The Magnificent Seven

Guess who finished the review but forgot to post it? (I was working on review stuff I promise, next Monday you get a double feature.)

I can't even believe they had the balls to remake this movie, what the hell is the point? I'm not saying a story like this couldn't work in a modern times setting but if you're just going to make it cowboys again then just stop. And this is quite a good movie, I daresay even that people who just claim westerns of that time just ripped off Kurosawa films need to take a time out cause shocker, Kurosawa himself gave a glowing review. So I don't want to hear any nonsense about american bastardization of foreign cinema, it's worked before and it can work now. Yes, the main story of a small town besieged by bandits who have to hire seven gunslingers is similar but the movie has enough distinguishing factors in terms of characterization, performances, and setting to make it unique enough. It's similar but it's not derogatory. I really enjoy our main cast, I've actually been a fan of Yul Brynner since I saw Cecil B. Demille's Ten Commandments when I was 5 or 6 years old and I'm always excited when I see his name in a movie's credits because he's such a cool personality, Steve McQueen is still the man and shows he can act in period settings whether it be the old west, World War 2, or the 1950s suburbs, James Coburn is wonderful as well and again he's very much a fun person to have in a movie despite the context and setting, Charles Bronson has already proven to me how well he works in a western movie so I was all for seeing more of him. The chemistry between them all is also really good and come on, how can you get a better western villain than Eli Wallach? But the production is very good too, seeing as how this was the last real decade of western films the quality is still just as strong in any other film of the genre. And it really doesn't bother me that the story follows similar beats, because it's such an enjoyable film from our stars. I doubt there is a western out there that really could top Once Upon A Time In The West, but I'm incredibly happy to have seen this movie regardless. The action is handled well, nothing fancy but certainly not boring or dull either, I do enjoy the characters and the story, this is still regarded as one of the best westerns made and I can't very well argue with that. 4 stars, 7.5/10!

Ugh, this week has been too hectic. It really does bring my blood to a boil when I forget something as important as a review and that sucks because my memory is shot to all hell, and I never want to dissappoint. Next week will be better, movie review, new movie review, television review, all bases covered and I can't wait.

The Blob (1958)

I forgot how good this movie was.

Alright, tonight's movie is the 1958 sci-fi classic, The Blob starring Steve McQueen in a role that made him famous. Now I gotta say, this is a classic movie without a doubt in my mind, but watching it again I really loved it. It's one of the greatest examples of 50s science fiction movies, with outstanding writing, not just in concept but in execution, great acting, and a terrific movie monster to top it all off. The plot follows Steve McQueen while one night a meteor hits, and out comes an alien blob hell bent on absorbing every human on Earth. It's up to good old Steve to stop this alien menace, and try his damndest to warn the whole town before it turns into a big red jelly mark on the map. Now this was Steve's first big movie before he got super famous a few years later, and he does great work in this movie. He's a regular guy, thrust into this crazy situation, and has to deal with it. You believe every word he says, and gives immense likeability and even some good depth to a rather ordinary character. Now this movie is about an hour and a half long, and the pacing is just right. You see the blob, and you see it well, but not as much as you might expect. It does a good job of keeping you in suspense to when you see the blob again. And all the supporting cast does wonderful work as well, every one of them is an intelligent, well rounded character while in most other science fiction movies of the time they would be as smart as a bag of rocks, and are there just to go through the meat grinder, but here they contribute a great deal to the movie, whether it be plot progression or to give some pretty decent character development to each other. It's truly a cult classic, and created a remake in 1988, and the event known as Blobfest, a yearly little shindig in Phoenixville where the movie was made with tons of great stuff to do, see how they made the movie, reenact the famous movie theater scene, and view the original blob itself in all it's gelatinous glory. This is a fun flick, and you get the vibe from the opening credits. Classic and ingenious title screen, and the blob has it's own theme song and it is truly spectacular. 4 stars, check it out!

And tomorrow we revisit another classic science fiction movie. They're already here, and you are next.