All-New Super Friends Hour: The Ghost (1977)

 

This is the third segment of the fifteenth (and final) episode of The All-New Super Friends Hour, unlike most other Super Friends formats, this one had hour long episodes that were made up of various shorter cartoons. The first segment would be an adventure staring two members (or three in some cases as Batman and Robin would often team with another Super Friend) of the Super Friends. The second would be a morality play staring the Wonder Twins. The third would be a typical half hour Super Friends adventure. The fourth and last segment would feature one of the main Super Friends (or two in the case of Batman and Robin) teaming up with a special DC Comics guest. 

In this cartoon, the villainous Gentleman Ghost (a real comic book supervillain who is called Gentlemen Jim in this episode) once again rises from the grave. He wants to get revenge on Superman and Wonder Woman who stopped his evil deeds the last time he rose from the grave. All the Super Friends team up together to stop him. 

This is a wonderful episode. There is a real atmospheric feel here that gives the whole segment a great Halloween-y feel. This is especially seen very well in the great gothic background art. This artwork is reminiscent of the best Scooby-Doo episodes. Gentleman Ghost is a wonderful villain here. He is actually kind of creepy for a Super Friends villain. The way he turns people into ghosts makes him especially creepy. He also feels like a real threat to our heroes here, creating a great sense of suspense throughout. The climax is especially exciting and effectively creepy. Though the villain's plan is aimed against Superman and Wonder Woman, this episode makes great use of each Super Friend. 

This is simply a very exciting and atmospheric episode. 

All-New Super Friends Hour: Stowaways (1977)

 This is the second segment of the fifteenth (and final) episode of The All-New Super Friends Hour, unlike most other Super Friends formats, this one had hour long episodes that were made up of various shorter cartoons. The first segment would be an adventure staring two members (or three in some cases as Batman and Robin would often team with another Super Friend) of the Super Friends. The second would be a morality play staring the Wonder Twins. The third would be a typical half hour Super Friends adventure. The fourth and last segment would feature one of the main Super Friends (or two in the case of Batman and Robin) teaming up with a special DC Comics guest. 

In this cartoon two teenage girls get in trouble when they stowaway on a yacht. The Wonder Twins must save them.

This is one of the better Wonder Twins cartoons. While the dialogue can still feel overly didactic, the action is pretty fun here. This is thanks to some strong artwork, including some great effects animation. The climax is actually kind of exciting. The two teenage girls though are as bland as can be and speak only in forced dialogue that drives the message home further.   

Movie Review: A Private Life (Vie privée)

 

Michael's Movie Grade: B+

An excellent thriller from France. 

In this movie a psychist (Jodie Foster) finds that one of her patients has died with the reason given being suicide. However, something seems off about the whole ordeal to her, and she takes it upon herself to investigate.  

Despite the basic premise, the mystery is never the main focus of this film. Instead, the movie is first and foremost a character study. Our main character is someone who often defines yourself by her profession often at the extent of her relationships with others, including her own son. When she loses confidence in her ability to do her job and begins to wonder if she actually makes things better or worse for her patients, she loses her sense of self. Her grip on reality and her understanding of her own life. This complex character study is presented in a way that feels completely believable and natural. She is not always the most likable character, but she is always a very relatable one. I found myself connecting deeply to her and becoming invested as I saw her grow as a person. Of course, being played by Jodie Foster (who speaks fluent French) doesn't hurt at all. She is truly wonderful here and perfectly captures the complexity of this character. While not the focus, the mystery is engaging enough keeping us wondering what the truth is. This film also has a stylish look and subtle sense of humor both of which give this an almost Hitchcock-ian feel. 

As well developed as the main character is though, some of the supporting characters are underdeveloped. Also underdeveloped are some dream sequences, whose themes are never fully explored. 

Despite some flaws, this is a truly excellent movie.   

A City Full of Hawks: On the Waterfront Seventy Years Later-Still the Great American Contender (2025)

 

I am a newcomer to Stephen Rebello's writing and I am so glad I have discovered his work. This book about the making of the 1950's classic On the Waterfront is a wonderful introduction to his work. 

On the Waterfront stands as one of the seminal American films of the 1950's and any cinephile has heard about it at length, even before they actually watch it. It is hard to think that there is anything new about this film that I haven't heard before. This book is incredibly well researched and detailed. From the various people considered for casting in the main role (Frank Sinatra, Paul Newman) to Marlon Brando's initial reluctance to work with director Eliza Kazan due to the filmmaking naming names to the House on Un-American Activities to producer Sam Spiegel's constant interference to day-to-day shooting, there is little here not discussed. Even the most dedicated film buffs will find themselves learning a lot from this book. 

This is not only a must-read for its wealth of information though. This is a very well written book. It is hard not to admire Rebello's way with words. Much of this book reads like a great novel. The introduction alone, where the author grapples with his complicated relationship with the movie and how long it took him to see it, could work as a great short story. Throughout the rest of the book, Rebello places us firmly in the time and culture the film was made in. Because of this we become fully swept up in this story as if we were there ourselves. This book is an important reminder that a great historian or critics needs not only to be knowledgeable and insightful but also a good writer.  

If I were to find fault with this book, it is in that Rebello often times delights a little too much in Hollywood gossip. Some of these passages seem unnecessary and ultimately don't add much to the actual story the book is telling. 

Despite some minor quibbles this is an excellent book, and I can't wait to dig deeper into this author's work. 

Video Link: How Humphrey the Bear Became a Disney Icon, and Then Disappeared - West of Neverland

Movie Review: Arco

 

Michael's Movie Grade: A

A lovely animated film from France.

This movie takes a familiar sci-fi premise about a time traveler finding himself in a different time and finding a friend from that time to help me get home but it makes this premise feel fresh. This movie achieves this feeling of freshness in multiple ways. One way is that it switches up this premise by making neither of the time periods current. Both of the time periods are in the future, one 50 years from now and the other further in the future. This film also is a rare movie to show a dystopian future that still has a glimmer of hope behind it. Here we are shown hope through the child characters learning from the mistakes of their predecessors, letting us know it is in each new generation's powers to change the future for the better. Speaking of children, this film captures a feeling of childlike wonder magnificently. The futuristic worlds pictured here are very well-realized and engrossing. They also feel like they could have come directly from a child's imagination. A rainbow-colored suit that allows you to fly through time while leaving full sized rainbows behind you as well as robots taking care of the kids while the parents are away sound like ideas that might come directly from a child's mind. This helps bring us back to when we were the same age as the characters and there makes us also revert to a time when we saw the world around us in a more fantastical way. Because of this we buy into the fantasy completely and become completely sucked in. Even the art style, while incredibly detailed has a childlike charm to it. Another reason is just that the story is so well told. This is a film that will pull on your heartstrings. I found myself very moved multiple times and the ending was quite lovely and touching. 

If I had to fault this movie for anything, it is that some of the humor falls flat. However, since this is not a comedy and there is not a whole lot of humor, this is a minor fault.

This is a lovely film that will touch even the greatest skeptics. 

Movie Trailer: The Devil Wears Prada 2