Showing posts with label historical dimensions and perspectives. Show all posts
Showing posts with label historical dimensions and perspectives. Show all posts

When the Forest Ran Red: Washington, Braddock & a Doomed Army Review

When the Forest Ran Red:  Washington, Braddock and a Doomed Army
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This is an one of the best French and Indian War Videos on the Market Today. It combines historical accuracy, period costumes and settings, action-packed battle scenes and a great story line that holds the interest of military buffs, and anyone interested in the history of pre-revolutionary America. Robert Matzen brings together a great cast of re-enactors, writers and historians to make this documentary an unequaled success. This film is NOT your run of the mill off the shelf documentary. It reveals facts about Braddock, Washington and the other major players that were even new to me after studying this topic for over 20 years. I give this film the highest rating of 5 stars because it is a great film and reveals an important part of our history at a time in our own history when every American should be learning about our heritage.

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'When the Forest Ran Red' chronicles the quest of the British, French, and Native American Empires to possess the American wilderness 20 years prior to the Revolutionary War.Conflict ignites as 22-year-old George Washington steps onto the world stage as the murderer of a French emissary.In the subsequent battle of Fort Necessity, the emissary's brother leads a French army that defeats Washington.These events lead to the 1755 campaign of British General Edward Braddock and George Washington against the French in the heart of the wilderness.The French and their Native American allies watch Braddock's powerful army move ever closer.With the British a day away, a charismatic French officer leads his French/Indian guerrilla force in a desperate attack on Braddock's column.The resulting battle will change the course of American history.Set in the times of 'The Last of the Mohicans,' the film documentary 'When the Forest Ran Red' tells a haunting and tragic story of men and women caught in a desperate situation.This co-production of Paladin Communications and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania was shot with the cooperation of the National Park Service, Colonial Williamsburg, and Mount Vernon.Fred Anderson, recipient of the 2001 Francis Parkman Prize for his book 'Crucible of War,' provides commentary as does R. David Edmunds, Native American scholar and author of the Pulitzer Prize-nominated 'The Shawnee Prophet.'More than 25 units of living historians also appear, as does the work of Eastern Frontier artist Robert Griffing.Award-winning Hollywood actor Michael Rothhaar (Ally McBeal, Family Law, Space Jam) provides narration and dramatic interpretationOriginal period music recreations were provided by the Philadelphia folk band Broadside Electric and by The Colonial Williamsburg Fifes & ! Drums.'When the Forest Ran Red' earned a 2001 Silver AXIEM AWARD for Excellence in Educational Media. 2001, 59 minutes, Film and DV CAM, Color.

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Captains Courageous (1996) Review

Captains Courageous (1996)
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Captains Courageous DVD
Captain Courageous is updated version of a story by Rudyard Kipling"Captains courageous." (Kipling dollar library for young moderns). In the movie, staring Robert Urich as a fishing boat's captain, and Kenny Vodas as a young, spoiled rich boy who falls overboard from a cruise liner and is rescued by a fishing boat and is required to work if he wants to eat is a great story about growing up.Highly recommended for any family who has a young teenage boy that is not use to minding his manners, respecting his elders, and doing chores as a responsibility.
Warning has a "tear-jerking" ending.
Gunner March, 2008


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The Go-Between (1971) Review

