mikavir Reviews

The Rock (1996)

Classic

[9/10 · 18 March 2024]

The Rock is an American action/thriller movie from 1996. Main actors are Scottish Sir Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage and Ed Harris. Scenes are mainly filmed in former US jail Alcatraz in San Francisco.

American Brigadier General Francis Hummel (Harris) with his soldiers steal M55 rockets with VX nerve gas. British SAS captain and MI6 agent John Patrick Mason (Connery), who is imprisoned by the USA and FBI's chemical weapons specialist Stanley Goodspeed (Cage) go to solve the situation with American Navy SEALs. Hummel and his mercenaries extort the Government of the USA by threatening to launch the rockets to San Francisco. Mason has earlier escaped from Alcatraz when he was imprisoned there.

Movie's soundtrack and action scenes are inseparable part of the movie. The scenes and music work so well together. Atmosphere is haunting and ominous in Alcatraz and action scenes are very effective all the time. The plot isn't too complicated but credible. Actors are great and the main characters are introduced largely enough. The soundtrack is much better than usually. I recommend this movie to all who like good action movies. 9/10.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

Indiana Jones forever!

[8/10 · 12 July 2023]

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny was better than I thought but not as good as the first and third part of the movie series. Ford's age is clearly visible but it doesn't matter very much. The movie is very entertaing because it contains much action scenes and a good plot. I liked that Indiana's opponents are germans like before, this time a Nazi scientist Voller who would like to change the history of the World War 2 by a time machine called Archimedes' Dial and Jones wants to stop him. Sallah (Rhys-Davies), Indiana's old friend from earlier parts of the series, Jones' goddaughter Helena Shaw (Waller-Bridge) and a Moroccan boy Teddy Kumar (Isidore) helps Indy in his efforts. Marion (Karen Allen), Jones' wife is seen in the end of the movie. Dial of Destiny is very exciting though the movie contains some sentimental elements. It could be little shorter than it is. I think that the story of Indiana Jones got an good end that the movie series and character deserved. Indiana Jones forever!

High Plains Drifter (1973)

Horror Western

[8/10 · 5 February 2023]

Clint Eastwood's High Plains Drifter is one of his many Western movies. I have seen many of them and this one is the darkest movie I have seen for now. This is a mix of Sergio Leone's the Dollars Trilogy and Don Siegel's Dirty Harry.

Clint Eastwood's character is a stranger who doesn't tell his name. He comes to the town named Lago. It is the place with a secret. An earlier Sheriff Jim Duncan is murdered by three outlaws who are hired by townspeople. Duncan asks help from the townspeople but they do nothing and just watch when the outlaws whip him to death. Now the outlaws will be released soon from jail. The Stranger is hired for protecting the town from the outlaws who are coming to revenge because they are framed as guilty of a gold robbery by the townspeople. The Stranger knows the secret and he isn't very friendly towards the townspeople. Lago will be like a hell when the Stranger starts his own revenge.

The movie is a revisionist Western of the post-Vietnam War era. Elements of the older Western movies are largely challenged by High Plains Drifter. People are hypocrites and care only about their money. They are ready to kill someone if it's their advantage. The stranger isn't a hero. He rapes, kills and is very unpleasant man. There are only a few decent people in the town. Still Eastwood's character feels like better man than the most of townspeople. He is a mystical angel of revenge and a violent judge of Lago. Some of scenes especially towards the end of the movie are very violent and horrific so I don't recommend this to minors. But if you are adult and like action movies or Westerns this is for you. 8/10.

Trinity Is Still My Name (1971)

amusing comedy Western

[8/10 · 26 September 2022]

Terence Hill and Bud Spencer had genuine chemistry between them when they acted together in same scene. Trinity Is Still My Name is one proof of that. The movie is the sequel to They Call Me Trinity.

Bambino (Spencer) and Trinity (Hill) are brothers who don't like each other. They agree to cooperate after their father's wish. They are going to rob money from stagecoach passengers and be rustlers. Instead of those things the brothers play cards with a professional sharper, pretend to be federal agents along many other activities. There is a big mass brawl in the monastery in the end.

