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Rich-197
Reviews
Un nos ola' leuad (1991)
Bleak, Unrepenting, Unmissable
There have been so few Welsh language films that have received international recognition. This is one of the few that deserve it.
It paints a terrible picture of life in the Principality, but it is challenging the modest, hard working image that just about every other film tries to pass off as accurate.
Da iawn.
Titanic (1997)
Populism par excellence
Oh, I do have to bow my head to "Titanic".
But not to Cameron for creating a visual feast. Not to the actors for such inspiring, and creative characterisation (sic), but instead, I bow my head to mourn for the loss of respect for the millions of people who returned to see this twaddle more than once.
A nauseatingly dreadful, utterly manipulative, saccharine dusted gob of tedious pap.
Doubtless it will be hailed as the greatest film ever by those who think "Aliens" is better than "Alien", and who think that film history started with "Jaws".
Titanic (1996)
Not just your average cash-in...
In all fairness, I can't see the pitch for this mini series as being another other than "Hollywood is producing a big-budget Titanic story - let's get there first." Fortunately, this isn't too bad, in fact, compared to a lot of the guff on television, it's actually quite good. There are as many historical innaccuracies as in Titanic '97 - but this mini-series has one redeeming feature - it is not a gob of sentimental pap. There is a fairly interesting narrative, sturdy direction, and a very good cast. It's a good effort, but everyone knows that every film about the sinking will be compared to the benchmark of "A Night to Remember". and so far, not one has come close.
Titanic (1953)
Good quality cinema
After being engaged in a Titanic-athon (a friend and I have watched every Titanic film we know of - yes, including "Raise the Titanic") I have to say that this rates very well. That isn't to say that it doesn't have it's faults, but they all do. What this classic has that nothing made after 1958 has, is that vague thread of authenticity. It is not on a par with "A Night to Remember", but it is a good story (and let us all pay attention to this next phrase) and a GOOD SCRIPT. As a writer myself, I appreciate the intelligent use of plot devices, rather than the saccharine-dusted tedium found in the '90s stories (except of course, the singing on deck - a big flaw)
Watch this and "ANTR" , forget CGI and spitting like a man - and pretend you're an intelligent human being.
Titanic (1943)
An interesting curio
I have very little right to comment on this film - I do not know enough German to understand all of this film, and the copy that I watched was of abnormally bad quality - but nevertheless, I found it inexplicably engaging.
Being so close to the English border, it is very rare for me to see a strongly anti-English film, but it certainly makes for interesting debate. Despite the fairly obvious pro-German edge on it, and no matter what the politics behind it stand for - there is probably some truth in the depiction of the English, and that is something that is worth sitting through Nazi propaganda for.
Titanic (1997)
Populism par excellence
Oh, I do have to bow my head to "Titanic".
But not to Cameron for creating a visual feast. Not to the actors for such inspiring, and creative characterisation (sic), but instead, I bow my head to mourn for the loss of respect for the millions of people who returned to see this twaddle more than once.
A nauseatingly dreadful, utterly manipulative, saccharine dusted gob of tedious pap.
Doubtless it will be hailed as the greatest film ever by those who think "Aliens" is better than "Alien", and who think that film history started with "Jaws".
Batman Forever (1995)
Disappointing in the extreme
Joel Schumacher - director
Val Kilmer - Batman
Nicole Kidman - Love interest
Chris O'Donell - in the movie
What chance did this movie ever have of being good? Schumacher showed his inability to create atmosphere, character, or even a sensible narrative. The crazy world of Gotham is turned into a weak circus ride in this, one of the biggest movie mistakes ever.