The Godfather Review: Guest Post by Rebecca.

Here is a guest post review by my friend Rebecca at Just me... I have yet to see The Godfather and I am not sure if I would agree with Rebecca on the review but it is a great review.

 

Thoughts: The Godfather is a movie about the Corleone crime family in New York during the 1920s-1930s. The story chronicles the finale fall of Vito Corleone and the reluctant rise of his son Michael. Despite it's label as a 'violent' movie--it really isn't that violent, and not only that but it can be pretty  deep. There are many subtle cues throughout the movie that give you amazing insight into the characters. The Godfather is a surprisingly symbolic movie. Symbolism runs throughout the movie and gives it a powerful edge. You must be a close and careful viewer in order to fully understand the intense meaning behind it all.

Directed By: Francis Ford Coppola

Genre: Drama

Release Date: March 15 1972

Running Time: 175 Minutes

MMPA Rating: R

The Good: Fantastic drama, story, and acting. The story is absolutely amazing and a must watch!

The Bad: Not as much action as one might expect--however, what action there was is exceptional and true to life. Also, the movie does have it's slow moments, but those slow moments are often crucial to the story.

Plot: The following summary is copied from Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Godfather Though it really isn't a great work. I will right my own plot sample for The Godfather Part Two.


On the day of his only daughter's wedding, Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) hears requests in his role as the Godfather, the Don of his New York crime family. Vito's youngest son Michael (Al Pacino), on military leave, introduces his girlfriend, Kay Adams (Diane Keaton), to his family at the sprawling reception. Vito's godson Johnny Fontane (Al Martino), a popular singer, pleads for help in securing a coveted movie role, so Vito dispatches his consigliere Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall) to the abrasive studio head, Jack Woltz (John Marley), to secure the casting. Woltz is unmoved until the morning he wakes up in bed with the severed head of his prized stud horse.
Shortly before Christmas 1945, drug baron Virgil "The Turk" Sollozzo (Al Lettieri), backed by the Corleones' rivals, the Tattaglias, asks Vito for investment and protection through his political connections, but Vito disapproves of drug dealers. Instead, he sends his enforcer, Luca Brasi (Lenny Montana) to spy on them, but a fish is returned to the family wrapped in Brasi's vest, confirming he "sleeps with the fishes". Sollozzo's assassination attempt on Vito lands Vito in the hospital, so eldest son, Sonny (James Caan), takes command. Sollozzo kidnaps Hagen to pressure Sonny to accept his deal. Michael thwarts a second assassination attempt on his father at the hospital, but is accosted by corrupt police Captain McCluskey (Sterling Hayden), who breaks his jaw. Sonny retaliates by having Tattaglia's son killed. Michael comes up with a plan to hit Sollozzo and McCluskey that his brother approves over Hagen's objections. On the pretext of settling the dispute, Michael lures the pair to a restaurant, retrieves a planted handgun and murders them.
Despite a clampdown from the authorities, the Five Families erupt in open warfare and the brothers fear for their safety.

Watch the movie to see what happens next!

Plot: 9.9/10: The movie has an original plot and keeps the viewer interested. As I said before, the story is one of great sorry and triumph for the Corlone family and gives remarkable insight into the world of the crime families.

"It's not personal, it's just business."

The symbolism alone is amazing! Everything about this movie has a point. For instance: the puppet controls on the title symbolize the control the Godfather has over the family. Basically they are is puppets. Also, the subtle nuances of this movie are wonderful! For example: When Michael goes to the hospital and discovers that the guards have abandoned his father to die--he and a visitor pose as guards in order to ward off the up coming attack. After it's over, the visitor tries to light a cigarette, but can't because his hands are shaking too badly. Michael lights it for him and discovers that his own hands aren't shaking--hinting to the fact that, despite Michael's best efforts--he is immune to the terror around him. Also, when the reluctant Michael Corleone becomes the Don (AKA the Godfather of the family) he stops smiling. I know that's not something most people would pick up on--but still, it's there. Michael never smiles again (or at least not genuinely) after he becomes the Don. He didn't want in the family--he just wanted out. Yet, to save his family, he sacrificed everything.

Action:7.6/10: This movie isn't really an action movie, though many people claim it is very violent. Actually, it really isn't that bad on the violent scale...though there are parts that definitely are violent. However, there are very few mass shoot outs in this movie.

Acting: 9.8/10: The acting in this movie is superb! Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and Robert Duvall give jaw dropping performances, and even the supporting cast calls for an encore! The movie was cast perfectly. I'd give it a 10/10--but that's just me.       

Special Effects: N/A: The Godfather really doesn't have any special effects; there's no need for any. The Godfather is a realistic drama about a New York Crime family; the only real special effects in this movie are the basic gunfire effects. However they are still good.

Soundtrack: 9.9/10: The soundtrack is perfectly suited to this movie. Nino Rota did a brilliant job!

Comedy: 5.2/10: The Godfather isn't really a comedy movie. However, there are a few comedic moments scattered throughout. However these moments are more chagrin than anything else. They are humorous if you have been paying attention to the story and understand the characters. For instance: it's funny when Sonny beats his brother-in-law for abusing his sister. Also, some of the ways the Corleone family sends messages are humorous!

