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catherinekeohane
Reviews
Thibaud (1968)
White Crusader
I remember watching this as a small child. I loved it. I remembered vividly his dark hair and his brilliant white clothing and the fact that he never got dirty.
I recently acquired this DVD from France. I am not a French speaker! But I found myself enjoying this thoroughly despite this fact.
The music is very catchy and it is easy to follow even without any English.
The sword fighting appears more realistic than other scenes that I have seen from the same era.
I think the acting is okay. "Thibaud" is called by name numerous times throughout the episodes so much so that it must get on his nerves at times.
He woos a princess in one episode and even unwittingly causes the death of one woman.
It was great taking a trip down memory lane with this series.
Some series from this era that I watch now, leave me feeling rather disappointed and wondering why I enjoyed them so much as a child; but there is no disappointment for me in Thibaud.
I recommend anyone who loved this series as a child to get it on the internet via France. It seems to be the only place where it is available.
Rivals (2000)
Very disturbing - poor Laurie!
This does contain spoilers: I've just finished watching this film on Sky and am greatly disturbed by it all. I don't think I've ever seen a female character portraying such evil tendencies before! Michelle is the ultimate evil murderess, totally deranged and obsessive. Laurie is sweet and easily manipulated, badly let down by many people, the police including. It's disturbing to think that someone like Michelle could have such a strong hold upon people that they'd be afraid to come forward and prevent this terrible crime happening.
I've read various comments regarding the "true story" of Laurie's murder here, some claim that the facts are wrong. Well we all know that certain things are changed in order for the film to be shown. Some names changed, or incidents for instance.
So is the real story of Laurie even more disturbing I wonder, or do people have sympathy for Michelle who is certainly sick in the head.
Michelle apparently gave permission for Laurie to go off with her boyfriend, or rather "ex" boyfriend and then Laurie, inexperienced, gets herself raped by Michelle's ex. Michelle catches them and declares he did the same thing to her. What did she mean by this? That they made love in the barn or that he raped her as well? Whatever, she takes him back and so begins the terror for Laurie.
I wondered whether if the rape had been reported things wouldn't have gotten so far.
And it's a shame that there's not people brave enough to stand up against people like Michelle.
I kept hoping that Laurie wouldn't get killed, but of course she did.
I was a trifle disappointed not to learn what sentences were passed to the others involved in this terrible crime.
Very disturbing. Excellent acting all round.
Straight on Till Morning (1972)
One of the most memorable Hammer films
I say it is one of the most memorable Hammer films for me because I remember watching this film as a child. However, I didn't know its title, the actors/actresses names nor remember that it was a Hammer film, only that it was a rather tragic tale of a plain girl seeking a partner.
After a week or so searching via a movie guide book I stumbled upon the title and acquired the movie to watch it all over again.
It is an early 1970s film and not one that I would associate with Hammer, but is very good. I think of it as a tragic tale really. The serial killer, Peter (Shane Briant) is obviously a deeply troubled individual bothered by things of beauty which he feels he must kill. The "Plain Jane" tells her mother she is pregnant and goes off to London to search for the man who can make her pregnant, she finds him in Peter unfortunately for her. She's infatuated with him and both live in a fantasy world.
She kidnaps his dog in order to get to know him. In its time this film was quite different from all the other films I've seen and I suppose it still is. Shane Briant is a very good looking actor, extremely blonde and it is easy to see why "Wendy" would become besotted with him.
The ending is very sad and the tape recordings disturbing. The ending was probably a necessity to the film but nevertheless had Peter not decided to play the tape to her the ending wouldn't have had to be the way it turned out.
In short I found the film remains one of my most memorable childhood memories, but isn't in the usual Hammer Horror league. It's difference is what makes it unique.
Bianchi cavalli d'Agosto (1975)
Another moving performance by young Renato Cestie
So far all the films I've seen starring the young Italian blonde kid named Renato Cestie have been magical. A typical family film (unsure about why it contained the 15 cert - perhaps because there was one bad word in it?) - and is a weepie although it has a promising ending.
The family are having a holiday in Italy and the division between the parents keeps growing wider apart. The lad, Bunny, withdraws into a fantasy world. At first I thought the fantasy sequences would occupy most of the film, but they did not and there is a decent enough story.
The scene where the lad falls is particularly moving and so is the surgical scenes which I found particularly rather tense.
Renato is indeed an appealing child and this film has some beautiful scenery as well. I thought the acting quite sound and am happy to add the video to my collection.
