How the West Was Won

Score (#25); Stars - James Stewart (#3), Henry Fonda (#6), Spencer Tracy (#9), Gregory Peck (#12), John Wayne (#13)

Holy cavalcade of stars!  This movie is actually 5 different stories about taming the west, covering river rafts, trapping, gold mining, wagon trains, riverboats, the Civil War, buffalo stampedes, the railroad, and Indians.  It wasn't bad, but although they managed to loosely tie the stories together, it felt a bit disjointed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5HRSmLlaiA

Marty

Stars - Ernest Borgnine (Current); Passions (#64)

I wasn't expecting to like this movie, but I loved it!  This little gem is a romantic drama from the guy's point of view.  Marty is in his mid 30s and single.  Everyone jokes, "So, Marty, when are ya going to get married?"  Marty laughs it off, but secretly he's alone and hurting, thinking no girl will ever find him attractive. 

If you haven't seen it, see it.  It'll be worth your while.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_1M-4lIfnA

Show Boat

Stars - Ava Gardner (#25); Songs - Ol' Man River (#24); Musicals (#24)

I was actually supposed to watch the 1936 version of this movie, but I can't find it.  I ended up watching the 1951 version.  It worked out ok, because then I got to see an Ava Gardner movie, so it counts for that, too.

Well, what's there to say about it?  It started off with slaves smiling in the cotton field.  Somehow I don't think they actually smiled all that much.  And the Magnolia/Ravenal story wrapped up awfully quickly.  And we never did find out what happened to Julie.  And the Ravenal/Kim part at the end totally creeped me out.

But I liked "Ol' Man River" and "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkDU1ai5P1I

What's Up, Doc?

Laughs (#61); Passions (#68)

This is an homage to the classic slapstick comedies of the early days of film.  I think they use every gag except for slipping on a banana peel.  I thought the plot was thin, and so was the romance.  I'm not really sure why it got a spot on the Passions list, other than the fact that AFI loves Barbra Streisand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWRZut6klgE

Thelma and Louise

Thrills (#76); Stars - Geena Davis (Current); Cheers (#78); Heroes - Thelma Dickerson and Louise Sawyer (#24)

First, I'd just like to say that if I were Susan Sarandon, I would have pushed Thelma into the Grand Canyon about 30 minutes into the movie.  Oh my gosh, she was an idiot.  How on earth can Geena Davis think she was portraying a strong woman?

Secondly, I strongly question the "heroes" list.  Sure, they deserved a cheer for shooting the would-be rapist.  But after that, everything they did was just plain wrong and anything but heroic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIb6AZdTr-A

A Night at the Opera

Top 100 (#85 Revised); Laughs (#12); Stars - The Marx Brothers (#20)

Okay, so I don't really like the Marx Brothers all that much anyway.  I like Laurel & Hardy better.  But this wasn't my favorite of their movies.  Maybe it was because of all the opera.  Maybe it was because Zeppo wasn't in it.  Who knows.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Axzxe1a78E

The Deer Hunter

Top 100 (#79/53); Thrills (#30)

Three buddies from a factory town enter the Vietnam war together.  They serve together, end up separating, and each find different fates.

Too gritty.  I very didn't like it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpBkc2jK-6w