The movie is a Spaghetti Western but it contains very much humour. The humour is coarce but it's genuinely funny. The brothers' adventures are sincerely amusing. The plot has only a nominal role in the movie. The movie could be better if the plot would be in stronger part. Other characters are just moderately written. Despite its faults Trinity Is Still My Name is very funny comedy/Spaghetti Western. The duo Spencer & Hill is as good as always they were. Genuinely funny and good hearted comedy Western. I think that this is appropriate for family movie. 8/10.

The Old Man & the Gun (2018)

Excellent movie

[9/10 · 1 June 2022]

The Old Man and the Gun is directed by David Lowery in 2018. The movie doesn't feel like a 2000s movie. I think this movie has many features of timeless old-time crime movies. There aren't special effects, a story is told at a calm pace and violence is almost totally absent. The main star is a living legend Robert Redford.

A bank robber Forrest Tucker (Redford) is a escapee who has escaped many times from different prisons. He does it again and a new series of bank robberies has begun. He has two accomplices: Teddy Green (Danny Glover) and Waller (Tom Waits). These three old men doesn't want to retire. A police detective John Hunt (Casey Affleck) investigates these bank robberies. Eventually he tracks the robbers. Between robberies Forrest spends time with Jewel (Sissy Spacek) and they have some romantic moments.

Forrest Tucker and his friends aren't violent bank robbers like most robbers in crime movies. They are old-time gentlemen. A movie viewer sees them more like sympathetic characters. This is rare nowadays. The plot is very simple and that is a good thing. The film is more experiential to watch because the plot isn't a main thing. Scenes are relaxing and the main actors carry the story forward calmly. The main actors are excellent. Movie producers should make more this kind of crime movies. 9/10.

Two Rode Together (1961)

Not best Ford movie

[7/10 · 10 May 2022]

John Ford's Two Rode Together is a Western movie from 1961. Main actors are James Stewart and Richard Widmark. This wasn't a financial success movie and movie critics didn't give good grades.

A corrupt and cynical Marshal Guthrie McCabe (Stewart) and his army friend Lt. Jim Gary (Widmark) go to get white captives taken by Comanches. The U. S. Army and the relatives of the captives give them ransom for living captives. The Comanche Chief agree to give them a couple of captives. Some captives doesn't want to leave after being many years with Comanches. McCabe and Gary take two captives with them: a boy named Running Wolf who hates white people and a Mexican woman named Elena who is the wife of Stone Calf. Stone Calf doens't give his wife away easily. After McCabe and Gary bring the captives back to the white society, Running Wolf and Elena are ostracized by other people. This atmosphere becomes hostile and especially Running Wolf's destiny isn't nice to watch.

I would have expected more from John Ford movie. This isn't as good as The Searchers that is quite same kind of movie. Actors aren't bad. The script just isn't excellent enough. Lack of excitement reduces the grade of the movie. Though James Stewart is as good as usually, Two Rode Together is only quite good Western. 7/10.

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)

Excellent Cavalry movie

[8/10 · 9 March 2022]

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon is the second part of John Ford's Cavalry Trilogy. The trilogy's main actor was John "Duke" Wayne. Ford and Wayne made many movies together and some of them are real classics. This one isn't the best of them but still excellent.

A little cavalry post of Fort Starke in 1876. Indians have left from their reservation to take back their former territories after the Battle of Little Bighorn which Indians won. Major Allshard who is a commanding officer of the post sends his troop against the Indians to get them to go back to their reservation. A cavalry veteran Captain Nathan Brittles (Wayne) is a commanding officer of the mission. His another task is to get Major's wife and niece safe from Fort Starke to an eastbound stagecoach. Young members of different rebellious Indian tribes don't listen to older chiefs who don't want war. Brittles must solve the situation by his own means after the mission fails to prevent a possible new Indian war.

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon isn't a war movie though this is a cavalry movie. The movie contains so few fighting scenes. I think this contains more anti-war scenes and emotions. At the same time drama and humor elements are important part of the movie. Actors are better than average. Along Wayne some side character are memorable especially Sergeant Quincannon (Victor Mclaglen) who has sense of humor. Monument Valley's landscapes are always very beautiful. Sometimes humor scenes take too big role. The balance between drama and humor scenes could be better. John Ford's movie is very good cavalry movie and treasure from the Hollywood's golden years. 8/10.

The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959)

Exciting Holmes movie

[9/10 · 30 January 2022]

The Hound of the Baskervilles is a novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle from 1902. Many directors have directed their own version of this story. Hammer Film Productions version is from 1959. Terence Fisher, who is known for his many Hammer movies, is the director of the movie.

