Moviefan

This is an old assignment that I did years ago for my film analysis course.

For this assignment, I have chosen to look at the critically acclaimed film adaption of West Side story. This film holds many accolades including Best Picture for the year of 1961 and many others that the list of awards could feel up a page alone. The story while not very original as it is an adaption of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is a wonderful retelling and I consider it the best film version of Shakespeare’s classic love story.
As stated above, the story while one paper isn’t very original as it is an adaption but its originality comes from the way the story is told. The story does rely on the tropes and characteristics of Romeo and Juliet but they don’t use it as a crutch because while there are similarities, the film does make the wise decision of making certain changes so that the film is the same story beat for beat.

Read the rest of this entry →

A German businessman is trying to save Jewish in this archtypical holocaust despiction. How does Steven Spielberg do a project so different from his previous outings?

Comments from Previous Manic Expression Site

BigBlackHatMan: This movie hit me hard. I haven’t seen it fifteen years or so and I hesitate. It is so harsh, but necessarily so. Good work

In the best film of 1947 a reporter is going to make an article about anti-semitism by pretending to be Jewish himself. Sounds more interesting than it is.

Comments from Previous Manic Expression Site

BigBlackHatMan: Miracle on the 34th Street is my favorite Christmas movie, so I am hopelessly biased. I haven’t seen this one, but it seems worth checking it out. Good work

In the best film of 2008 an Indian boy is trying to become a millionaire in a quiz show while he tells about how he learned all the answers in the life filled with crime, brotherly jealousy, star crossed love and destiny.

Comments from Previous Manic Expression Site

Ankai: I enjoyed the movie well enough. I figured that the language change was similar to those Jack Ryan movies where characters suddenly start speaking English for no reason whatsoever. That said, there have been plenty of Indian movies where the characters, including the children, speak primarily in English, so I cannot really say what the reason was for the switch.
BigBlackHatMan: I really liked Frost/Nixon, but that may be the historian in me. I thought this movie was just okay. Good to have you back. Good work

The best film of 1955 is about a middle aged man who is searching for love. He finds a good soulmate candidate but his family and friends have differing opinions about her.

Comments from Previous Manic Expression Site

BigBlackHatMan: I didn’t mind this movie. It was okay, but its sensibilities are a bit out-dated. Mister Roberts is the only other one that I have seen. It is a decent WWII comedy. Good work

In the best film of 1942 we follow a British middle class family trying to maintain their life style during World War II and… that’s pretty much it.

Comments from Previous Manic Expression Site

BigBlackHatMan: I tried to watch this movie once and confess that I got really bored. I couldn’t get through it. I will vote for Marty. It is dated in its sexual attitudes, but I want to hear your take. Good work

The 21st entry on Manic Expression’s 31 Days of Halloween collaboration is about reviewing the so far only horror movie to win the Best Picture Oscar. It has a psychotic yet charming psyciatrist, an FBI agent on training with a hot Southern accent and lots of thrills and suspense.

Comments from Previous Manic Expression Site

BigBlackHatMan: I will say that I have seen every movie on the list of best picture nominees from that year and they are all really good. That was tough year. Don’t watch Hannibal Rising. It is really stupid and you don’t get the charm of Hopkins. Good work

In the best film of 2001 we follow the life of John Nash, a famous mathematician who has to deal with his insecurities while he gets involved in a dark conspiracy.

This video received no comments on previous Manic Expression site.

The last entry of The 80’s Slow Tempo Month is about an old lady who gets a chauffer and their friendship develops through two decades. Um… riveting?

Comments from Previous Manic Expression Site

BigBlackHatMan: Field of Dreams! Okay, I am a baseball fan, so that is my pick. I haven’t seen this since I was kid, so I don’t really remember the film. It looks like I haven’t lost much. Good work

The 80’s Slow Tempo month continues with the best film of 1985 where a Danish writer travels to Kenya with her fiancee in the 1910’s and meets a handsome British stranger.

Comments from Previous Manic Expression Site

BigBlackHatMan: I tried to watch this once. I just didn’t have the patience on that particular day. Good work
Atreyu: I tried it as well, and managed to finish it. Boy was it a drag in parts. The scenery shots were done in a text-book manner. As much I respect Ms. Streep – I honestly did not know whether her accent was good or silly (the way she pronounced ‘Africa’ stood out; it was like she had to have it that way).

It’s time to start The 80’s Slow Tempo Month with the best film of 1981. Is the slow pacing a possibility or a hinderance to the movie about two British men preparing for 1924 Paris Olympics?

Comments from Previous Manic Expression Site

BigBlackHatMan: I have never caught this one, but tried to once. Unfortunately, I was tired and fell asleep. I need to give it another chance. Good work

In my 50th review on the Internet we take a look at the best film of 1965, a musical about a kind hearted Austrian woman becoming a governess for the seven children of a stone hearted sea captain in the late 1930’s. Many memorable songs and scenes are to be found but how it has managed to stand the test of time?

Comments from Previous Manic Expression Site

BigBlackHatMan: I am not a musical fan, so despite the fact that this is a good movie, I just can’t get myself to sit down and watch it. It is poor reason on my part, but I can’t deny it. I admit the only other movie I saw from that year is Dr. Zhivago and I thought it was okay. Congrats on 50 episodes. Good work