The Queen of Versailles

The Queen of Versailles
(2012) [Trailer]
Director: Lauren Greenfield [IMDB]

We live in a society that's obsessed with things. We are so worried about obtaining wealth and making something of ourselves. All of us are guilty of this in some way and if you say you're not you are only lying to yourself. Some are definitely concerned about this more than others, the Siegel family may be some of the biggest offenders.

Synopsis: This documentary follows the rise and fall of the Siegel family, who are responsible for operating the largest time share company in America.

I enjoyed The Queen of Versailles on a few levels but felt like it lacked in other departments. Technically it's sound and feels like a reality tv show, only better constructed. The other impressive thing that I enjoyed was how the film crew came in on the up swing then were there to see things fall apart. It's always awesome when a documentary pulls off that kind of tenure.

The family dynamic is pretty interesting and like everyone says about shows like the Jersey Shore and Orange House Wives... it's like a train wreck... you're horrified but can't help but watch. I felt like husband was a pretty shitty guy and ultimately a sad man who doesn't have a lot of depth. I couldn't tell if the wife was dumbing it down for the camera, or if she really was that clueless, she seemed like a joke.

Either way, it's a interesting watch and worth your time.

Lawrence of Arabia

Lawrence of Arabia
(1962) [Trailer]
Director: David Lean [IMDB]

Piggy backing on my last review, I also decided to pick up another classic on blu-ray which I had never seen before, but read many positive things about... that film was Air Bud... I'm kidding, it was Lawrence of Arabia.

Synopsis: This film tells the story of T.E. Lawrence, an officer in the British military that infiltrated the Arab army and helped them fight against the Turks during the revolt against the Ottoman empire during WWI.

Also like my last review, this movie is also substantially epic and clocks in around the 4 hour mark. It's also does a superb job and drawing you into it's universe and making you forget about time and your shit life in the real world. Lawrence was an intriguing man and Peter O'Toole does a steller reenactment of his life in Arabia. I was also pretty impressed with the supporting cast... including my boy Claude Rains.

In my humble opinion, the greatest strength of the film is it's cinematography, it's as epic as the film itself. There are too many memorizing scenes and I'd say it's one of the most visually stunning movies I've ever seen. It also helps that the transfer to blu-ray is perfect, this looks like it was shot yesterday.

The score is also unreal and probably won lots of awards. It's like the music and the eye candy on screen are in a perfect symbiotic relationship.

This is another classic that I'm pleased to have represented in the growing hord that is my blu-ray collection.

Gone with the Wind

Gone with the Wind
(1939) [Trailer]
Director: Victor Fleming [IMDB]

I don't know, you may have heard about this movie before, it's kind of a big deal? Gone with the Wind tops many people's 'best of' lists and is considered widely to be one of the greatest movies of all time... so I figured a blind buy on the blu-ray for this may have been acceptable. That's right, I flew into this film blind... as a first timer.... and I was ready to be blown away. The question is... was I?

Synopsis: A story about love, slavery, and civil war down in the Old South.

I knew this film was long, but Jesus-- it's like 4 hours! To use the term epic is completely fitting here. Gone with the Wind really surprised me... it didn't feel like a 4 hour long film and it definitely didn't feel like a typical Hollywood movie of that time. It's really dark and depressing, which I honestly didn't expect. I'm actually really glad I've never read/talked about this movie or had it spoiled for me in anyway.

The performances of the entire cast were memorable, but Clarke Gable and Vivien Leigh own this picture. They are so perfectly cast and their tumultuous relationship unfolds in such an entertaining way... you keep wanting to go on to find out how things will unfold for the two. I think where they end up is very shocking and left me taken aback a little.

The other thing that stands out is the visuals in this bad larry. The sets and use of lighting were extremely impressive for the time. There is a scene where the camera pulls back on a field of dead and wounded soliders that is incredible... I haven't researched it yet, but I'm pretty sure it's probably a very famous scene. The shots of Scarlett (Vivien Leigh) under the tree at Tara (her home) during the sunset were also very striking.

This is a new old favorite of mine and a welcome addition to my blu-ray library.

Skyfall

Skyfall
(2012) [Trailer]
Director: Sam Mendes [IMDB]

I'm not gonna go to crazy here because my brother just reviewed this on here yesterday and I agreed whole heartedly with pretty much everything he said... SO READ HIS REVIEW.

