MrCritical1 Reviews

The Shaft (2001)

No Thanks, I'll Take the Stairs

[6/10 · 9 November 2003]

Dutch director Dick Maas has essentially remade his own 1983 film De Lift with 2001's The Shaft (originally entitled Down), about an evil elevator system that suddenly begins killing people in a fancy-schmancy skyscraper. Artisan has shamelessly redesigned the cover art to resemble The Ring, and to highlight the presence of star Naomi Watts, though who that kid on the cover is supposed to be is really anyone's guess, because he is certainly not in the movie I watched.

In between the dull investigative drivel, Maas delivers a few fun horror moments, including a spectacular elevator door decapitation and a fun bird's-eye P.O.V. of a character's leap off the observation deck. Maas even subjects an elevator full of very pregnant women to a terrifying ride.

With the exception of a few establishing shots, it appears that much of The Shaft was shot in Europe, and the unconvincing "New Yawk" accents of most of the extras is definitely giggle-worthy. To Maas's credit, he has somehow managed to fill the film with a decent blend of familiar faces in supporting roles, including Edward Herrmann (the building manager), Dan Hedaya (a police lieutenant), Ron Perlman (the elevator repair company boss) and venerable bad guy Michael Ironside.

There are brief moments of great fun in the murderous elevator flick, The Shaft, but too much time is spent talking and the dramatic payoff is a real eye-roller, even in B-movie horror terms. Artisan has supplied a solid 5.1 surround track, but the horribly cropped 1.33:1 fullframe transfer almost negates that.

Yep, The Shaft has its ups and downs.

6*(10* Rating System)

A Christmas Carol (1910)

Classic Tale

[6/10 · 9 November 2003]

This early film version of Dickens' classic Christmas tale follows the story closely, though it telescopes the appearance of the Ghosts into a matter of minutes, using some well-conceived double-exposure effects.

6* (10* Rating System)

A Corner in Wheat (1909)

Just Desserts

[7/10 · 9 November 2003]

A Corner in Wheat is a little meditation on capitalism, derived from Frank Norris, weaving together narrative fragments linked by their relation to wheat. The film begins with farmers sowing grain and taking their meager harvest to market. Capitalist speculators engineer the "corner in wheat" of the title, establishing full control over the world's supply. We see, intercut with this coup and the main capitalist's ensuing celebrations, the effects on others: another speculator is ruined, the farmers return home empty-handed, the urban poor go hungry and begin to riot when bread becomes unaffordable. The riot is squelched, but the "Wheat King" meets with his just desserts, inadvertently buried under an avalanche of grain, while the farmers continue to toil.

7* (10* Rating System)

The Sculptor's Nightmare (1908)

Clay Dream

[9/10 · 8 November 2003]

Filmed on April 18 and 20, 1908, in the New York city studio, this film shows off the creativity of stop-motion photography. Without the summary derived by American Mutoscope and Biograph Company, this film takes a couple of viewings to get the full understanding of the story. Nonetheless this film is well done and achieves in almost every area.

9* (10* Rating System)

Dancing Boxing Match, Montgomery and Stone (1907)

Acrobatic Boxer

[4/10 · 6 November 2003]

Very short vaudeville film from the well-known team of Montgomery and Stone. Besides the amazing acrobatic shoulder roll that propels the boxer back to his feet the film is way too short to form a real opinion.

4* (10* Rating System)

The Sorcerer's Scissors (1907)

Creative Fun

[5 November 2003]

A mix of spectacle, animation and dance, the film reveals an early delight in the potential for creative fun with film form. Its director, Walter R. Booth had been described as making British films which attempted to out-Méliès Méliès.

7* (10* Rating System)

Army Pack Train Bringing Supplies (1906)

Earthquake & Fire!

[8/10 · 4 November 2003]

This film highlights the role of the United States Army in transporting supplies following the 1906 earthquake and fire in San Francisco.

This short shows the army bringing in supplies on horses and mules. Victorian homes and a church can be seen in the distance. Pack trains such as this were the quickest and most efficient method of transporting large amounts of supplies through the hilly and rubble-filled streets west of the docks.

The film is done very well in very dusty conditions.

8* (10* Rating System)

A Ballroom Tragedy (1905)

Jealousy & Murder

[5/10 · 3 November 2003]

Filmed June 14, 1905, in the Biograph New York City studio, The Ballroom Tragedy touches on an issues apparent in many movies seen today...jealousy & murder.

The film could have used better lighting as some areas of the film are dark. Average film overall.

5* (10* Rating System)

Annual Parade, New York Fire Department (1904)

Where are all the floats?...

[5/10 · 3 November 2003]

Filmed May 14, 1904 in New York City this film opens your eyes to how far we have come.

The film could have been 1 minute in length and have accomplished the same. The film itself was a bit tedious.

The best part about the film is seeing the Fire Dept. Equipment as it's being drawn by horses. Would love to be able to drive a present day fire engine right down that street and watch the mouths drop.

6* (10* Rating System)

Arrival of Prince Henry (of Prussia) and President Roosevelt at Shooter's Island (1902)

Prince & a President

[5/10 · 2 November 2003]

Prince Henry and President Roosevelt walk together on Shooters Island to where Alice Roosevelt will christen the German Emperor's yacht "Meteor". Sailors and marines are also seen following behind.

