asuraf Reviews

The Kid (1921)

tramp and child

[2 October 2000]

Chaplin's first feature length film has the tramp finding a baby and raising him on his own until five years later his mother starts looking for him. The scene's between Chaplin and Jackie Coogan are wonderful and there is always good sentiment between them.

Strike (1925)

important

[20 September 2000]

Not Eisensteins most famous film, but it was his first and it's important in the history of cinema. The montage is brilliant and the inventive camerawork alone make it endlessly important. A routine story about workers striking put against the satire of the aristocracy, it seems most of the Russian silent films were like this, but the story isn't whats important in these films, it's the camera use. Eisenstein, Pudovkin, Kuleshov, these filmmakers are possibly the most important group of directors ever.

The Big Parade (1925)

one of the first war films

[3 March 2000]

King Vidor's "The Crowd" is one of the best silent films ever made and his "The Big Parade" is one of the best war films ever made. One of the first and still very powerful war movies after nearly three quarters of a century. A simple plot concerning a american soldier during WWI that falls in love with a french woman and gets seperated due to war. Packed with vintage scene's including the many parade montage's, the great battle scene's("All quiet on the western front" was obviously influenced), and a memorable ending. Silent film star John Gilbert is excellent as the young man ravaged by patriotism and taken back by the powerful effects of war. The film is a brilliant masterpiece, one of the vintage films of the 20s.

Greed (1924)

money is everything

[19 December 1999]

Erich Von Stroheims movie is either the biggest tragedy in film history or the best silent film ever made. It is both. Cut down for an original 9 and a half hours to a meer 2 hours the film is now restored masterfully to a respectable 4 hours using an original storyboard and still photos. A powerful story about obsession with money which leads to madness and murder. Taken from the Frank Norris novel McTeague about a dentist whose wife wins the lottery and soon becomes so obsessed with money it drives both of them crazy. VonStroheims direction is a piece of work, the ultimate in story telling. Final scenes in Death Vally are some of the most famous ever shot. The two lead performances by Zasu Pitts and Gibson Gowland are magnificent. Even in the newly restored still shots you can feel the emotion just by their faces. Pure work of art and one of the great silent masterpieces, even if the powers of Hollywood(Mayer,Thalberg) chopped up VonStroheims labor of love.

Sherlock Jr. (1924)

comedy masterpiece

[2 September 1999]

Buster Keaton's silent masterpiece is both brilliant and wildly funny. Playing a young projectionist with dreams of becoming a detective Keaton visualizes the power of fantasy in film. Doing this by having his character play out his fantasy on screen. Keatons direction is something to marvel at for the complicated stunts he has to perform. Easily one of the premier comedy silents of all time.

The Gold Rush (1925)

silent masterpiece

[22 June 1999]

Charlie Chaplin's comedic masterpiece puts the tramp in the center of the Yukon during the hard times of the gold rush. He goes through many hardships to get to the final perfect ending. Along the way we see some of films most perfect and classic comedy bits including the thanksgiving shoe dinner, the dinner roll dance, and the masterly scene of the cabin bobbing over a mountain side. Behind "City Lights" this is Chaplins best and funniest of his great career.

The Gold Rush (1925)

silent masterpiece

[22 June 1999]

Charly Chaplin's comedic masterpiece puts the tramp in the center of the Yukon during the hard times of the gold rush. He goes through many hardships to get to the final perfect ending. Along the way we see some of films most perfect and classic comedy bits including the thanksgiving shoe dinner, the dinner roll dance, and the masterly scene of the cabin bobbing over a mountain side. Behind "City Lights" this is Chaplins best and funniest of his great career.

Intolerance (1916)

landmark in story telling

[23 May 1999]

One year after releasing his civil war epic "The Birth of a Nation" early film pioneer D.W. Griffith made this tale of hatred through the ages. Another lengthy and landmark film involving 4 different stories all centering on hate and intolerance. Much of the film drags on and it started to lose me in some spots, but because of the innovations of Griffith's direction made it entertainable. The Babylon battle scenes are a highlight as is the uplifting rejoiceful ending.

Battleship Potemkin (1925)

landmark

[2 May 1999]

Sergei Eisenstein's silent masterpiece is a very influential and possibly the most famous landmark film ever made. Many, many memorable scenes, including one of the best and most powerful scenes in film history, the massacre on the Odessa steps. No film in our time has captured such power and amazement from one sequence. Along from being a landmark in film history, it also has a strong message on brotherhood and power hungry leaders. This one has stood the test of time and will for ever more.

The Birth of a Nation (1915)

84 yrs later still amazing

[16 February 1999]

"The birth of a nation" was considered at its time a landmark in film making and is sill considered the same today. Many people denounce the film due to its racial tones and use of the clan as a heroic symbol, but look at this film more as a movie fan than as a controversial piece. It was the first movie of its length and Griffths war scenes were unmatched up to "all quiet on the western front" in '33. If you can get past the very stong racial tones and its extreme length please rent this because it is really a miracle in film making, and stands out still as one of the best silent films of all time.