The real Baron Munchausen (yes, there was one) never went to the moon. He did not ride on a cannonball. And he certainly wasn't swallowed by a giant fish. But the 18th-century aristocrat gained a reputation of telling outrageous tales of his military exploits. In 1785, when the Baron was still alive, Rudolf Erich Raspe … Continue reading A Tale of Two Munchausens
Category: Science Fiction & Fantasy
After revisiting 2001, I put it on my A+ list
After seeing Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey on the big screen for the first time since - well, at least ten years - I realize that it's a much better film than I remembered. (For what it's worth, that last time was also in 70mm at the Castro.) I know now that it's as … Continue reading After revisiting 2001, I put it on my A+ list
Blu-ray review: A Trip to the Moon in many colors and musical scores
Why would anyone spend up to $40 (MSRP; you can buy it for less) for a Blu-ray of a movie that runs only 15 minutes? There are several good reasons. George Méliès' A Trip to the Moon is not only a fun and imaginative entertainment; it's also one of the most important motion pictures ever … Continue reading Blu-ray review: A Trip to the Moon in many colors and musical scores
A Weekend of Silents in Early December
Need more silent films in your life - on the big screen with live accompaniment? You'll find the first weekend of December very satisfying. First, there's A Day of Silents, a one-day festival at the Castro on Saturday, December 2. Then, on Sunday, December 3, the Rafael will screen Buster Keaton's last silent feature, Spite … Continue reading A Weekend of Silents in Early December
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Carnival of Souls, Ministry of Fear, Blade Runner 2049, & Tabu: A Story of the South Seas
In which I tell you about a classic, independent horror film, two works by German directors in America, and the sequel everyone is talking about. A- Carnival of Souls (1962), FilmStruck This low-budget horror movie works in some very strange ways. A car goes off a bridge into a deep river, and one sole survivor comes … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Carnival of Souls, Ministry of Fear, Blade Runner 2049, & Tabu: A Story of the South Seas
Upcoming Festivals: Silents, Docs, and a Hold in the Head
Take a look at the Current Festivals section in the right-hand column of this web page. As I write this, on Friday, October 20, I've got links there to 14 film festivals currently running or coming up soon (three of them will close this weekend). I thought I'd tell you a bit about the ones … Continue reading Upcoming Festivals: Silents, Docs, and a Hold in the Head
A+ List: The Thief of Bagdad (1940 version)
Arabian Nights movies seem to have gone out of fashion, and that's probably not much of a loss. Most of them were laughably bad. But a few good ones got made, along with one true masterpiece: Alexander Korda's The Thief of Bagdad. With its loosely-weaved story, poetic dialog, beautiful color design, groundbreaking special effects, and … Continue reading A+ List: The Thief of Bagdad (1940 version)
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Stalker, Bad Education, Bardelys the Magnificent, & Carry on Cleo
Four more films that are new to me. As usual, I'm sorting them by quality. A Stalker (1979), Filmstruck This slow, strange, allegorical fantasy from the great Andrei Tarkovsky gets under your skin. A guide, called a stalker, takes two other men on a journey into a strange place called The Zone. We never find out … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Stalker, Bad Education, Bardelys the Magnificent, & Carry on Cleo
Dog and cat find comedy gold in Unleashed
B+ Fantasy comedy Written and directed by Finn Taylor You're going to figure out, very early on, how Unleashed will end. But that's okay. You don't go to this kind of movie to be surprised by the ending. You go to laugh. After a very bad breakup, Emma (Kate Micucci) moves to San Francisco with her … Continue reading Dog and cat find comedy gold in Unleashed
Death and virtual life in Marjorie Prime
A- Futuristic drama Written by Michael Almereyda; from the play by Jordan Harrison Directed by Michael Almereyda One of the hardest parts about losing a loved one is the knowledge that you will never talk to them again and hear a response. This moody, near-future drama posits a way that you just might be able … Continue reading Death and virtual life in Marjorie Prime
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