Il venditore di palloncini (1974)
Renato great as always
LAST MOMENTS (video) This video that is many years old, 1974, has recently become a part of my collection. Viewed on the same day as I received it via ebay, I saw it once before when my ex-boyfriend and his mother tried to spoil it for me by making comments. You either love this type of film or hate it. Again stars Renato Cestie as the little boy trying to do good. (See "Last Snows of Spring"). This features a young boy trying to make a living out of a puppet show when his mother abandons him and his father. The father has turned to drink, the mother to prostitution. An Italian film again dubbed. The little boy lovingly saves all the money he can in a tin for his father and wishes for his parents to reunite. His wish comes true when he collapses and is diagnosed terminally ill with malnutrition. Touching scenes between nun and patient, a little bit of "treatment" shown in this one i.e. injection, but all in all again it avoids explicit medical scenes. The child has to be nursed in a library as the hospital is full and the corridors themselves have patients in beds. Also called "The Last Circus Show" this film sees the child enjoying his last circus and being visited by "God" in the shape of "The Balloon Vender." I loved it anyway.
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Bitterly disappointed
I guess I must be one of the few people out here that actually loved the first two films of the new trilogy. I loved Anakin as a little boy, he brought out the maternal instinct in me, I thought it jolly good entertainment. The Attack of the Clones developed for me one of the best love stories that I've seen. Padme was a great character and like all great love stories there had to be a tragedy.
But the way she died was very feeble, she had everything to live for her children! In this film she was weak and not at all like the strong woman in the previous two films. She was like a bimbo, just looking pretty and not doing much.
The battle featuring the wookies reminded me of The Planet of the Apes, thank God it didn't last very long.
Hayden Christensen did a good job though and he looked brilliant in the part. I loved the interaction between him and Padme. I agree that the scenes changed too quickly though.
There was also too much fighting in this film, it got rather tiresome.
I grew to hate Obi Wan Kenobi, the fact he just declared his love for Anakin (like a brother) and then allowed him to burn. Why didn't he have it in him to spare him such agony and put him out of his misery? Anakin's transformation into Darth Vader, I felt was too hurried - let's get it all out of the way now with 2 and a half hours (I think). Maybe Lucas should've stuck with his original idea and continued doing the nine films he apparently intended.
I hated Yoda in this film also, what a prat.
The Jedi I found to be arrogant and if they'd helped Anakin more this would never have happened.
Anakin goes to Yoda for advice and all the little green man can do is give him some sort of riddle. I guess we are all living on the dark side if we are afraid of losing the ones we love.
It was also ridiculous killing Christopher Lee's character Count Dooku off so quickly. A great actor like that wasted.
Out of the six films this for me was the worst. On the plus side I did enjoy the special effects, Padme and Anakin's conversations and secret marriage and the costumes she wore, much more glamorous than Leia! I actually loved Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones better more than I loved the original trilogy.
But this final film definitely spoilt things for me.
L'ultimo sapore dell'aria (1978)
Yet another great tearjerker
This was shown around the same time as "The Last Snows of Spring" in the UK, dubbed English film. Diego is the promising young swimmer but his dreams fall apart when he falls ill.
I particularly liked the theme song to this "Feelings" sung by Morris Albert and have a copy. I've now also obtained a copy of the film itself and am eager to watch it again.
The scene at the end is particularly moving. Italians certainly now how to do a great tearjerker don't they? As with "Last Snows of Spring" have plenty of tissues at hand.
I saw this film about three times when it first came out and each time I've seen it, it never fails to move me.
Nero veneziano (1978)
Another fine performance by Renato
Recently acquired this video via ebay and am pleased I did so. I've been reading up a lot about this movie and was interested to see Renato, who gave such a sensitive performance in "Last Snows of Spring" starring in such a dark tale.
OK it isn't that original, but I loved it nevertheless. I obtained the English dubbed version with Dutch subtitles. It kept me interested and I knew what was about to happen as I'd read up on the film previously before purchasing, doing a google search. I thought the acting fine and the story fine actually, naturally it is a bit dated now in comparison to the more gory modern films, but considering it's age it was still quite a powerful movie. Most disturbing of all is the baby scene towards the end of the film, and although I had already known what was going to happen, I still wasn't quite braced for it. So that could be disturbing for some viewers. It was a bit too realistic for comfort.
I wasn't expecting the twist at the end, and I consider my money well spent.
L'ultima neve di primavera (1973)
Absolutely beautiful - wonderful performance by Renato!
I saw this film as a child and even now it remains the most moving film I've seen and one of the most memorable. The relationship between father and son is a pleasure to watch but at the same time heartbreaking. The final scenes set in the fairground is particularly sad, one to watch especially if you're a girl in need of a good cry. It was labelled "the saddest story ever told" and it certainly seems like that to me. I saw it with a group of girls in school and we were all equally impressed.
There are some funny moments also, some beautiful scenery, and the film has a particularly moving theme tune.
It's with pleasure I've finally been able to obtain this video.