Would I Watch This Again?: Yes! This is one of those great movies that you can never get tired of!

Overall: 10/10: The Godfather is an epic, timeless movie that you can never forget. It is a classic must see. The Godfather is the story of a powerful family's reign of power and the reluctant hero who tried, in vain, to save them. Trust me, you haven't seen a movie until you have seen the Godfather!  

Closing Comments: If and when you decide to view the Godfather--don't expect a quick, no effort watch. This is an amazingly complex movie and you HAVE to pay attention in order to fully comprehend it all! Everything in this movie has a point and ultimately leads to the conclusion--so pay attention! If you miss a cue then you won't understand the story!

Recommended for: Drama fans, Classics fans, Crime Drama Fans and anyone over fifteen!

Thanks so much to my friend James for letting me do this review!

 

Rebecca will be posting some very important news on her Just me..., very soon. Be sure to check out her blog.

  

"It's not personal, it's just business"

 

Trivia Sunday.

Congratulations JT at The Window on the South and JT's Tales, Jake P, Eldra at A Day On Daremo, and Shena Tokala at Pens, Thespians, and Words

Here are today's trivia questions.

 

What is the name of Indiana Jones' dog when he was a kid?

 

What is the first Star Wars Expanded Universe novel?

 

Which Bond film was "Q" introduced in?

 

Name the movie and characters that this quote is from:

Character 1: "I wanna do great things, you know? I wanna be an achiever, like Bad Horse."

Character 2: "The Thoroughbred of Sin?"

Character 1: "I meant... Ghandi."

 

 

 

What is Starkiller (Vader's apprentice) real name?

Answer: Galen Marek

What is the name of Gandalf's horse?

Answer: Shadowfax

What is James Bond's preferred card game?

Answer: Baccarat

Name the movie and characters that this quote is from:

"Hasta La Vista Baby."

Answer: Terminator 2: Judgement Day, T-800

 

 

 

If you want to contact us or have any question please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Clone Wars: Test of Strength Review.

After last week's disappointing episode, I was hoping that this arc could redeem itself and it definitely did. When I heard that David Tennant, who played the Doctor in the Doctor Who TV series, was going to voice a character in this episode, I was very excited to see this episode and he was the highlight of the episode. As a long time Doctor Who fan it was great to see (or hear) Tennant again.
Note: Full spoilers for the episode are ahead.
Not only did the episode have Tennant, every one's favorite pirate Hando had another starring role in the episode and the ending suggests that we will be seeing more of him in the future. One of the best aspects of the episode was the Wookiee Youngling Gungi. Although it has not been fully constructed in the episode, the idea of a wooden Lightsaber is very interesting and I hope that it will be shown fully constructed in the episodes to come. From what Professor Huyang (the droid) said, he has been that ship for a thousand years. Which I believe would mean that he was around during the Darth Bane era. The Younglings were not annoying like last episode and Gungi is without a doubt my favorite of the group. I saw the arrogant Youngling's (cannot remember his name) using his wrongly constructed Lightsaber to create a distraction as soon as the pirates would introduced but that is only a small complaint. Albeit brief, Ahsoka's fight with Hondo and pirates was well done and her animation was top notch. But as I said before, the highlight of the episode was definitely David Tennant, his Doctor personality fitted perfectly for his role in the episode. While it has had its moments, season 4 has been a little disappointing. The previous arc was nothing special and only Revival had anything significant. Hopefully after this arc, we will have some truly profound story arcs.

Overall: 8.5/10- With David Tennant giving a stand out performance in the episode and Hando being as awesome as always, "Test of Strength" was a very fun episode.

 

What did you think of the episode? Please comment below.

 

 

 

If you want to contact us or have any question please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Skyfall Review Round-Up

After the disappointing  Quantum of Solace the Bond franchise really needed to get back to Casino Royale form again and from the reviews it appears that Skyfall more than delivered. As I expected, there are basically no Bond fans on blogger but here are the links to my reviews from the last two days.

Quantum of Solace (22th Bond Film) Review

Casino Royale (21st Bond movie) Review.

After such stellar reviews for Skyfall, it seems that Bond has crushed Bourne this year. Also with all the amazing movies this year like The Avengers, The Dark Knight Rises, The Amazing Spider-Man and The Hobbit coming later this year, could 2012 be the best year ever in films? So far, so good.

 

 

Chris Stuckmann: A+: Stuckmann said Skyfall is one of the best films of the year and is one of only 16 movies to receive that rating.

Rotten Tomatoes: 93%: Rotten Tomatoes' reviews are holding steady at a an excellent 93%.

"Sam Mendes brings Bond surging back with a smart, sexy, riveting action thriller that qualifies as one of the best 007 films to date."

IGN: 9.0/10: IGN.com is not the best review website because of they are not consistent with their reviews, however from all the other reviews Skyfall seems to be a fantastic film. IGN even suggested that it might be the best Bond outing.
 

