This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.
PART 2 OF MY JAMES BOND WATCHTHROUGH
Dr. No served as an extensive introduction to the James Bond character, which means From Russia With Love is placing him in his first legitimate narrative, that being a Cold War thriller. Nearly every aspect of its predecessor is refined—though some more than others—from the reliably charismatic performance by Sean Connery, to John Barry’s score that does more than recycle the main theme repeatedly. It’s not quite as good as the sum of…
This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.
PART 1 OF MY JAMES BOND WATCHTHROUGH
Dr. No may be dated and lacking in flavor, but what it accomplishes as the start of the James Bond franchise cannot be understated. It’s easy to overlook just how effectively it establishes Bond’s core traits—he’s a cool action hero, a suave womanizer, and a cold killer if need be—and Sean Connery is effortless in the role. He simply is Bond, from the moment he utters the iconic “Bond. James Bond”, there’s no…
Blazing Saddles’s send up of the Old West is as hilarious as most comedies get. Gene Wilder and Cleavon Little complement the brilliance of the script excellently, with Little embracing the absurdity of the story while Wilder plays it rather dry yet no less hilarious. Mel Brooks’ signature insanity is definitely felt, as he squeezes every comedic opportunity he can find, teasing at fourth wall breaking gags until the third act explodes into a whirl of meta-humor and self-parody. The…
Rush Hour is a film that fully understands its greatest quality: chemistry. Every scene that Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker share is filled to the brim with an electric interplay that is enough to base the entire movie around. Chan’s irritation balances out Tucker’s infinite energy, and it leads to endlessly entertaining banter of their disagreements and eventual bonding. Beyond the comedy, the movie also excels in its action, with fights that utilize their environments—along with Jackie Chan—to full effect…