The Go-Between  (1971)
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The third, last, and probably most famous of the collaborations between director Joseph Losey and Harold Pinter, "The Go-Between" is a coming of age story for adults. While containing all the ingredients of the standard "summer I became a man" situation, "The Go-Between" presents a bitter, sophisticated view of sexual awakening that may take many viewers by surprise.
Like another great American expatriate filmmaker, Stanley Kubrick, Losey was a visual stylist with a bleak take on humanity. Losey's considerable technical skill--and pessimism--are at peak in "The Go-Between." Set on an English country estate during the summer of 1900, everything that contributes toward the sense of the past is ravishingly textured. A long, hot summer afternoon relieved by an impromptu bathing party, the justly famous cricket match sequence, thick with lassitude, the services before Sunday breakfast, stiffly formal, familiar yet remote at the same time, the games of croquet, seen from a pretty distance, as if watching chess pieces in boaters and crinolines--all testify to the director's ability to find those details that help to make the past come to life.
Amid the lush green fields, the breezes blowing through the trees, the sun dancing across the reeds and the sparkle of the water, a group of selfish, repressed upper and middle-class English pose, lie and suffer through the heat. At the center of the story is Leo Colston, a thirteen year old visitor to the estate who gets caught up in the adults' deceptions and machinations. As with most of Losey and Pinter's work, it's never entirely clear exactly who knows what. There is only the constant, heavy implication that something lurks just beneath the surface, and it is probably unpleasant. "The Go-Between" is practically a circus of raised eyebrows passed between the characters in knowing, unspoken comment. Leo, the innocent outsider, ends up impaled on their smug superciliousness, and for all the summer lyricism, the net effect is ashen.
All of the actors are superb. Margaret Leighton, as the matriarch of the household deserves special mention for her quicksilver motions, her ability to convey Madeleine's barely constrained neurasthenic rage. The music, by Michel Legrand, can be painfully loud and abrupt in places, but there's no denying that it's catchy. (How appropriate it is is another matter.) The transfer is not grossly awful, but it doesn't allow much informed evaluation of the cinematography. At the very least it would be nice to see the film in the correct aspect ratio. Contrasty, over-saturated, with a warbly soundtrack, the video makes you long for DVD. While I don't have much hope of it (Columbia is the studio, after all, that allowed "Lawrence of Arabia" literally to rot in its vaults), perhaps we can look forward to a new transfer that takes advantage of DVD's capabilities. This movie certainly deserves the best the studio can offer.

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Love Leads The Way Review

Love Leads The Way
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This is a heartwarming movie, it's a well-made movie, it's an important movie. Anybody who agrees this should be on dvd, say you found this review "helpful"

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Devil's Disciple (1959) Review

Devil's Disciple  (1959)
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This classy film mixes fact and fiction. Bernard Shaw's take on the American Revolution has all the smart touches that we associate with his plays with some scant reference to history thrown in. What makes this movie a hit are the three great actors who are all in their prime here. Laurence Oliver's John Bourgoyne (Gentlemanly Johnny) is simply brilliant. His acid wit makes for a most stunning portrait of this famed general. Shaw was probably inspired to write a play on this subject because Bourgoyne was something of an ametuer playwright himself in the 1770s. The film losely depicts his 1777 campaign from Canada to divide the northern colonies. The plan envisioned Bourgoyne's 9,000 (British, Hessian and Loyalists, with a few Indians) to combine with a drive up from New York under general Sir William Howe's main army. Berry St.Leger was to come down from Oswego with a smaller force. All three were to meet in Albany to divide and conquer the colonies.
Bourgoyne's plan, while elegant on paper did not reflect the logistical reality as far as 18th century armies were concerned. The events were to show that great miscalculations were made. The movie is based losely on the campaign. The towns and locales shown, as well as the characters of Lancaster and Douglas are purely fictional. But the clever plot and role reversal, plus the way these characters evolve in response to events illustrates how the Revolution must have seemed to many not directly involved in it.
The British were fighting a war for the hearts and minds of the Americans (sounds familar in Iraq now). The movie shows this quite well. While a little slow in the beginning, this short film quickly gains speed while its trio of lengendary actors unfold their magic on screen. Its interesting that the production was B&W as the color of the period and the unifroms would have come out better in color. The production value of the movie is quite good with correct period detail, unifroms, military bands, and artillery. While the emphasis of the movie may not be on the Revolution per se, it provides excellent period details all the same.
This sophisticated look at the American Revolution may appear too wordy for some, but it runs circles around such films as the "The Patriot". Whether you are a fan of the great actors shown here, love wity dialogue, or are seeking an unusual period movie, "The Devil's Disciple" has it all.