Sherlock Holmes (Peter Cushing) and Dr. Watson Andre Morell) investigate the death of Sir Charles Baskerville. Baskerville's friend Dr. Mortimer tells them about the curse of Baskervilles. The curse is a legend which tells about a howling hound that lives in the moor. The hound has killed many ancestors of the Baskerville family. Holmes and Watson's task is to protect Sir Henry Baskerville (Christopher Lee) who is the heir of the family property at the same time when they investigate the death of Sir Charles.

The Hound of the Baskervilles is very exciting movie and its plot isn't too difficult. The movie contains horror elements that is a characteristic element of the movies of Hammer Films. Especially ominous music is still very effective element. Other horror elements are still good though the movie is old. Actors aren't bad. Peter Cushing is at a good level as Holmes. Morell is credible as Watson, maybe little better than some other have been. Lee isn't as great as he was as Count Dracula but however moderate.

The movie is very entertaining and one of the best versions of the story. Hammer Films Production didn't fail and honors Sir Doyle's exciting story.

The Sisters Brothers (2018)

Western with black humor

[8/10 · 16 January 2022]

The Sisters Brothers is a European Western directed by French Jacques Audiard from 2018. The movie wasn't a commercial success. I hadn't heard anything about this movie before. Maybe The Sisters Brothers was very little advertised.

Charlie and Eli Sisters (Joaquin Phoenix as Charlie and John C. Reilly as Eli) are hired guns in the Wild West. A man who is called the Commodore hires them to kill Hermann Warm (Riz Ahmed) who is going to California during the California Gold Rush. Warm has invented a chemical formula for finding gold. The brothers should give the formula to the Commodore after killing Warm. The Commodore has hired a private detective John Morris (Jake Gyllenhaal) to track Warm. Morris befriends with Warm and decides to betray the Commodore. The Sisters Brothers do same for personal reasons. They are bored to work for the Commodore. Warm has clear plans for the future but other men start to think what they really want to do.

The movie is very versatile and it contains different themes. One of them is the relation between the brothers. Charlie is a tough who drinks too much. The brothers have very bad memories of their father who was a violent drunk. Eli is more emotional and little slow. He is loyal to his brother despite he is bored with their profession and quite depressed. Morris is bitter and cynical man who isn't happy with his life. Warm is different than other main characters and quite idealistic man. The Wild West shows its many sides in the movie: cynical criminals, brothels, gold rush, settlers and wild nature. Actors were great especially John C. Reilly. Black humor is a big element. The movie could have been little shorter and is sometimes unclear. Some scenes aren't necessary for the plot. Especially scene where the brothers get to know that the Commodore is dead before they get their revenge is excellent and the best of the movie.

The Sisters Brothers honors the tradiotions of Euro-Westerns but could be better. 8/10.

The Great Dictator (1940)

Impressive parody

[9/10 · 9 January 2022]

Charlie Chaplin's The Great Dictator was published in 1940. It's Chaplin's first sound film. Chaplin plays two roles in the movie. It was banned in some countries for many years especially in dictatorships.

Adenoid Hynkel (Chaplin) is the dictator of Tomainia. He is a fascist who hates democracy and Jews. Hynkel would like to invade Osterlich. Ministers Garbitsch and Herring are his loyal helpers. At the same time a Jewish barber (Chaplin) return from hospital after 20 years where he was from the end of World War I, because he lost his memory. He doensn't know anything about Hynkel or his regime. The barber meets again his old friends who tell him about the current state of Tomainia. Commander Schultz who has decided to defy Hynkel meets the barber who has rescued the commander during World War I. Later Schultz and the barber try to save Osterlich when the barber pretends to be Hynkel. Hannah (Paulette Goddard) is the barber's neighbour and the object of his love.

It's very strange to watch Chaplin movie which is a sound movie. The movie is still very good. Chaplin had many great silent movies. I like them little more. The Great Dictator is a great parody and drama in the same package. Scenes which contains music and little talk are definitely the best. Main characters are memorable and some side characters are very funny. The movie could have been little shorter. Occasional overacting isn't credible. Chaplin's slapstick comedy is very funny as always. The script is full of political satire like a country called Bacteria or a dictator called Benzino Napaloni. The last scene is really emotional and impressive. The Great Dictator is Chaplin's personal appeal against dictators. 9/10.

