craig-378 Reviews

Cave In (2003 TV Movie)

Typical Made-For-TV Disaster Drama

[5/10 · 5 November 2005]

None of the actors/actresses in this movie were particularly bad. The worst part of the movie was that is was so formulaic typical of made-for-TV disaster dramas. A lead-in family/romantic plot, the disaster, then the subsequent rescue with requisite human drama unfolding during the crisis. In this movie, the lead role is played by Mimi Rogers, who is the newly-minted mine supervisor who is taking the job over from her father. Her husband, and son, are both miners, and as expected, are both trapped in the mine when the cave-in occurs. Unlike an airplane, earthquake, or fire disaster type of movie, there is no real special effects here. Just your typical OH-MY-GOD I can't believe it happened type of movie. It a decent to good movie for those that like the disaster genre, average for movie in general overall.

Half Shot at Sunrise (1930)

Comedy Set During WWI

[5/10 · 5 March 2005]

I originally watched this movie when it was included in a set of 6 war movies on a combination disc of war classics. Given that the other movies on the disc were more war dramas I was expecting something similar even while reading the introductory paragraph on the box. While the movie is set during WWI in Paris (which in that war was NOT occupied by the Germans) that is about all of the war you will get. What this movie is is a Charlie Chaplin-esquire farce of two guys who go AWOL and have a good time. Obviously these two officers are of lesser caliber in the Army. The movie is typical of the slapstick comedy in the 20s and 30s, hence the Charlie Chaplin reference, but this is a talking movie but it does not rely on dialogue for the laughs. Not quite as classic as a Chaplin movie but decently funny none the less.

Submarine Base (1943)

Good Basic Short War Type Movie

[4/10 · 5 March 2005]

This movie was made in 1943 along with several dozen other short (only 65 minutes here) movies like this during WWII. Starring John Litel and Alan Baxter (as protagonist Joe Morgan) both standard contract actors for Warners at the time. Movie was made to show an element of the war effort and was formulaic for the time. Usual plot lines of such a movie set around an outlaw ex-gangster from NYC (Morgan) who fishes an ex-cop out of the water (Litel as Taggert). Usual plot twists and Nazi suspense (it was shot in 1943!) Shot in B&W some visual not too many special effects and only a couple of sets used for a 1 hour movie. No particular high drama or special effects - decent predictable all around acting for a staple war picture. Basic plot is that Morgan was initially thought to be a trailer to the US by many including his old NYC nemesis Taggert, but turns out he has his own secret plan to aid the Allied effort.

The North Star (1943)

Rare Movie To Show Soviet Russia In Positive Light

[4/10 · 5 March 2005]

One of the many staple of movies made during WWII to both entertain the audience and aid the war effort. Several then-known and soon-to-be-known stars such as Walter Brennan, Dana Andrews, Walter Huston, and Anne Baxter. Aside from the usual war effort type movie, the biggest thing about this movie was that it was one of the rare movies to show the Soviet Union in a positive light. Granted it focused on a small village in the Ukraine without much explicit Soviet visuals but it was none the less. Again it was shot in 1943 when we, and the Soviets, were technically allies and battling the Nazis. Even then the US was never really at ease with the Soviet alliance and shortly after the surrender of Germany it became apparent that the Soviets broke with the rest of the allied post-war plans. However this movie was meant to be more of a heart-warming drama focusing on several families and most specifically their young children who are from 17-to late 20s and a couple even younger who set out on a road trip on the same day Nazi Germany invades the Ukraine. Brennan plays the old man grandfatherly figure who helps the younger people deal with the attack once it commences. This was one of Dana Andrews' earliest war type movies he goes on to play many more such roles. Obviously meant to be a propaganda piece or at least to elicit support for the war it is a good movie if you like war type movies especially since it shows an aspect of the WWII experience that is not commonly scene in movies.