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The Fallen Idol (1949)
The Fallen Idol (1949)
1949 | Classics, Drama, Mystery
(0 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"Carol Reed was a brilliant director and a sweet man, but he was not a one-man band like David Lean; he required a strong, patient producer who loved him, as my Uncle Alex did, and a gifted screenwriter, which Alex found for him in the novelist Graham Greene, as well as an art director of genius—my father. He was at his best surrounded by talented people who loved him, who were virtual family, and that shows in his best films, Odd Man Out, The Fallen Idol, and The Third Man. One unusual aspect of Carol’s gifts was that he was among the rare directors good at working with children—go watch The Third Man and you will be astonished at the brilliant inclusion of the ghastly little boy who accuses Holly Martins of murder. Most of the great directors hate working with animals or children, but Carol—himself the illegitimate son of the great Edwardian actor and theatrical producer Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree—had a natural sympathy and understanding of children. He was in fact childlike himself—hence his choice, later in life, to make a film of the musical Oliver!—and this shows in his direction of Bobby Henrey in this, another of those English films in which good manners manage to hide passion and even murder, except in the alarmingly clear view of a child. Ralph Richardson, dear Ralph, is at his best in the role of the butler."

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Keegan McHargue recommended Lola (2001) in Movies (curated)

 
Lola (2001)
Lola (2001)
2001 | International, Drama
(0 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"In the recent documentary Gerhard Richter Painting, the painter speaks at length about being a young artist emerging in post–World War II Germany. He says that he always considered painting to be nothing more than a trade that one dedicates oneself to day after day. Working is, above all, very respectable. Perhaps this attitude can be attributed to the fact that postwar Germans were faced with the arduous (but perhaps liberating) task of writing a new history for themselves—trying to come to terms with the past while simultaneously looking toward the future and the endless possibilities therein. With such daunting business at hand, a workhorse spirit would be a must for all German artists. Fassbinder most definitely had that spirit, leaving behind forty feature-length films and playing countless other roles over the course of his short career. Lola alludes to some of these particular pressures and concerns. Lola herself is a woman with a troubled past pressing forward with her life. It is a great, classic story, and a lot can be read into it. But on a purely aesthetic level, Lola is a sumptuous visual journey. So many textures and colors . . . if Zéro de conduite is a Dadaist masterpiece and The Scarlet Empress is expressionism on film, Lola is pure Technicolor pop art, and one of the best late Fassbinder films. Coincidentally, Rainer Werner Fassbinder died the day before I was born."

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IT IS AS IF by Jake Troth
IT IS AS IF by Jake Troth
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Album Rating
Jake Troth is an LA-based multi-platinum singer-songwriter and producer from Davidson, North Carolina. Not too long ago, he released a music video for his “Alive & Well” single.

“‘Alive & Well’ was written over the course of 5 years. It was initiated at the lowest point of my life and then completed years later during the best moments of my life. I wrote the verses based on the feeling the film “Harold and Maude” gave me; Melodrama and Macabre mixed with a little tongue-in-cheek bravery.” – Jake Troth

‘Alive & Well’ arrives on the heels of Jake Troth’s debut single, entitled, “Open Door”.

The honest tune finds Troth struggling with his inner self as he transitions from his lowest points to some of his best moments.

‘Alive and Well’ will be featured on Troth’s upcoming debut album, entitled, “IT IS AS IF”.

“‘IT IS AS IF’ reveals a sweet and succinct new approach towards songcraft, anchored by remarkably refined melodies and deft lyrical observations.”

The 10-track project was written over the course of two solitary weeks in a Woodstock, New York cabin.

Apart from being a musical artist, Jake Troth has a flair for art. He hand-painted all the single artworks and the LP cover himself.

So far, he has collaborated with artists such as Lizzo, Kehlani, Sia, Big Boi, and many more. Also, his “Sunday Smile” single has amassed over 10M streams online.
  
    Owl

    Owl

    Desmond Morris

    (0 Ratings) Rate It

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    The owls are not what they seem. From ancient Babylon to Edward Lear's The Owl and the Pussycat and...

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Andrew Thomas (363 KP) rated Trancers III: Deth Lives (1992) in Movies

Jul 26, 2020 (Updated Jul 26, 2020)  
Trancers III: Deth Lives (1992)
Trancers III: Deth Lives (1992)
1992 | Action, Horror, Mystery
6
5.5 (4 Ratings)
Movie Rating
It brings the overall story to a conclusion. (0 more)
Kind of boring compared to the previous 2. (0 more)
Cheesy B-grade videostore goodness.
Contains spoilers, click to show
I purchased all three of what I have nicknamed the Lena Trilogy out of pure curiosity. I'd walked past the Trancers movies in my local videostore numerous times in years past but never took the plunge. Finally I decided to give em a try because of nostalgia and because I learned that Helen Hunt was in them. The first Trancers I enjoyed, the second film was a little all over the place for me but it was still fun. Trancers 3 was a bit of a let down.

The Jack/Lena romance comes to a dissatisfying end...a romance I was never rooting for to begin with considering that the time travel angle makes it an incestuous relationship. The story teases a return to the post-apocalyptic future of Angel City, but it's only a quick stop off before heading back to the 1990s. The idea of witnessing the origins of the Trancer threat was tantalizing in theory, but it comes across as a bad Captain America rip off. Plus the absence of Art LaFleur as Jack's future boss McNulty leaves out an important element of what made the first 2 movies fun. Bottom line, Trancers 3 let me down, but I don't regret watching it. If you are able to enjoy the first 2 films you might like this one.
  
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Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Grim Fandango Remastered in Video Games

May 7, 2020 (Updated May 7, 2020)  
Grim Fandango Remastered
Grim Fandango Remastered
Action/Adventure
Classic: Land of the Dead
Grim Fandango- is a classic game, yes i know im reviewing the remastered, but its a remaster from the ground up. Its still a excellent game.

Grim Fandango - is 1998 adventure game directed by Tim Schafer and developed and published by LucasArts for Microsoft Windows. It is the first adventure game by LucasArts to use 3D computer graphics overlaid on pre-rendered static backgrounds. As with other LucasArts adventure games, the player must converse with characters and examine, collect, and use objects to solve puzzles.

Grim Fandango is set in the Land of the Dead, through which recently departed souls, represented as calaca-like figures, travel before they reach their final destination. The story follows travel agent Manuel "Manny" Calavera as he attempts to save new arrival Mercedes "Meche" Colomar, a virtuous soul, on her journey. The game combines elements of the Aztec belief of afterlife with film noir style, with influences including The Maltese Falcon, On the Waterfront and Casablanca.

Grim Fandango received praise for its art design and direction. It was selected for several awards and is often listed as one of the greatest video games of all time. However, it was a commercial failure and contributed towards LucasArts' decision to end adventure game development and the decline of the adventure game genre.

I remember playing this game on the computer when i was around age 7-9. Its a excellent game.