For a Few Dollars More (1965)

Best quality Western

[10/10 · 13 December 2021]

Sergio Leone's Dollars Trilogy is very impressive movie series. It's rare that the third part (The Good, the Bad and the Ugly) is the best part of the movie series. But the second part For a Few Dollars More is also glorious Western movie and better than the first part (A Fistful of Dollars). For a Few Dollars More is an immortal classic that takes its place among the best Western movies.

A bounty hunter Manco (Eastwood) is mysterious man whose real name is unknown. His next target is a bank robber and escapee El Indio (Gian Maria Volonte) and his gang. El Indio is very violent and cold man and he uses a musical pocketwatch in duels. Colonel Douglas Mortimer (Van Cleef) who is also a bounty hunter wants to find the bank robbers more for personal reasons. Manco and Mortimer cooperate to reach their own goals.

The movie is very exciting. Though it is quite long movie it isn't boring at all. The movie doesn't contain long lines but music is a significant part of the movie. Especially the sound of the pocketwatch is even magical. Without Morricone's soundtrack this movie wouldn't be as good as it is now. The main actors are very good especially Volonte. Characters are memorable and scenes are of high quality. You don't forget this movie if you have seen it. Leone's For a Few Dollars More is of the best quality for the Western movie fans. I recommend this also for friends of all kind of movies. 10/10.

The Last Stand (2013)

Austrian legend Arnold is back!

[6/10 · 4 December 2021]

The Last Stand is an action movie from 2013 that is at the same time Arnold Schwarzenegger's comeback movie after his political career. South Korean Kim Jee-woon is the director of the movie.

A sheriff Ray Owens lives (Arnold) in the small border town of Sommerton Junction, Arizona. He is former LAPD police who likes to be in the peaceful town where crimes are rare. He has couple of deputies who are either inexperienced or not used to infamous criminals. A drug lord Gabriel Cortez (Eduardo Noriega) who has escaped from imprisonment is going to cross the border between the USA and Mexico through Summerton Junction. FBI fails to arrest him after the escape so Owens and his deputies must arrest Cortez and his henchmen.

The movie is pure entertainment and it contains elements from Schwarzenegger's older movies, Westerns and modern sports car themed movies (Fast and Furious movie series). Sheriff Owens is laconic like Arnold's characters usually are. Noriega as the villain is cool enough but not perfect. Other actors are average or pretty bad. The plot is very simple and the script isn't too long. The Last Stand isn't perfect or of high quality but it is very entertaining and sometimes funny too. This is made for action movie fans and of course Schwarzenegger fans. 6/10.

Cemetery Without Crosses (1969)

Artistic western

[7/10 · 14 November 2021]

Spaghetti Westerns are a mix of commercial and art movies but some of them are really artistic. Une corde, un colt (Cemetary Without Crosses in English) is one of latter ones. The name of the movie is in French. The movie is a French/Italian co-production. Robert Hossein who is the director and main actor of the movie dedicated this to Sergio Leone who was an director icon (the Dollars Trilogy and Once Upon a Time in the West). In fact Leone directed one scene of this movie.

A plot is a simple revenge story. A widow Maria Caine (Michèle Mercier) wants to revenge on murderers (Will Rogers and his sons) of his husband. His former love Manuel (Hossein) agrees to do that for her by kidnapping a daughter of Rogers. The late husband's brothers play their own play behind Maria's back because they want to save themselves. The Rogers give their own violent answer for the situation. The spiral of violence begins.

Cemetary Without Crosses has exceptionally low small amount of speech. I haven't seen movie which includes so few words except Chaplin movies. The music is of high quality. Actors are credible in their roles. Some scenes are too long and sometimes the movie is confusing between scenes. If you like Spaghetti Westerns or artistically challenging movies I recommend this for you. 7/10.

Appaloosa (2008)

Very traditional

[8/10 · 11 September 2021]

Appaloosa is based on a novel by Robert B. Parker. Ed Harris is at the same time the director and one of the main actors of the movie. Other main actors are Viggo Mortensen, Renee Zellweger and Jeremy Irons.

