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The Doors, a review by Rich

The Doors



Oliver Stone might have considered his film a tribute to the enduring power of the Doors' music, but he seems to have also intended it as a cautionary tale on the perils of both celebrity and substance abuse. Starring Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison, the film focuses on the Lizard King from his days as a UCLA film student in the early 1960s to his death in a Paris hotel in 1971. In the early days of the group's formation, Morrison is at his most benign; he's just a guy hanging out at the beach writing poetry. But as the Doors' fame begins to spread--with Morrison as the focus of attention--his drug consumption and erratic behavior increase exponentially. The rest of the band--Ray Manzarek (Kyle McLachalan), John Densmore (Kevin Dillon), and Robby Krieger (Frank Whaley)--begins to grow tired of his late arrivals, the increasing number of cancellations, and the drunken recording sessions requiring infinite retakes. But no one can help Morrison as he spirals downward into an inferno of drugs, alcohol, public obscenity, and depression. Kilmer gives an excellent performance, including a frighteningly accurate imitation of Morrison's singing. Stone's intimate familiarity with SoCal in the 1960s also provides the film with a high degree of surface verisimilitude.

Despite the title, this is another 60's Stone biopic of lead singer Jim Morrison, excellently played by Val Kilmer. Morrison comes across as a vain drug-addled jeckyll and hyde bufoon, and very rarely does the film highlight his poetic prowess and front man ground-breaking performances. Perhaps this was a slightly unbalanced portrayal, it is difficult to contemplate any human being taking the drug and alcohol abuse on a daily basis as is shown here.
I was amazed by Kilmers voice, it is eerily Morrison and I had to check the credits to ensure it wasn't dubbed by another performer. Meg Ryan was totally miscast as Jims wife, and fails as the weird heroin addict.
Too disjointed, badly directed, and obsesses on matters outside of the main narrative that I was soon bored watching this.
 



(From Riches Random Reviews on March 9th, 2009)

Private Buckaroo, a review by Danae Cassandra

Private Buckaroo
Year of Release: 1942
Directed By: Edward F. Cline
Starring: The Andrews Sisters, Dick Foran, Shemp Howard, Harry James & His Music Makers, The Jivin Jacks and Jills
Genre: Comedy, War, Musical

Overview:
The barest of plots has Harry James being drafted. Naturally, his whole orchestra signs up, too, including Lon Prentice (Dick Foran), his singer who has an attitude adjustment problem. We see the high-jinks of training, a romantic encounter that will serve to straighten Prentice out, and a big show just before the boys ship overseas. All this is just a clothesline to pin on at least 13 musical numbers, and The Andrews Sisters and Harry James do most of them.

My Thoughts:
This is a quick little WWII propaganda musical featuring the Andrews Sisters, whose singing I enjoy a lot but I know isn't for everyone, and Harry James playing some great trumpet. Sure, there's some plot in there too about Harry and his band joining the army and one guy having to learn that he's nothing special, but that's not the point of the film. The point is to recruit. Shemp Howard and Mary Wickes are a lot of fun too, especially Wickes. Recommended if you like these sorts of films.

Bechdel Test: Fail
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 2.75/5

(From July Movie Marathon: Musicals (Yes... You read right!) on July 21st, 2016)

"Due South" marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

An Eye For An Eye

This is another episode I really enjoyed. An excellent one! What that poor wolf had to go through! I tell you what... I bet if I had a nickel for every time Fraser said "I'm Sorry" to Diefenbaker through-out this series not only would I get my $20 (I paid for this set) back... but I would make a little bit of a profit! 

My Rating:

(From "Due South" marathon on July 15th, 2009)