A 1930's Gangster Wrap in an R Rated World

Advantages: Fantastic cinematography, great acting from Depp
Disadvantages: Dialogue a little muffled

...think you all know who the lead actor is - yes, Johnny Depp. His role is that of Dillinger and I don't mean the reggae star. This is John Herbert Dillinger - the mid west's No 1 bad guy- the infamous bank robber who was loathed by the rich but idolised by the common folk in the 1930's, for robbing banks. The handsome FBI agent, Melvin Purvis, is played by Welshman, Christian Bale. His job is to bring the bank robber to justice as instructed by J Edgar Hoover (Billy Crudup). The public of that era treated Dillinger like a folk-hero. He was the 1930's Robin Hood, a charming outlaw who respected common people and to show their adoration they hid him from the cops who were a little slow on the uptake. Dillinger's heroic deeds exacerbated his prestigious status and made him into an iconic figure. He emptied banks at top notch speeds...

Praski 05.08.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Public Enemies (DVD)

Wisdom, Philosophy and 1930s Science Fiction

Advantages: Exciting, moving, thought-provoking, well-written
Disadvantages: A bit old-fashioned; have to suspend belief somewhat for 1930s sci-fi

...'Sorns'. This book is science fiction from the late 1930s, somewhat in the tradition of HG Wells, and without the benefit of much knowledge of space beyond what astronomers could see through telescopes sixty-five years ago. Inevitably there are some holes in the plot, but somehow it doesn't matter, at least not to me. We know now that other planets in our solar system cannot support human life, partly through extremes of temperature and partly due to lack of air. But Malacandra is more like a fantasy world than the real planet which it's supposed to be. So it wasn't difficult to accept the three races who live there, whom Ransom gradually gets to know. In a sense this is a book of wisdom and philosophy couched in a fictional setting. Ransom first becomes friendly with the 'hrossa', a race of poets and boat-lovers, and - being...

Kukana 22.06.2004 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Out of the Silent Planet - C.S. Lewis

"My father was a millionaire in Shanghai in the 1930s"

Advantages: Well written and rivetting
Disadvantages: None

......

oldchem 12.10.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of The Distant Land of My Father - Bo Caldwell

Prison Drama in the 1930s

Advantages:
Disadvantages:

...Three hours of complete excellence. I still don?t understand why it did not score at the Oscars. It is a story of two men (Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman) who meet in prison and are completely opposite characters. Both are in for murder and have little hope of getting out. The film portrays their daily life in prison and shows how they build their own lives there. Robbins is this incredibly clever man who becomes the prison warden?s accountant and that is where the final plot begins. It really shows how depressing life in a prison is- then and probably now. The setting is really nice and the cinematography also deserves credit. I could totally identify with the actors and I can completely understand why Robbins was nominated for an Oscar. You always hope and wonder if they will at all get out and this is what you have to find out...

thomasg 13.06.2000 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of The Shawshank Redemption (DVD)

The MGF is not 'new'!

Advantages: The thrill of the open road
Disadvantages: Not very fast, but who cares!

......

ebryan 15.07.2000 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of MG Original MGF 1930s

Unique Friendship between Women

Advantages: Fantastic story for all
Disadvantages: None

...There are loads of movies in the world that tell stories about the friendship between men, but rarely do you see films about female friendship. However Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe is an exception to this rule. The film is based on the book with the same title, and directed by John Avnet, who is an American director, writer as well as producer. The movie is his directorial debut and released in 1991. The main storyline of the film is the friendship between two pairs of women, then and now. Idgie and Ruth are the first pair women. They came from a little town called Whistle Stop in the American Deep South in the 1930s. Together they ran a local café, which served old southern food, such as fried green tomatoes. They built up a strong friendship, even did not mind doing anything include murdering to protect...

happysh2009 24.03.2009 (03.11.2009) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Fried Green Tomatoes At The Whistle Stop Cafe (DVD)

Oh Brother What a Great Film

Advantages: A perfect film
Disadvantages: Not out on DVD yet

...This is a film based on Homer's Odyssey, relocated to the Deep South during the 1930s depression. Sounds fun, huh??? Its penned by the Coen brothers and stars George Clooney as a Clarke Gable look alike jailbird, who escapes with two other convicts to recover the proceeds of a fictitious bank robbery. The story is of all trials and tribulations on their way to their goal and is typical Coen brothers , with Capr-esque flights of fancy. The usual Cohen suspects are there, John Goodman, cows on rooves and a superb soundtrack. Try and see it ..Its the best film of last year a deserves Oscars for everything. Go and see it.. again...

mikeydred 18.01.2001 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of O Brother, Where Art Thou? (DVD)

Shawshank Redemption, The

Advantages: Great story, fantastic twist at the end
Disadvantages: Can't think of any

...I am sure that you have seen this film, most people have. I have talked to alot of people about this film and I have NEVER met anyone who didn't like it. The story is a shocking depiction of prison life from the 1930's to 1950's. It follows a character who is sent to jail for the murder of his wife and her lover. He maintains his innocence and spends his time in jail gaining the trust of his in-mates and corrupt jailers, at every step trying to keep his dignity when all hope seems to be lost. Again, the twist at the end is unexpected but brilliant. Overall this is my favourite "feel-good" movies, that I have watched again and again....

kitt 30.07.2000 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of The Shawshank Redemption (DVD)

The Green Mile - Perhaps one of the best films i have ever seen

Advantages: Storyline, characters, camerawork
Disadvantages: Time Length, missed certain features from the novel that they could have included in the film

...After reading the 1996 novel of the same name by Stephen King and from hearing many good things about this film from my friends, i decided to watch it wondering if they could do something that not many films do all that well in.....whether the film could be just as good as the book. I have to say after watching this movie, i would regard it as one of best i have ever seen and i was not disappointed. Directed by Frank Darabont (director of The Shawshank Redemption) in 1999, the film stars Tom Hanks as a corrections officer named Paul Edgecomb and Michael Clarke Duncan as an inmate arriving at Death Row called John Coffey. The film is set in 1930's America and is seen through Paul's perspective of certain events that occurred when John arrived and his life. After John Coffey arrives after being accused of raping and murdering two young...

gbrown546 09.12.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of The Green Mile (DVD)

The original Oceans 11!

Advantages: A simple film with lots of surprises
Disadvantages: None

...The story is set in the 1930's in Chicago. We see 2 men, Hooker (played by Robert Redford) and Luther (played by Robert Earl Jones) con another man. They race off with money that they have taken unaware that the money is being delivered to an illegal betting empire boss. Later Hooker meets with Luther and Luther tells Hooker that he is giving up the con game. He tells Hooker to go to an old friend, Henry (played by Paul Newman) to learn from him. When Hooker realises that the money is from the mob , he races to find Luther. He has been beaten and thrown out of his apartment window, he is dead. Hooker runs off afraid that the killers are still around. Hooker finds Henry and they plan to avenge Luthers death by making the biggest con of their life, swindling the betting empire boss Doyle Lonnegan (played by Robert Shaw) out of $500...

rufusredcoat 14.11.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of The Sting (DVD)