Movies Movies Movies

List of movies I've watched so far...

War and Remembrance
ROOTS
North and South
Band of Brothers
Once Upon A Time In The West
Grapes of Wrath
The Outlaw Josey Wales
The Magnificent Seven
Little Big Man
Hard Times
A Star Is Born
The Roaring Twenties
X'mas with the Kranks
Jeremiah Johnson
Eagle
........... till I remember some of the others.........

Now.... "War and Remembrance" is the next one I'll be watching... cool!

The Grapes of Wrath

It happened in the Great Depression period by focusing on one family - the Joads. Tom Joad just got out from the jail but he's still on parole. He's trying to get back home to meet his family and then finding out that his family is being kicked out from their own land. He meets Jim Casy who was a preacher and that's how they going to meet Tom's family.

Surprisingly meeting his mother and other family members living together and now that he's being told that they're forced off the land. Tom's mother doesn't want him to cause anymore trouble so he joins family reunion and ready to head to Californai the next day. Most of the people were moving westward at that time. People were very angry being pushed away but there's not much they can do. They're just trying to survive and stick with their families.

The Joads now traveling all along the highway heading to California. The Joads meet with thousands and thousands of people heading to the same place carrying the same hope to settle, get a job and a piece of land they can call their own. Unfortunately, they're all going to the same place, getting the same job with large amount of people which is impossible for them to get the job. The money they make was very little. They keep going places and places just trying to earn a buck to support the family. Many of them die and the remaining are just trying to survive. It's very hard for the powerless people to fight for their rights where powerfull people only offering them to work with low wages.

Later they found the government camp which they think it's nicer than the other place. The Joads pick cotton for a month, every night they have meat and joing the dance with other families. They thought they would be happy but later they had to move to a new place - Fresno.

To me this movie is really sad, people trying to earn a few dollars to live, caryying hope to find a piece of land to settle. Tom's mother was becoming stronger and stronger as she's seeing the outside world which people are competing to get a job. She has to take care of the family- cook, clean and take care of the kids. At the end of the movie she said that she used to be afraid but not anymore.

Tom's father was the head of the family but now he thinks that it doesn't matter because all he has to do is helping his family by working hard.

Tom Joad is always running as he's on parole. He loves his family so much but he has to keep running as long as he's alive.

The Joads family is telling me how the American had to fight and how hard to had to earn a buck to live. The word "never say die" is really describing the situation. They moving west just like the others carrying the same hope - better job and better place to stay. The men had to work really hard while the women helping to get things organized at home.

Spaghetti Westerns

Spaghetti Westerns is a nickname of western film between 1960 and 1975. Why? It is mainly because most of the films were financed by the Italian studios as they have things in common like low budgets and even the Italian language.

Here are some of the spaghetti westerns movies:

Once Upon A Time In The West

Man With No Name

Treasure of Silver Lake

A Fistful of Dollars

Tepepa

The Roaring Twenties

It's all started after World War I. Soldiers came back home and couldn't find any job to do. 1920s American women started to wear shorter skirts, cutting their hair shorter, rights to vote and things began to get more expansive such as food and rental. That was the time the word "Speakeasy" began to appear in American language which was used for selling and drinking alcoholic beverages during 1920-1933 or even longer? and also known as Prohibition. When you wanna drink you go knock on the door and the small-window will be opened. A guy will check on you and then finally let you in - saloon?

Then comes the beginning of illegal alcohol. People could easily get to drink liquor - school girls and boys, shopkeepers, waiters and waitresses, etc. As it said, the land of the free gone wild! People would do anything to get liquor. So as Eddie, he started to steal liquor and sell it.

Eddie couldn't get his job back so he found a new way of making money by delivering liquor and later selling then he became richer and richer. He was living in paradise selling liquor but he drank only milk - haha!

