Movie Review: The Angry Birds Movie

 

Michael's Movie Grade:D

Review: Just a very forgettable film.

This film has little to make it stand out. The story-line and characters have been done many times before and will be done many times in the future. There is nothing new this movie brings. Everything that is done here has been done better elsewhere. 

What really hurts this film is the humor. This movie assumes just because a joke is immature it is funny. There are jokes about farting, pee, poop, and burping. However there is seemingly no effort put into these jokes. They just assume being disgusting makes them funny. It is strange to think Jon Vitti, who has written some very funny episodes of The Simpsons could have been one of the writers for a film this unfunny.

This film does have some good points though. The main character is quite likable, and the artwork looks nice. However even these good points have been done better in other films.

Overall this movie sadly is just not a good movie.

-Michael J. Ruhland

Movie Review: X-Men: Apocalypse

 

Review Written By Michael J. Ruhland


















Michael's Movie Grade: B

Review: Quite good film, it is not without it's faults, but what works about it really works.

This film is quite exciting. The action as well as the much of the story are very good. This film is heck of a lot of fun to watch. While this is not as great of character writing as there was in Civil War, it was still good enough for us to care about the characters. The story and characters are set up well enough for the big fight scenes to be just as exciting as they should be, and not have them seem like they are there just to be there. This film is a lot of fun to watch and is quite involving.

However this film does have it's problems as well. The story simply focuses on too many characters. Because of this much of the character development feels a bit rushed. Also some of the characters while likable, are very underdeveloped and it feels like we spend to little time with them to have as strong of an emotional connection with them as the film wants us to have. However they are still likable and understandable enough for us to get involved in the story. On top of that much of this movie makes it seem like we have seen this before.

Overall this may be a faulted film, but what is good about it is quite good.

-Michael J. Ruhland

Movie Review: Captain America: Civil War

 

Review Written By Michael J. Ruhland















Michael's Movie Grade: A-

Review: Fantastic film, probably one of the best superhero films of recent years.

I personally like to think that this was made to wash the bad taste of Batman VS. Superman out of our mouths (though I know that's not true), because this film does right everything that movie did wrong. This film sets up why these characters are fighting. Many of the ideas in this film are actually thought provoking (something which too many superhero movies try for and fail). The characters are very well developed and we actually sympathize with them. And with all this happening the film still manages to fit a lot of fun in, even when the movie gets dark.

What I really like about this film is that despite how many characters it has it focuses on Captain America and Iron Man. This keeps the film from feeling to busy and allows us to really focus on the story. Speaking of the story I love that this film allows the story to drive the action, and allows the audience to actually care about the action scenes.

With how much superhero movies have been disappointing me lately it is great to see a superhero movie can still be this great. Overall this is just a fantastic film.

Overlooked Classics: The Maltese Falcon (1931)

 

As movie lovers (I am assuming if you are reading this you love movies), nearly all of us adore the 1941 version of The Maltese Falcon. This is because it is an incredible film that has well earned it's reputation as a classic. However too many of us overlook the 1931 adaption of the book. While this film may not be quite as good as the 1941 film, it comes very close, much closer than one who hasn't seen this movie would think. It is also very interesting to note how similar these two films are. The 1941 film is actually a very close remake of the 1931 film. There was also 1936 film adaption called Satan Met a Lady, however that film is extremely different from either the 1931 or the 1941 versions. It is worth noting that 1931 was the year often the novel on which all these films were based was released. It is also worth noting that all three version were released by the Warner Brothers studio. Despite some attention from Film Historians, J.B. Kaufman and Leonard Maltin, this 1931 film has unfortunately be forgotten by many, which is sad because this is truly an excellent film, and should be enjoyed by all lovers of classic Hollywood movies, however today we will take a look at this fantastic and very overlooked film.

One of things that really makes this film great is simply it's cast. This film stars Ricardo Cortez, a very underrated actor, as Sam Spade. Cortez turns in an amazing performance in this film. It is no use comparing him to Humphrey Bogart, because he plays the role quite differently. His Spade is a bigger womanizer and a more upbeat character. This role was originally considered for the actor George Bancroft, who is best known today for being in films like Stagecoach and Mister Deeds Goes to Town. We are quite lucky that Cortez was chosen for this part because his performance is fantastic. Also starring in this film is Bebe Daniels, who is best known today for being Harold Lloyd's first leading lady, and for all her appearances in Busby Berkeley's musicals. Again she turns in a great performance. Also in this film is the talented and beautiful Thelma Todd, best remembered today for her roles in Laurel and Hardy and Marx Brothers films.

This film was directed by Roy Del Ruth. While Del Ruth never gained the following John Houston (who directed the 1941 film) did, he was definitely a talented director, directing such films as It Happened on Fifth Avenue, Topper Returns, Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back and The First Auto. This film is definitely one of his best works.

