4. Midnight Express * (General Bio Pic)
4.5. Code Breakers: The Lost Heroes of Bletchley Park * (Documentary War)
5. Stanley Kubrick's Boxes (General Documentary)
6. Let Me In * (Decades 1980's)
7. Ravenous * (Centuries 1800's)
8. Man On Wire (Sports/Humanities Doc)
9. Night Of The Hunter (Decades 1930's)
9.5. H. H. Holmes: America's First Serial Killer *
10.5. Reds * (Decades 1910's)
11.5. Singin' In The Rain (General Musical)
12. Pompeii: Back From The Dead * (Historical Event Doc)
13. Joe Kidd * (Clint Eastwood Western)
14. To Kill A Mockingbird
15. Apollo 13
16. La Grande Illusion * (War, Other Country)
17. William S. Burroughs: A Man Within * (Documentary Biographical)
18. Treasure Of The Sierra Madre
19. Mad Men "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes", "Ladies Room"
20. Mad Men "Marriage of Figaro", "New Amsterdam"
21. Mad Men "5G", "Babylon" *
22. Mad Men "Red in the Face" *, "The Hobo Code" *
23. Mad Men "Shoot" *, "Long Weekend" *
24. Mad Men "Indian Summer" * , "Nixon vs. Kennedy" *
25. Mad Men "The Wheel" *, "For Those Who Think Young" *
26. True Grit (Coen Bros.) (Western Based On A Novel)
27. Ride With The Devil * (American War: Civil War)
Check List
Spoiler:
Last edited by spartickes; 06-23-12 at 02:46 AM. Reason: Adding Movies
06-09-12, 04:01 AM
#35
Re: Third Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge: The Lists
1. Ben Franklin bio on History Channel
'2. Founding Fathers (History Channel)
3. 10 Things You didn't Know About: the Rat Pack (H2)
6/10/.2012
4. The Plague (History Channel)
6/11/2012
5 .Apocalypse: The Second World War E1 (Smithsonian Channel)
6. Green Zone 5/10
7. Storage Wars (can't remember the ep name)
6/12/2012
8. Hollywood Treasure S2 E4
9. Apocalypse: The Second World War Ep. 2 (Smithsonian Channel)
10. Mad Men: Episodes 5.12 & 5.13
6/13/2012
11. Bio: Matthew McConaughey
6/14/2012
13. Moliere - 8.5/10 thoroughly enjoyed this film.
'2. Founding Fathers (History Channel)
3. 10 Things You didn't Know About: the Rat Pack (H2)
6/10/.2012
4. The Plague (History Channel)
6/11/2012
5 .Apocalypse: The Second World War E1 (Smithsonian Channel)
6. Green Zone 5/10
7. Storage Wars (can't remember the ep name)
6/12/2012
8. Hollywood Treasure S2 E4
9. Apocalypse: The Second World War Ep. 2 (Smithsonian Channel)
10. Mad Men: Episodes 5.12 & 5.13
6/13/2012
11. Bio: Matthew McConaughey
6/14/2012
13. Moliere - 8.5/10 thoroughly enjoyed this film.
Last edited by That'sAllFolks; 06-14-12 at 10:47 AM.