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A Kid In King Arthur's Court (1995) Review

A Kid In King Arthur's Court  (1995)
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No matter how many times I watch this movie, or the older I get, I am still in love with it! Being a fan of the time of King Arthur, and time travel without the use of science fiction novel tactics, this movie was a thrill for me to watch!
The lead character, Calvin, is a less than popular guy back in his home town of Receda, California. When he is suddenly thrown through time with the help of Merlin, he finds himself in a completely different world. Although the plot doesn't exactly follow any of the stories of King Arthur (i.e. King Aurthur and Guinevere never had any kids, obviously. She ran away w/ Lancelot) but it has the romantic appeal of the time period, and Calvin's friendships with the king and his youngest daughter, Princess Catherine are wonderful! As it goes on, his character flaws are sraightened out and he becomes a stronger person, faced with many tasks most persons never endure. The final scene's tie it all together until he finally goes home, and realizes he can be the person he aspires to.
The film is absolutely wonderful with the adventure, romance, and humor tying togther to make a memorable occassion. I strongly suggest A Kid in King Arthur's Court to anyone who wants a great time, a laugh and a smile!

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Gulliver's Travels (1996) Review

Gulliver's Travels (1996)
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Contrary to popular belief, Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels" was never intended to be simply a children's fantasy / fairy tale. Although the Lilliputans are cute as heck, this story has some serious overtones. As a matter of fact, although more subtle perhaps, there are aspects of this tale which are as dark and bitter as the commentaries on humankind written by the likes of Dostoevsky, Camus and Kafka. Jonathan Swift never was a very happy man.
This rendition of Swift's classic is, in a word, fabulous. It reaches to the heart of the message Swift was trying to convey while at the same time is accessible to all. It is also appropriate for a family to watch. I cannot remark enough on just how well done this film was; it would have been so easy to do a half-baked job and let it be yet another ambitious television movie that somehow went awry. I'm so glad that didn't happen here.
In truth, I have never cared too much for Ted Danson. However, in this film he delivers a surprisingly exceptional performance. So much so, in fact, that looking back I can't imagine anyone else as Gulliver. The rest of the cast did a superb job as well, and the inclusion of Peter O'Toole as the king of the Lilliputans was a great touch. (Then again, when can having Peter O'Toole in the cast of a movie ever HURT?) The direction and the way they chose to tell the story was wonderfully done. The soundtrack (written by Trevor Jones, who co-wrote the soundtrack to "The Last Of The Mohicans" among other things) was right on the $$$ for emotionally gripping scenes.
This is the type of ambitious, fervent film-making that studios can be proud of. If one Jonathan Swift were around today, I have no doubt that he could not and would not have asked for a better adaptation of his prose. A GREAT movie!

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Treasure Island (1990) Review

Treasure Island  (1990)
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Brilliant, wonderful adaptation of R. L. Stevenson's classic seafaring tale -- this is beyond doubt THE best pirate film to have yet been made. Bar none. If you don't clap this one to your heart, ye be a false-sworn landlubber, by thunder, and here's my affydavy on that!
Update, October 2010: See the comments section -- it is being reported that a DVD release may finally come in 2011. Yarrr! And about time, too. Tremendous cast, sterling production values, brilliant cinematography, rousing musical score, crack screenplay, and vibrant performances make this an enduring classic.
I also want to put in a plug for the greatest pirate film to star a swashbuckling female, "Anne of the Indies" (aka "The Pirate Queen"), which has sadly never been released to home video in No. America but has aired on cable TV and is available on PAL Region 2 DVD (as Die Piratenkonigin) in Germany. If you have an all-region DVD player, you should run, not walk, to Amazon Deutschland and pick this up. It's the original English-language release, just switch off any German language options or subtitling. Jean Peters stars as Captain Anne Providence and gives her all in a wonderfully engaging, if corny, color production from about 1951. Peters is genuinely athletic, beautiful, and obviously loved this role. Anne of the Indies beats all other pirate queens hands down.
Now, if only they'd make a film about Grania O'Malley, we'd be splicin' the mainbrace!