Anyways let's look at other things. Say lots of new products and technologies in this movie. The mass production develped so fast that people could now by cheaper prices of technology products. There are many means of communication such as telephone and radio. Automobile, chemical industries and movie were blooming at that time.

One of the things was Stock Market in New York. People were crazy about it. Eddie was one of them. He's willing to sell anything to get money hoping that he would become richer and richer. Unfortunately, the stock market went from top to down. Millionares and billionares went from the highest all the way down to "ZERO" Now Eddie has nothing left and became a texi driver but still carrying a hope that he would go back on top again but before he could - he died in "Crazy Years"

-Hard Times-

It happened in Depression-era in New Orleans. A strong streetfighter Chaney hooks up with a small-gambler Speed who borrows money from other people to bet on Chaney's fight. Chaney is an all-time winning as he's so strong but his characteristic is way too quiet. Chaney wins all fights and Speed takes away all the winnings by gambling. For one last time that Speed has to give back the old debts to the mafia but he has no money so they have a deal of having Chaney fight with another streetfighter from another town (who they thought was stronger than Chaney) Now guess who won? Of course my Chaney!

I think this movie aims to tell us about the working coditions of some of the factories back then and that prosperity runs parallel to morality. Honesty is one of them. Chaney has it all. He helps Speed because he thought he doesn't have to help but that he should. After the problems have been solved he gave quite amount of money to Speed and Poe. The good thing is that Chaney's morality has affected Speed and Poe that they wanted to start doing something new and legal. It also shows that when a man fights, he should fight with dignity and must be able to accept the fact of losing.

Fighting on the boat?!? Well I guess it's just because the American Law has no law against fighting on the boat so that it starts off on the boat? But if those pigs catch them fighting somewhere else - they're in trouble. Remember that there's always "holes" between laws.

It's the third movie of Charles Bronson I've seen so far! He's cool!

Not bad peeps... y'all should get to watch this.

North and South

Wow wow wow and one more wowwwwwww!!!!

I love this movie!!! I'm speechless... I don't know if I would be able to appreciate and talk about this movie enough! But let's try to keep it short..

Everything begins at West Point.. friendships, harmony, fights and even enemies.

It is mainly about slavery. Two men met at West Point. One from the North (George) and one from the South (Orry).

These lines are from the movie which I kinda think how it creates great friendships.

"You're probably the first real Southern I've ever met" George said.

"You're my first damn Yankee" Orry replied.

----------------

OK, let's say the movie is mainly about the events leading to the Civil War by focusing on the two families - the Hazards of Pennsylvania and the Mains of South Carolina. They have developed great friendships which leads to the friendships of the two families. However, the Harzards are against slavery where the Mains want them to see that they do treat their slaves as other human beings.

Couple years later, Abraham Lincoln was elected to be the 16th president of the United States. He's representing the north and that's how the Civil War started. Now that the two families had to fight against each other which their lives were about to change forever.

The war lasted for four years. The south was defeated and there's no more slavery. Those slaves were free and had the right to work and buy their own lands. Everyone became equal and most importantly the relationships between the two families remain.

I think it was hard for those slaves to fight for their freedom. Lots of sacrifices have been made - lives have been taken. Some were able to enjoy their freedom - some were not. -SAD BUT TRUE-

X'mas with the Kranks

The Kranks are about to celebrate X'mas! Unfortunately their daugther has to be away so they decided to skip x'mas until she comes home. But this was not easy for them at all as x'mas is a big event for American culture. The neighbours are not happy with their decision because they believe people in the community should stay and celebrate x'mas together.

The neighbours are trying hard to keep the Kranks but looks like it aint working! Later they decided to at least put up the frosty for them. The Kranks do not want to give away the frosty so this causes arguements.

What a surprise, their daugther's calling to tell them that she'll be back for the x'mas party with her boyfriend. SHOCKED! Now the Kranks have to replan everything. Trying hard to buy food for the x'mas party, looking for x'mas tree and putting up the frosty. What do you think? Of course it a hard work in such short time.. what happens is the neighbours think that they should help as the people in the same community and for the sake of their daughter. They finally having x'mas party together now and this lesson have taught the Kranks that x'mas is very important and that they must retain harmony.