The city of Appaloosa in New Mexico hires a sheriff Virgil Cole (Harris) and his deputy Everett Hitch (Mortensen) to protect the city from a local rancher Randall Bragg (Irons) and his men who terrorize the city. Cole and Hitch arrest Bragg but he espaces on the way to prison with the help of the Shelton brothers who are hired guns. Later Bragg is pardoned by President Arthur. After that Bragg return to Appaloosa. Cole and Hitch must use different way to solve the situation. A fickle relationship between Cole and a widow Allie French (Zellweger) is an important part of the movie.

The movie includes some unnecessary scenes and could be little shorter. Actors don't fail. Maybe Mortensen is the best of them. Appaloosa respect and reminds older westerns from the 1950s. This one is psychological movie at the same time. Especially Zellweger's character is different than an usual movie character. On the other hand Appaloosa is reliable old-time western though it is from 2008. Better than average movie. 8/10.

Shane (1953)

Long-time classic isn't outdated

[9/10 · 16 August 2021]

Shane is an old school Western movie from 1953 which won one Oscar. The movie is a long-time classic from the time before Spaghetti Westerns and other new forms of Western movies took their place in the movie industry.

Shane (Alan Ladd), a wandering reticent and mysterious man comes to a small farm in the Territory of Wyoming and he decides to stay there as a farmhand. Joe Starrett (Van Heflin) who owns the farm has problems with a cattle baron Rufus Ryker (Emile Meyer) who tries to force the Starrett Family and other settlers to leave their farms. Ryker hires a gunfighter Wilson (Jack Palance). Shane must return to his old occupation and challenge Wilson and other Ryker's men for the settlers.

Shane isn't only a normal old school Western with couple of gunfights. Emotional and psychological elements scenes are the most important thing of the movie. The scenes between Shane and Joey Starrett (Brandon deWilde) who is a son of the Starrett family are emotional especially the last scene of the movie. Palance has got just a little time on the big screen but he uses them very efficiently. The movie could be little faster but it isn't outdated at all. 9/10.

Die Hard (1988)

The best quality

[10/10 · 4 July 2021]

Die Hard is one of many action films made in the 1980s. Part of them weren't very good but some are real classics. This first Die Hard movie is one of those classics. Other Die Hard movies aren't as good as the first though I think Die Hard 3 and 4 are very good too. Before Die Hard series Bruce Willis was just a television actor. John McTiernan is the director of the movie.

On Christmas Eve John McClane (Willis) who is a police from New York comes to Los Angeles to meet his estranged wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia) who works for the Nakatomi Corporation. The company is holding a party at Nakatomi Plaza where Holly is invited too. Soon after John and Holly has argued Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) who is a West German former political radical and his armed henchmen take control of the building. They are going to steal 640 million dollars.

The movie is very exciting. The chemistry between the main characters John McClane and Hans Gruber is the most important thing why Die Hard is so good movie. McClane is a traditional hero character who opposes crime. Willis brings much rough charisma to his character. McClane's sense of humour is also very ruthless. Gruber is a manipulative criminal and mastermind. He is very cool and insensitive man. Rickman was even better as Gruber than Willis as McClane. His role work is of the highest quality. Gruber's very violent henchman Karl is totally crazy guy and memorable character. Gruber is maybe the best movie villain ever. The Plot isn't too simple. I think action scenes are more credible because computers and special effects don't play a big role in the movie.

In my opinion Die Hard is best action movie ever. 10/10.

The Long Riders (1980)

Outlaws

[7/10 · 5 June 2021]

Jesse James, a famous outlaw and pro-Confederate guerrilla of the American Civil War, was one of the most famous persons of the Wild West. He is a subject of many movies, plays and books. Part of them are more mythical and fictional stories but The Long Riders is based more facts than fiction. The movie tells about the times of his most famous gang, the James-Younger gang.

In the beginning of the movie the gang is already well-known especially in Missouri which was the home state of the gang. They rob banks and trains after the American Civil War in the South especially in Missouri. They hate very much pro-Union persons and companies and many of their robberies target that kind of banks and railway companies. During the film lighter subjects like wedding, romances and traditional Southern dance and music style are depicted between robberies.

The film is exciting and entertaining. It tells the most important phases of Jesse James' life and the story of the James-Younger gang. There are couple of memorable scenes in the movie: the scene where the gang doesn't like the music of the saloon singer and the scene where Jesse James encounters his destiny. Supporting characters get their own scenes alongside the main character. The movie could be little clearer between some scenes. The movie is easier to watch if you know facts of Jesse James' life before watching this. Some actors are very good. The Long Riders was better than I expected before watching. 7/10.

