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To Kill a Mockingbird, a review by Rich

To Kill a Mockingbird



Robert Mulligan's classic adaptation of Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, set in the racially charged atmosphere of Macon County, Alabama in the 1930s, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is a poignant coming-of-age story. Winner of four Academy Awards including Best Screenplay (written by Horton Foote), and Best Actor (Gregory Peck), TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is a timeless film packed with beautiful scenes and meaningful life lessons. The story is told from the vantage point of a young girl nicknamed Scout (Mary Badham) whose widowed white father Atticus Finch (Peck), an attorney, decides on principle to defend a black man (Brock Peters) charged with raping a poor white woman. But the bigoted townspeople would rather lynch the accused than try him, and they make life hellish for the lawyer, his daughter, and his son Jem (Philip Alford). While their father is in the throes of the trial, his bright, inquisitive children learn a hard and unforgettable lesson in justice, morality, and prejudice, part of which requires overcoming an unfounded fear of their mysterious neighbour Boo Radley (Robert Duvall).

Twee American classic, for the year it was produced it must have been controversial in some of its delicately handled content, albeit of course set in 30's Alabama.
The book I read back in school many years ago, and I think the adaptation keeps the original authors intent. The black and white production, novel film angles, sympathetic score and intelligent direction are plusses, the only real problem I had with the film was it's overly long length and at times 'finger on fast forward' desire to speed up the pace.
Peck does a credible job as Addicus, but the film is stolen by both children actors, especially the tomboy who played Scout, who narrates the film.
Worth a recommendation 




(From Riches Random Reviews on January 28th, 2009)

Fritz the Cat, a review by snowcat

(From Emma's Film Reviews (snowcat) on January 11th, 2010)

Babylon 5: Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

I'll watch the rest of the disc tomorrow because it's getting late.

Having said that almost a fortnight has past.

Sorry, I've been quite busy over the last weeks and I also watched my newly acquired first season of "J.A.G." over the last three days.

But here it continues:


Synopsis: After heaving defended Babylon 5 against the Earth cruisers the crew has to "bury" the dead. But there are still followers of Clark's and members of Night Watch on board who intend to retake the station. Meanwhile Delenn plans a Minbari rebirth ceremony which commemorates a great change.

My opinion: It is the "cool down" episode after the heated events happend in the previous episodes. Although it's not really a full cool down. For that matter from now on it won't be really cooled down until after the last but one episode of the fourth season. Sheridan finally admits that he has fallen in love with Delenn and the main staff gets their new uniforms!
A minor remark: Sometimes B5 has the same problem as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The authors can't decide how strong some aliens are. In an episode in season one we see Sinclair and Neroon fight and they both seem equally strong while in this episode Lennier (who has a far less impressive stature than Neroon) lifts Marcus easily with one outstreched(!) arm. We've got the same problem with the Narn and (in Star Trek) with the Klingons and the Cardassians.


Synopsis: Vir Cotto - being Centauri ambassador on Minbar for some time now - visits the station. So does Vir's soon-to-be-wife. And also a blood-thirsty Narn who has sworn a blood-oath to kill Vir because Vir apparently  has sent over 2000 Narns into labour camps - where they all died.

My opninion: One must admit it: Young Centauri women are very, very hot! Even when they are bald. I find it a very good Vir episode and it is unfortunately one of few episodes. I always liked him because he is so different than Londo and most of the Cenaturi. He has seen to much of what Londo has done and he always at least tried to talk him out of it - but now he could actually do something! Too bad, G'Kar never learns of it.

(From Babylon 5: Marathon on August 25th, 2007)