This film was shot on Shooter's Island, New York, at the Townsend and Downey Ship Building Co., on February 25,1902 in the dead of winter. As you can see it was pretty windy as well. The film is decent at best.

5* (10* Rating System)

Alphonse and Gaston, No. 3 (1903)

I said Dance!!

[6/10 · 2 November 2003]

Alphonse and Gaston is based on the comic strip characters created by Frederick Burr Opper. Filmed Oct. 16, 1903, in the Biograph New York City studio.

This short comedic film takes place in a western style saloon. The characters involved are a bartender, a couple of overly courteous clowns, and a cowboy.

Overall the film is not that bad. The clowns are a bit annoying but the story being told and the overall look and visual of the film is pretty good.

6* (10* Rating System)

Arrival of McKinley's Funeral Train at Canton, Ohio (1901)

A Moment in History

[9/10 · 2 November 2003]

Well positioned camera angle which captures the mood of this event. William McKinley's Funeral is a moment in American history which has been captured, if only for a moment.

As the train stops at the platform great respect for the dead President is shown by the waiting diplomats and reception committee baring their heads and standing respectfully on one side as the mourners leave the train.

9* (10* Rating System)

Admiral Dewey Landing at Gibraltar (1899)

Dewey Has Landed!

[6/10 · 2 November 2003]

This was filmed Sept. 5, 1899, when Admiral Dewey stopped off at Gibraltar on his way to New York City and was the first of his homecoming celebrations.

Camera angle could definately use some help but nonetheless a decent shot of Dewey's homecoming. Humurous to see the sailors waving as they move away.

6* (10* Rating System)

The Arrival of a Train (1896)

Choo-Choo!

[8/10 · 2 November 2003]

Very simple shoert film of a train arriving, hence the title. Obviously this film is good for its time but not as good as others I've seen from same era.

The Lumiere brothers created countless inventions and revolutionized the way the world watched film.

8* (10* Rating System)

Edison Kinetoscope Records: Annie Oakley (1894)

Pull!

[10/10 · 2 November 2003]

As the commercial exploitation of the kinetoscope grew, filmmakers realized they needed to produce films that appealed to an audience that included middle-class women. This film was produced with this audience in mind where Oakley demonstrated her awesome marksmanship.

Great short film of what is possibly the first film featuring a firearm. Annie Oakley shows off her stuff and looks very good doing it.

10* (10* Rating System)

After Launching (1898)

All Aboard!

[8/10 · 2 November 2003]

This film was shot near the Union Works, San Francisco, California. Great look at the pleasure yacht "Unadilla" with her decks loaded with passengers. A good look at every day events in a time we can only remember by these great short films. Some moments are very sharp and clear. Good smooth camera movement.

8* (10* Rating System)

Admiral Cigarette (1897)

The Dawn Of Advertising

[10/10 · 2 November 2003]

Early filmmakers understood the advertising potential of motion pictures. By 1897, several NY film companies had made advertising films for various products and services. Admiral Cigarette was one of the earliest Edison advertising films. Although previous Edison films promoted rail travel and were often financed by railway companies, films like Admiral Cigarette were much more explicit in their endorsements of brand names.

This film is very exciting to watch as it shows advertising at its infancy. This ad shows a group of people displaying a banner that proclaims -- "We All Smoke." Not bad for 1897.

10* (10* Rating System)

American Falls from Above, American Side (1896)

Cold Day above the falls.

[8/10 · 2 November 2003]

Part of Edison's "New Niagara Falls" series.

Awesome look at the landscape over 100 years ago. A bit too far away for my liking but you can still enjoy the beauty on a winters day. It appears there are a couple of photographers in the picture as well.

Filmed early December 1896, at Niagara Falls, New York.

Great shot of history.

8*(10* Rating System)

Above the Limit (1900)

Double or nothing!

[10/10 · 2 November 2003]

Charles E. Grapewin stars in this comedy. Grapewin who was a vaudeville act is regarded many as one of the best actors of early cinema.

This film has great physical comedy. Even without sound you are able to understand the scope of emotions Grapewin experiences.

10* (10* Rating System)

Blacksmith Scene (1893)

Banging Away..

[10/10 · 2 November 2003]

Thomas Edison and William K.L. Dickson's "Blacksmith Scene," was the first film shown publicly in 1893.

This short is a brief look at 3 workers as they go about their daily ritual. Great piece of work for its time.

In the early days of cinema, directors typically recorded everyday events such as the arrival of ships or workers leaving a factory. These short films were called "actualities." Later, with the advent of better equipment (which could record for longer), directors began to introduce more complicated narratives into film.

10* (10* Rating System)

Dickson Greeting (1891)

The Dawn Of An Industry

[10/10 · 1 November 2003]

Thomas Edison, the father of many inventions, combined the phonograph and the zoopraxiscope to create the Kinetoscope.

This incredible invention began Edison Motion Pictures and the first of its creations, "Dickson Greeting".

This 18 sec. short (which loops 3 sec of footage 6 times at 30 fps) inspired the world to the endless possibilities of film.

Although this film is very short and simple it is awesome to see the industry at its infancy and a gives you greater appreciation for where we are today.

10* (10* Rating) This film deserves a perfect score for its imagination and what it represents.