So how was your x'mas?

ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST

This movie is mainly about railroad... good guys being killed by bad guys! It took place in the west where civilization and culture were about to begin.

Brett McBain and his children are about to welcome a new family memeber (Jill McBain) who came all the way from New Orleans to be his wife. Mr. McBain didn't pick her up so she decided to come by herself but once she got there she found out that they were all murdered. It was all because Mr. Mcbain knew that culture and civilization will soon begin so he wanted to build his own station with the hope that he would become rich. The railroad baron Morton didn't want Mr. Mcbain to have this fortune so he asked Frank to threaten him but Frank ended up killing all of them.

Now that Mrs. McBain thinks that she should do something about this and everytime she gets in trouple, Harmonica would be there to help her. Harmonica wants to take his revenge as Frank killed his Father many years ago when he was a young boy. Frank didn't know or even recognize Harmonica.

Lots of things took place in the train... gambling,shooting,fighting.... all there. But with the help of Cheyenne, Harmonica was able settle down all the troubles. Later they helped building the train station for Mrs. McBain. Frank finally knew who Harmonica was. He died the way he tortured "Harmonica" and his father. As then lots of work have been done and prepare for the new civilization and culture... Mrs. McBain was ready for that. Cheyenne died and Harmonica still continuing his jurney.

You guys gotta watch this movie.. it is boring at first as things go so slow but it gets better and better!

-The Magnificent Seven-

Wow! Seven handsome gunfighters! They were hired by the Mexican villagers to help defending their homes and foods from the bandits. They had to work for 6 weeks and guess how much they got? 20 dollars!! As they are all professionals, this amount of money is really nothing. However, they all carried different hopes with them that's why they agreed to help the Mexican villagers.

I think there must be a lot of bandits back then and the villagers didn't know how to fight as they only knew how to plant.

For years that these Mexican villagers have been bullied by the bandits. Their foods have been taken away every year and they only had what was left - not much though. They had to take good care of their families and now it was not enough supplies for them as the bandits have taken everything away and said that they'd be returning soon.

The villagers thought it was time to fight- even to death. They had to do something to protect themselves. They went to the old man and asked for his advice. He gave them something valuable so they can sell it and buy some guns to fight with the bandits. The 3 men were sent to town (The States) and there they met Chris, one of the best gunfighters. They saw Chris's bravery so they thought that Chris could help them and be the man they trust. They decided to approach Chris for help. Chris thought it was funny to work for 20 dollars/6 weeks but for some reasons he agreed to help and promised to find some other friends to join.

Chris began to look for other gunfighters. One at a time.... he's got them all! The Magnificent Seven Gunfighters who agreed to work for such small money!

They arrived at the village and got themselves prepared for the bandits' next arrival. The Mexican were taught how to fire the guns and how to fight. It was hard for them as they never held guns but hammers and farming stuff. They were now ready.

The bandits came and were surprised that the villagers knew how to fight. They gave good offer to the gunfighters that they could share things equally and this was not a place for them as they could do better - not for the poor villagers. The gunfighters left the village as the villagers finally decided that they better off protect they families so there would be no more dying. The gunfighters respected the decision but they realized that this has to be stopped so they went back to help the villagers. Some died and some lived... but they were fighting for their victory and courage!

I think this is one of the finest movies! It shows clearly what farmers do and don't. They would do anything to protect their families. As I see in this movie that gunfighters were really rocking! But of course they were both good and bad. I like the way they put up all the courage to learn how to fight and use guns but at the end they rather choose to plant. It was clear that farmers don't really trust any outsiders and it takes a lot for them to trust and care.

As for the cowboys or gunfighters, they really great influence on the society. All they use to show their courage was gun. If you could shoot fast and good, you're accepted and respected.