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Muppet Treasure Island (1996) Review

Muppet Treasure Island  (1996)
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I've seen all the muppet movies, but this one is my favorite. Granted, the first Muppet Movie had awesome songs by the great Paul Willaims, and the Great Muppet Caper was a terrific spoof on classic Hollywood films. But this movie is different.
I believe it was Brian Henson who said that the difference in this movie is the world that we see. In the previous muppet movies, the muppets were strange creatures living in the human world. But in Muppet Treasure Island, it's the humans who are the odd ones. This is a "Muppet World" through and through. The first clue as to the validity of this statement is the opening credits. The main characters are played by Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog, the Great Gonzo, and the other muppets. Not by puppeteers. By muppets.
Despite the fact that the movie stays pretty true to the book Treasure Island in terms of plot, the execution of it is completely wild muppet madness. Anything and everything is made fun of in this movie (including the fact that it's a movie!) For instance, in several of the excellent songs sung by the muppets (and a wonderful Tim Curry playing Long John Silver), the characters make reference to the fact that it IS a musical number.
And speaking of musical numbers, the songs in this movie are absolutely great. My family bought the soundtrack, and they listen to the songs all the time (especially "When You're a Professional Pirate"). And let's not forget the excellent background music by Hans Zimmer, who still knows how to crank out a good old-fashioned film score.
This movie is filled with all sorts of wackiness, right down to the names of some of the charcters (old Tom, real old Tom, Dead Tom), and jokes made in the movie come back later to make them ever funnier ("Dead Tom's Dead! Long John shot him!"). But this movie is more than just great fun. It's a well scripted, well acted, and in general well made film. It's got everything. Action, adventure, romance. And of course, singing. It's great family entertainment, with a lot of heart and a wonderful message about friendship. If you love the muppets, definitely see this movie. Especially if you like the story of Treasure Island...

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Robert Louis Stevenson's classic pirate tale takes on a life of its own in the hands of the hilarious Muppets(TM)! MUPPET TREASURE ISLAND(TM) -- the Muppets' very first action-adventure -- is the fun-packed, music-filled, high-seas swashbuckler the entire family will enjoy over and over. It all begins when young Jim Hawkins inherits a long-lost map to a pirate's treasure. Jim hires the great ship Hispaniola where he meets the good Captain Smollett (Kermit the Frog) and the evil yet charming Long John Silver (Tim Curry). With adventure in their hearts and treasure chests of gold in their eyes, they set sail on the bounding main only to discover danger at every turn -- including Benjamina Gunn (Miss Piggy), Treasure Island's worshipped love goddess who's dressed to kill! Featuring a rollicking musical score by Academy Award(R)-winning Hans Zimmer (THE LION KING, 1994), MUPPET TREASURE ISLAND is a real gem that "explodes with wit, weirdness, and wildy inventive fun." (New York Post)

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The Crossing (2000) Review

The Crossing (2000)
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This is a wonderfully done made-for-cable movie about George Washington and his famous victory at the Battle of Trenton in the winter of 1776. Starring Jeff Daniels as General Washington, this film brings an important episode in American history vividly to life. We see the broken remnants of the Continental army as it races to avoid capture following their defeats in New York. The British, close on the heels of the retreating rebels, have written the Americans off as being on the verge of total surrender. Washington, tired and beaten, realizes that he must make one last attempt to achieve victory or all hope for the revolution will be lost. Against the judgement of his officers, Washington prepares to launch a desperate offensive against a large force of Hessian troops occupying the town of Trenton, just across the Delaware River in New Jersey. The future of the new United States hangs in the balance as the rag-tag army bets all or nothing on this dangerous gamble. Well written and with money well-spent, The Crossing is a dramatic telling of this important moment in American history, and one that I would recommend to teachers, students, and history enthusiasts alike.

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CROSSING - DVD Movie

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National Geographic - Lewis & Clark - Great Journey West (2002) Review

National Geographic - Lewis and Clark - Great Journey West (2002)
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This is a fascinating re-enactment of Lewis and Clark's original journey, told with Jeff Bridges doing the voice-over but with real actors and the original locations. It is authentic down to the last detail, including such remarkable scenes as the expedition shooting rapids in canoes made from burn-out trees, and pulling their boats by rope over the mountains of Montana.
If you possibly can, though, catch this one in its IMAX version. The movie's story is entertaining enough but imagine it on a screen several stories high - literally larger than lifesize - with a powerful sound system to match. Imagine how much cooler shooting those rapids is in the IMAX form! If you can't find an IMAX, make sure you've got a big screen and turn the sound up. This is history as exciting as it was when it happened the first time.

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