Try Cornel Wilde's Beach Red Instead   on August 1, 2009 - 9:48 PM PDT   of The Thin Red Line (Criterion) (1998) 0 out of 3 members found this review helpful   In 1967 Cornel Wilde did basically what The Thin Red Line sets out to do and, in my opinion, did a much better job.

Not Cukor's Best Work   on June 6, 2008 - 9:08 PM PDT   of The Marrying Kind (1952)   'The Marrying Kind' is certainly watchable and both Judy Holliday and Aldo Ray do a good job in their roles, but the praise in Hal Erikson's review is a bit exaggerated. His estimate of the movie may be off since he clearly has only a vague recollection of it. In "the film's most unforgettable sequence," as Erikson calls it, when their son drowns they are not having an argument. Rather Holliday is playing the ukulele in on the couple's few blissful moments during their marriage. For a family drama of this type King Vidor's "The Crowd" is a far better film. As far as comedy goes many of Cukor's other comedies have better dialog and are more enjoyable to watch. (Try "Born Yesterday" for one.)

Rent the wide-screen version instead   on April 16, 2008 - 9:24 AM PDT   of The Big Trail (1930) 2 out of 2 members found this review helpful   This is a fantastic movie that I would highly recommend for anyone who likes westerns, likes classic films, or is interested in how movies began and the innovations of cinematic geniuses like director Raoul Walsh. I didn't rate is movie a 10 only because it is not the wide-screen version, which will be available to rent from Green Cine in May 2008. I was really impressed with the shots, like the head-on filming of a stampeding herd of buffalo, and locations that were captured on film considering the limits of technology in 1930. And all of this was done without sacrificing the quality of its epic story. This is an undeservedly neglected film.

Don't watch this version! Watch the Special Edition one.   on March 19, 2008 - 1:47 PM PDT   of The Big Red One (1980) 4 out of 4 members found this review helpful   There is no reason to watch this version which was butchered by the studio when Green Cine also has the "The Big Red One: Special Edition" available for rental. The Special Edition is a fully as possible restored/recreated version that comes much closer to what the director, Sam Fuller, originally envisioned. The commentary on the special edition points out all the great scenes were truncated or completely cut out in the 1980 theatrical release.

Hal Erickson is right on   on December 6, 2007 - 8:48 AM PST   of Madame Bovary (1991) 3 out of 3 members found this review helpful   When I originally saw this movie I thought it was an adequate adaptation of the novel, but after being wowed Vincente Minnelli's 1949 version I was reminded that a good movie adaptation of a book should add a layer to the story that is made possible by the change in media from print to film. Simply putting a watered down version of the story up on the screen, even if its not poorly done, is like a film version of a play that is essentially the same as it would be if a video camera had been placed in the back of the playhouse. Good books and good plays make use of the strengths of their medias which are not the same as those of film. If a film brings nothing new to the table your time would be better spent reading the book or seeing the play live. I gave this film a lower rating partly for the sin of needlessly remaking a great film and doing a poor job at that.