Also, it seems that if the gunfighters could make good friends with the farmers, they could travel everywhere in the country. If they don't harm the farmers they'll all be welcome to the village anytime they wish.

My lord, I think that this movie is way too short! I wanna watch more! You see, there's not always bad gunfighters! It is also said in the movie that some gunfighters were farmers too! For some reasons children wanted to become gunfighters so they could fight bad guys and protect their people!

LITTLE BIG MAN

What a life!!! Jack Crabb's parents were killed by the Pawnee Indians. He himself and his sister were saved by the Cheyenne tribe. Jack, as the white boy was raised among indians at the age of 10. The chief of "human beings" Old Lodge Skins who he calls "grandfather" adopted him. He learned to speak the language and hunt like any other boys.

The movie is pretty much about indians whom were disturbed and killed by the whites and of course the white being raised by the Indians. This may perhaps explains why there were less and less Indians? Later, Jack saved Younger Bear's life and was then named Little Big Man by his grandfather. Little Big Man was re-adopted and moved to the city. He learned how to read and write or even sing! He then followed another man and worked for him. There's been ups and downs for him which he later got caught by his long lost sister! He then went away and became a gunfighter - know as "Soda Pop Kid" but he didn't really have the guts to shoot people.

He got married with a Swedish girl named Olga who spoke weird English. He opened business with his partner but didn't go well. He got caught by his partner's action and was advised to move to the "WEST" by General Custer. Yes again he was ribbed off by the Indians and they took his wife. He searched everywhere to get his wife back but it was an impossibility.

Now that he was working for the General and pretended to be whatever General Custer said. He had to survive. Somehow he saw Sunshine who was trying to give birth in the woods and escape from General Custer's people (including him at that time) Her father and husband were killed by the whites so he decided to take her as his wife. He met his grandfather who was now blind. I remember he asked his grandfather and that he felt very sad for him. It turned out that his grandfather answered "My eyes still see but my heart no longer receives" That's a very good line! On top of that he even mentioned that he dreamed of Little Big Man having 3-4 wives. Little Big Man laughed at first and later found out that 3 sisters of Sunshine were left widows and he was asked to take them. This is when he started to believe in old man's dreams and predictions. He even found that Olga has become Younger Bear's wife but it was no use for him to tell her who he was.

Later the Indians were given lands to stay by the US government which I thought this was a good sign at first. Then came the problems. General Custer and his followers were killing the other Indians and later to Little Big Man's tribe. He told his wives to stay in the teepee and he was trying to protect his grandfather but his grandfather said that "It is a good day to die, my son" which gives the feeling of being proud oneself as a "human being" - I like that! Both of them were walking in between the whites killing indians surprisingly without being noticed or harmed. The grandfather is going up the mountain to die! Unfortunately, it wasn't time to die! Now that he was back to take his wife away but he bitterly was watching her being killed with the babies.

He turned to crazy man and went back to town.... becoming a drunk man and meeting old people he met before including Mrs. Pendrake who re-adopted him when he was a young boy. From then his life was nothing much interesting except for the past who was trying to survive all he could.

As in this movie... I see and learn many things from it especially the Indians. Their ways of life, how they make their livings and that they fight to show their courage! The whites would do anything in their power to take over the land from the Indians. Many Indians were killed back then. I think that was why "Little Big Man" hated the "whites" so much. His grandfather said that the Indians see and believe that everything is alive... water, animals, trees, etc. but the whites don't think that way - they think that everything is dead except for themselves.

I also see selfishness in Little Big Man who was trying to survive when he was about to be killed by another white man. "God bless America!" he cried out loud to show that he wasn't an Indian. I think he totally forgot about himself being raised by Indians just to survive - at that moment. Well.. his grandfather wouldn't do that. He took good pride of who he was and not afraid to die on his own land. "It is a good day to die!"