Man of the West (1958)

Very Good Western

[9/10 · 15 May 2021]

Anthony Mann's Man of the West is one of his many Western movies. Gary Cooper who was one of the most famous Hollywood actors is a main actor of the movie. He was known for hero roles.

Former criminal Link Jones (Cooper) travels by train to Fort Worth to hire a school teacher but his former gang attempts to rob the train. The train escapes but Jones with two other passengers aren't on board. Later they find a house but there is the same gang who attempted the train robbery. The leader of the gang old outlaw Dock Tobin (Lee J. Cobb) who is Link's Uncle and former boss identifies him. After that Link and the passengers just try to survive. Link has to face his past as criminal once more.

The plot deals with man who regrets his past as criminal and wouldn't like to face that any more. The most important thing of the movie is a psychological fight between Link and Dock which is at the same time a symbol of the fight between good and bad. There are some scenes which aren't typical of movies of that time. Especially Cooper and Cobb are dominant actors in this movie. Man of the west is more psychological and exciting Western than traditional sheriff against criminals or cavalry against indians Western. I would recommend this for adults rather than children. 9/10.

Scarface (1983)

Classic

[9/10 · 23 April 2021]

Brian De Palma's Scarface is a remake but unusually better than original Scarface by Howard Hawks (1932). This version tells about drug criminal Tony Montana who is a Cuban refugee.

Montana is initially just a subordinate of a drug lord but his status rises during the movie. The number of his enemies rises as much as his status rises. As the subplot the movie depicts Montana's quarrelsome family matters. The final scene is dramatic and memorable.

The main actor Al pacino is the dominate actor of the movie. Pfeiffer as Tony's wife Elvira is very cool and elegant. Mastrantonio as Tony's sister is excellent. Scarface is very impressive crime movie. The greedy world of Miami's drug lords is just appropriate place for this story. Miami's criminal life is credible enough. This movie is one of the best crime movies ever though some better ones has been done. Scarface is for the friends of crime and thriller movies. 9/10.

Journey's End (I) (2017)

This isn't light entertainment

[9/10 · 5 April 2021]

Journey's End is based on R. C. Sherriff's play from 1928. He was a veteran of the first world war. The movie deals with time just before the 1918 Spring Offensive which was a series of German attacks against the Allies on the western front in northern France.

The British Army is in the trenches and has heard rumours that the German army is going to attack but doesn't know when. British officers and privates are nervous and wait when attack begins. Capt. Stanhope is anxious and drinks alcohol very much because he feels guilty about the deaths of his soldiers. Lt. Osborne "Uncle" is an older father figure. A new member among officers is young Raleigh who is quite naive and learns that his friend Stanhope is a war-torn man. The trenches are very unpleasant and the atmosphere feels like endless suffering.

The movie is more psychological war movie than a tradiotional one with many warfare scenes. The music and landscapes are credible and ominous. Journey's End is better than many other World War I movies because this one depicts hopeless feelings of the trenches and mental health problems of the soldiers caused by the long war. This movie leaves no one cold. 9/10.

The Man from Laramie (1955)

A moderately good James Stewart western

[7/10 · 26 February 2021]

The Man from Laramie is one of many westerns starring James Stewart. He was very big name in Hollywood and he had many big roles but this isn't one of them. This is quite good movie but not legendary.

Will Lockhart (Stewart) arrives to Coronado from Laramie with his supplies. Dave Waggoman, who is the son of Alec Waggoman, the owner of huge ranch, burns Will's wagons. Alec pays an appropriate sum of money for wagons and hopes that Will would leave from Coronado. Will doesn't want to leave before he has found a man who sold guns to apaches who killed cavalry soldiers and his brother who was one of the soldiers. On the other hand Dave and Alec's trusted right hand Vic Hansbro would like to own the ranch in the future but not together and they have their own power struggle.

The movie isn't just an traditional western. It is psychological and some kind of mix of traditional and Italian Western. Especially Vic and Alec aren't clearly good or bad people. The ranch is full of disputes and lies. Will and Dave are typical clearly good or bad characters. Dave is an unreliable and crooked villain of the movie. Will is quite typical hero of westerns. Kate Canady, the long-time rival of Waggomans, is an interesting supporting character. The Script is the biggest weakness of the movie because of some plot holes. The Characters and exciting atmosphere are the best things.