It is intresting to note that this film has the same art director as the 1941 version. This was Robert M. Hass, who also was the art director for such great films as Now Voyager, Jezebel, Dark Victory and Angels with Dirty Faces. His work on both films was fantastic.

This film being made in 1931 has a lot for fans of pre-code Hollywood of which I know there are many. For those unaware of the phrase pre-code, it is referring to the era in Hollywood before the production code took power. The production code was essentially a code of censorship that American movies would have to abide by. If a film broke any of the rules of this censorship code, it would not be able to get the same distribution that one that followed the code could get. This code while it existed earlier didn't take full power until June 13, 1934. Because of this scenes like Sam Spade searching Ruth Wonderly for money he thought she stole and making her take off her clothes (no nudity was shown on screen) during the process would not be possible if this film was released 3 years later. It is worth noting that these scenes are done much more tasteful and discreet than much of what you see in movies today.

When shown on TV in than the 1950's it would be re-titled The Dangerous Female to not be confused with the more popular movie. It is thanks to Turner Classic Movies that it's original title card has been restored.

While this may not be the 1941 version, it comes pretty darn close. This film is full of clever dialogue (some of which would reappear in the 1941 film), great performances, and good direction. This is a fantastic film which is a definite must see for fans of classic movies.

Also movie buffs should look for a portiat of actress Lousie Brooks in Sam Spade's apartment.

-Michael J. Ruhland


Resourses Used
http://www.jbkaufman.com/movie-of-the-month/maltese-falcon-1931-0

Silent Film of the Month: The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926)

 

Run Time: 71 minutes. Studio: Comenius-Film  GmbH.  Directors: Lotte Reiniger, Carl Koch. Writer: Lotte Reiniger. Cinematographer: Carl Koch. Animators: Berthod Bartosch, Walther Ruttmann, Alexander Karadan.

The Adventures of Prince Achmed  is the earliest existing animated feature film (released 11 years before Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs). It is also the only silent animated feature that still exists. There were at least two animated features made before this 1917's El Apostol and 1918's Without a Trace both of these were directed by Argentinian film maker Quirino Cristiani and both are unfortunately lost films.

The main director of this film was Lotte Reiniger. She was one of the leading pioneers in silhouette animation. This was a rare feature for her, since most of her work was in short films. Much of her career was spent making animated shorts based on fairy tales. These shorts would include The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, The Frog Prince, Puss in Boots, Snow White and the Rose Bed and quite a few more. Her co-director on this film was her husband Carl Koch (who is also the film's cinematographer). Carl Koch might also be known by film buffs for his work with the great French director Jean Renoir. He would work as a technical adviser on Renoir's The Grand Illusion and a writer on The Rules of the Game and Le Marselillaise, After Koch died in 1963, his wife would give up film making.

One of the animators on this film was Walter Ruttmann, who film buffs might now as the director of Berlin: A Symphony of a Great City, one of the Cinematographers for Fritz Lang's Metropolis and a writer on Leni Riefenstahl's Thruimph of the Will.  Also animating on this film was Alexander Kardan, whose on two other credits were as an animator on two other animated films by Lotte Reiniger, Cinderella, and Snow white and the Rose Bed, as well as Berthod Bartosch, who had a very short career as a director of animated short films (however it included The Idea which was a great work of art). This film was done in silhouette animation, which uses paper cut outs moved piece by piece.

The story which is inspired by 1001 Arabian Nights, begins as an evil magician with his eyes on the beautiful Princess, shows off some of his new tricks to the kingdom. After performing his tricks he is told he can have anything in the Kingdom, and he chooses the princess. The Prince obejects so the magician tricks him into flying away on his flying horse, without letting him know how to land.  Prince Achmed most find his way back home.Along the way he meets Aladdin, a witch, and the beautiful Pari Banu, who all help him on his journey.

This film is fantastic. The visuals are absolutely stunning. The film is amazing to look at from beginning to the end. However like many great films these visuals help tell the story, instead of just being there looking pretty. The add a scope and a sense of amazement which is needed for a fairy tale movie. The story itself while nothing that original is very charming.

This film is also a part of the German Expressionist movie that was popular in Germany during the silent era with such films as The Cabinet of DR. Caligari and Nosfertu. This movement was a moving away from realism in art. The abstract backgrounds and great designs make this film as a much a part of that movement as the live action films of F.W. Marnau, Fritz Lang, Robert Weine or G.W. Pabst. 

The original negative of this film was destroyed during the Battle of Berlin during 1945. Fortunately however the film was persevered in another way.The British Film Institute had a copy that used to show British audiences. This film has been restored as much as possible, and today we can see it on TCM, DVD and other places.

-Michael J. Ruhland

Recourses Used
http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/438055/The-Adventures-of-Prince-Achmed/articles.html
http://www.silentfilm.org/archive/the-adventures-of-prince-achmed
The Animated Movie Guide by Jerry Beck