The last week of the year is always a good time to watch a few golden oldies. When you don’t own a copy, there’s always a good chance that they’re shown on the telly (and You Tube has become a real movie library as well)
That’s all very fine, but I found out that those oldies aren’t always as golden as they’re reputed to be …
THE GUNS OF NAVARONE (1961, J. Lee Thompson)
One of the great adventure movies, so they say. And that’s exactly what I called it a couple of decades ago, but this time I realised it’s not that great. Those guns are still majestic, but the story is a bit too much Alistar Maclean with hardly any trace of credibility. I like a good adventure movie from time to time and they don’t have to be credible (none of these type of movies actually is), but I prefer those cardboard characters to have a bit more flesh and bone. Still enjoyable, but I guess it’s best enjoyed when you are a teenager (that the best age to read those Alister Maclean novels as well)
*** out of 5
ET (1982, Steven Spielberg)
Dear me. I had only watched it once before, in the companionship of children, and for that reason I was probably a bit more receptive to the rather childish atmosphere, but what kind of film is this? The story is shaky, the extraterrestrial creature is annoying, and the children in the film are, if possible, even more annoying. There are a few visually appealing moments, but one thing is certain: I will never return to this film. No, Mr. Spielberg, this not my cup of ET.
** out of 5
SHALAKO (1968, Edward Dmytryk)
I rewatched it for obvious reasons. Obviously this wasn’t the cinematographic firecracker the makers must have had in mind when pairing 007 with the world’s hottest sex idol of the moment – the combination didn’t set anything on fire – but in retrospect this is quite an entertaining movie with a nice premise: European nobility, in full gear (butlers and silverware included), embarks on a trip to the Wild West and clashes with the locals, namely a group of bloodthirsty Native Americans. The script is somewhat disjointed, and Miss Bardot’s lines are practically unintelligible (her lines had to be transcribed phonetically because she barely spoke English), but the action scenes are okay and overall I had a remarkable good time with it.
***½ out of 5
HAIR (1979, Milos Forman)
One that looked better today than when it first came out. It was released in ’79, when those Crazy sixties were a distant memory and the movie must have felt like mustard after dinner. Today this rather ironic approach to the source material – Forman clearly realised that the hippy days were over – is a joy to watch. And the songs sound as fresh as ever. Hair hair hair hair hair. Only the ending feels a bit forced today.
**** out of 5
Not a rewatch (of course):
GLADIATOR II (2024, Ridley Scott)
What shall I say? It outdoes the original in (often very bloody) spectacle, but it echoes that very original to a degree that the whole thing looks second-hand. Back in 2000 Russel Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix and Connie Nielsen played characters you could either care for or despise, Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington are excellent actors, but their characters feel cold and aloof. Not dull, but it’s also the kind of movie you almost instantly forget when it’s over.
**½ out of 5
) I watched this new Eurospy homage starring Fabio Testi and it’s quite marvellous.