I'll start by saying the real hero of this film is Roger Deakins, the DOP, he really did an outstanding job filming Skyfall. The film looks immaculate and there's a ton of stand out scenes, especially everything filmed in Asia. Sam Mendes borrows heavily from Christopher Nolan in this movie and I kept being reminded of The Dark Knight Rises left and right, particularly with the score and lighting.

I must say though, this is a highly entertaining film, dare I say best Bond film ever.

Now here's where I get to the most important part of the review. The movie theater I watched it in. I just recently moved to Queens (better start thinking of a new blog title) and I have a local theater right down the street. It's a pretty shabby looking theater from the outside, but it was close and had Skyfall... so fuck it, let's give it a shot. The wife and I meet up with our good friends Shawn and Doug and we arrive to find that the movie is only 5 dollars! That's right, 5 dollars! Which is insane for New York. Not only is Skyfall $5, but every movie is $5, everyday... before 5PM. I love my new neighborhood. So we enter and the inside is about as impressive as the outside. There are two big screens (that were playing Twilight and Cloud Atlas) and then all the other screens including ours, which were smaller. There were smudges on our screen and you could sometimes hear Wreck it Ralph playing next door when it was quiet, but for 5 dollars... I'm not complaining. I think I'm in love with the ghetto theater in Sunnyside.

Enemy Mine

Enemy Mine
(1985) [Trailer]
Director: Wolfgang Petersen [IMDB]

This was a big favorite of mine as a child and back then it was one of my favorite sci-fi films. It has been a long time since I've seen it, but thanks to Twilight Time, it's now available on blu-ray and it looks spectacular.

Synopsis: In the future, Humans are at war with the Dracs and when Dennis Quaid (the Human) crash lands on a deserted planet with Louis Gossett Jr (the Drac) they have to learn to live with one another. Do they become friends or will their hatred grow? Watch the movie and find out you inquisitive fuck!

This movie rules very hard.... from beginning to end, it's a certified banger and just as good as I remember. Its major strength is that it takes a solid science fiction universe and instead of loading it with tons of flashy space battles, it focuses on two characters and builds them up in an impressive manner. You become so invested in these two that you start to forget that this is all taking part in the future. Their conflict is an obvious allegory for racism here in the present, but it doesn't bang you over the head with it in my opinion. I'd highly recommend this film if you're the least bit interested in sci-fi, it's a winner in my book.

Cloud Atlas

Cloud Atlas
(2012) [Trailer]
Directors: Andy Wachowski (IMDB), Lana Wachowski (IMDB), Tom Tykwer (IMDB)

They should have hired Eddie Murphy for this movie.

Synopsis: We are all connected... each other's actions affect another in the past, present and future... or at least I think that's what this movie was trying to spit out.

I really dug this film, but I must say it's one I think I need to rewatch. It's extremely ambitious and very epic... which you might  have been able to gather by looking at the film's run time. I referenced Eddie Murphy earlier because he is the king at playing multiple rolls in one movie, which pretty much everyone in Cloud Atlas does. It's a cool idea and fairly well executed. I thought everyone also did a great job with their roles, the stand outs being Hugo Weaving, Jim Broadbent and Tom Hanks. The special effects were superb and are what you would expect from the Wachowskis. The negatives for me would be the interweaving story lines, they are all over the place and some felt more relavant than others to the overall plot. Again, I think on a rewatch it might help solidify everything... plus I was about 10 minutes late which could have possibly helped with wrapping my head around everything.

They Live

They Live
(1988) [Trailer]
Director: John Carpenter [IMDB]

This week saw the arrival of They Live on blu-ray... one of my favorite horror films and one of the best John Carpenter movies ever. I've eagerly been awaiting this title on blu and after watching it last night I can tell you... it did not disappoint.

Synopsis: A drifter stumbles upon a rebel force who have discovered a secret race of aliens who hide as humans and can only been seen with special glasses.

This a must for any horror and sci-fi fan and it looks glorious on blu-ray... it's a perfect transfer. This movie rules so much, now let me tell you why.

1. They Live has the best fight scene in film history... ok maybe not the best but it's one of the best.
2. The subliminal secret world of the aliens is a work of art, there are scenes and matte paintings in this that are fantastic and stills of them should be hanging in a museum.
3. The score, like all Carpenter films is the best.

This movie's rewatchability is insane, I feel like I could pop it back on right now and still love every second.