This could be better movie but the script lowers the grade. 7/10

Catch-22 (1970)

Anti-war classic

[9/10 · 17 February 2021]

Catch-22 is an anti-war movie directed by Mike Nichols. The movie is based on Joseph Heller's book. I didn't know anything about this movie or book before watching so I can't compare the movie to the book.

Catch-22 tells about American soldiers in Italy during WW2. A main character is Captain Yossarian (Alan Arkin) who is a bombardier of U.S Air Forces. He would like to stop and go home from the war after he has seen the ugly sides of war. But doctor and officers don't agree with him. His fellow soldiers become insane or die because of the war. One of them try to escape from the army. The officers abuse their own high position and are corrupt. Wartime Italy is very inglorious place.

Maybe the biggest thing of the movie is that war isn't good for anyone. Catch-22 means that some thing (like war in this case) is irrational because you can't go away from war if you are insane or you aren't. Also illegal trading and corruption of officers is one theme of the movie. Maybe the best actors are Arkin, Orson Welles as nasty General and Art Garfunkel as Lt. Nately who loves an Italian prostitute.

Catch-22 would have been even Oscar winner but year 1970 maybe just wasn't the time for political reasons. 9/10

Robin and Marian (1976)

Robin Hood's last battle

[9/10 · 12 January 2021]

Robin Hood, the outlaw hero of medieval England, has been the subject of many movies. Usually Robin Hood is younger character but in Robin and Marian he is older man played by Sir Sean Connery. He was 45 years old when this movie was released but medieval people weren't as long-lived as we are now, so I think this is very realistic decision. A Hollywood legend Audrey Hepburn plays older Maid Marian.

Robin and Little John have been soldiers of King Richard the Lionheart for years but after the King dies they come back to England. They meet their old friends Will Scarlet and Friar Tuck in Sherwood Forest. Robin go to meet his former girlfriend Maid Marian who is a nun. A Sheriff of Nottingham tries to arrest her and other nuns but Robin rescues Marian. Later he rescues other nuns from the Sheriff's castle. Robin, his friends and peasants unite against the new King John and the Sheriff. Once more Robin's soldiers and common people fight against greedy Sheriff's soldiers.

The movie is a kind of sequel to The Adventures of Robin Hood. The story of Robin and Marian tells about selfish kings and authoritatives, emotions of older people and the honor of the soldier. Connery and Hepburn play very well as Robin and Marian who miss each other despite of passed years. Nicol Williamson is excellent as Little John. Richard Harris is good as ruthless King Richard. I think Robin and Marian is as significant Robin Hood movie as Errol Flynn's one. This is just more melancholic but as heroic story as Flynn's one was. 9/10

Jingle All the Way (1996)

funny Christmas movie

[8/10 · 23 December 2020]

Jingle All the Way is a Christmas comedy by Brian Levant who is known for directing family comedies. Arnold Schwarzenegger and an stand-up comedian Sinbad are main actors of the movie. Schwarzenegger's character is a workaholic Howard Langston and Sinbad plays a busy postal worker Myron Larabee.

Langston and Larabee havent bought a present for their sons in time before Christmas. Very popular toy, Turbo-Man action figure, is sold out almost everywhere and both of them need the same toy. During looking for the present they are rivals of each other. Many funny situations are seen.

Jingle All the Way is better than average comedy. The plot is simple and entertaining. Schwarzenegger and Sinbad are amusing. The movie isn't too long and doesn't contain unnecessary scenes. There is little parody too. Of course this isn't so profound movie. But this is very funny one. 8/10

Home Alone 3 (1997)

Moderate sequel

[5/10 · 21 December 2020]

Home Alone 3 is a sequel to Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992). Macaulay Culkin who was an original main actor had stopped acting before making this sequel. The movie should have made outside the Home Alone series because original actors were so memorable. This sequel is just some kind of worse copy of its predecessors. Actors and plot of this movie aren't bad but the atmosphere isn't same. The emotional side remains weaker than in the original Home Alone movies. Still you can watch Home Alone 3 once because it's moderate. However part 1 and 2 are christmas classics. After part 3 this movie series should have stopped.