Schmoes Know: 4.5/5: Although they did not enjoy it as much as Casino Royale, they did say that Bond was to form after the disappointing Quantum of Solace.

Ian Drury at Banon's Roar!: 4/4: Fellow blogger and film critic Ian Drury gave an out standing review, citing that it may be the best Bond film yet.  Click here to read his review.
 

 

If you want to contact us or have any question please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Quantum of Solace (22th Bond Film) Review

Thoughts: Quantum of Solace, the 22th film in the iconic James Bond and the only one that directly picks up were the previous film left off. Literally, about five minutes after Casnio Royale ends is were Quantum of Solace starts. It is unclear if the events of this film will be relevant for Skyfall but after I watch Skyfall I will be sure to note that in my review.
While Casino Royale was an amazing action film with a smart plot, realistic characters and excellent performances, Quantum of Solace is a convoluted mess with mind numbing action scenes. Rarely if ever have I been so disinterested in an action scene when there is a lot happening on the screen. The tone of the action and the movie in general is completely different than Casino Royale. It is trying to be more gritty, yet over-the-top at the same time and it does not work! For the first 30 minutes I had no idea what was going on or why. Not because it was too complex, because it made no sense and was told poorly. The new director Marc Forster completely butchered what could have been a good Bond movie after the fantastic Casnio Royale. While Casino Royale had some great nods and references that made it seem like a Bond movie despite the lack of gadgets, Quantum was nothing that resembles a Bond film except for one minor reference. Also the villain is a complete joke, one of the worst. However, after the first half of the movie, it does start to become much better and interesting when the espionage starts.



Directed by: Marc Forster
Genre: Action, Spy, Espionage
Release Date: 29 October 2008
Running Time: 106 minutes
MMPA rating: PG-13


The Good: Better second half, One clever Bond reference,

The Bad: Confusing action, Convoluted plot, Rips-off the Bourne franchise,

Note: As with all Bond films, there is some seggestive content.




Plot: The following plot summery is copied from Wikipedia.com.
James Bond is driving from Lake Como to Siena, Italy, with the captured Mr. White in the boot of his car. After evading pursuers, Bond and M interrogate White regarding his organisation, Quantum. M's bodyguard, Mitchell, a double agent, attacks M, enabling White to escape. Bond chases Mitchell and kills him. Bond and M return to London and search Mitchell's flat, discovering through tagged banknotes that Mitchell had a contact in Haiti. Bond tracks the contact, Edmund Slate, and learns that Slate is a hitman sent to kill Camille Montes at the behest of her lover, environmentalist Dominic Greene. While observing her subsequent meeting with Greene, Bond learns that Greene is helping an exiled Bolivian General, Medrano—who murdered Camille's family—to overthrow his government in exchange for a seemingly barren piece of desert.
After rescuing Camille from Medrano, Bond follows Greene to a performance of Tosca in Bregenz, Austria. En route, the CIA head of the South American section, Gregg Beam, strikes a non-interference deal with Greene to maintain access to assumed stocks of Bolivian oil. Bond infiltrates Quantum's meeting at the opera, and a gunfight ensues. A Special Branch bodyguard of Quantum member Guy Haines, an advisor to the British Prime Minister, is killed while in combat with Bond, and M—after Bond refuses to obey orders to return home and debrief—has his passports and credit cards revoked. Watch the movie to see what happens next.


Plot: 5.7/10- The first half is a complete convoluted mess, nothing made sense. Although, the second half almost started to become interesting. The way it tied into the previous was done very poorly, I almost did not know that it was realted to Casnio Royale.


Action: 7.6/10- There was a lot of action throughout the movie, however the filming made it seem dull. Stuff was exploding but I really did not care what was happening. There were three action scenes were it basically coppied scenes from the Jason Bourne trilogy and I could only think of how it was so similar to Bourne that it made those scenes hard to enjoy.


Acting: 7.0/10- Daniel Craig as Bond was not half as good as he was in Casnio Royale and Judi Dench as M was as great as always. Olga Kurylenko as Camille Montes is the only main "Bond Girl" were she was not the romantic interest, which was refeshing, and her performance was solid. However, all of the antagonist were sub-par at best.


Special effects: 7.0/10- The explosions and everything looked good, but nothing too impressive.


Soundtrack: 6.0/10- I am not even sure if the classic Bond theme was used more than once, one of the worst Bond scores, although "Another Way To Die" was a solid Bond song.


Comedy: N/A- Nearly humorless.


Gadgets: N/A- Except for a cell phone, Bond used no gadgets.


Title Sequence: 7.0/10- Visually the title sequence was cool, but not the best. The song "Another Way To Die" was odd, yet still worked for the movie.

Would I Watch This Again: When I re-watch all of the Bond movies, I will watch this again.

Overall: 6.0/10- Overall Quantum of Solace has its moments, but lacks much of what made Casino Royale great.


Closing comments: Despite being a disappointing sequel, it is still one of the better movies from the James Bond franchise.

Recommended for: Action fans, Spy fans, Espionage fans,


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If you want to contact us or have any question please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.