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The Cranes are Flying, a review by Antares

The Cranes are Flying (1957) 4.5/5 - Who would have thought such an emotionally deep film could be made in Cold War Communist Russia in 1957. I was completely blown away not only by the amazing cinematography in this film, but by the intensely emotional performance of Tatyana Samojlova. She runs the gamut from wide eyed youthful exuberance to anguish, despair and sorrow over the course of this film, and she's a complete revelation. The story itself, does dip into overt melodrama a few times, but it never overwhelms the viewer to the point of becoming a borscht soap opera. It also has the trappings of Soviet propaganda throughout, but once again, never really overdoes it. Getting back to the wonderful cinematography of Sergei Urusevsky, I found myself many times during this film, repeating scenes, trying to figure out how he was able to get the shot so perfectly. All the reviews I have read tend to talk about the bus and tank scene with Veronica or the stairwell scene when Veronica returns home after the bombing. Both are truly amazing scenes of ingenious design, but for me, the best moment in this film, is when Boris has been shot and he looks up at the trees and they start to spin, and superimposed upon those trees is an earlier scene when he climbs the spiral staircase to catch Veronica before she enters her apartment. The sight of the trees and Boris on the stairs, revolving in perfect unison was just too beautiful to behold. It's been a long time since I've watched a film that was this good and completely had me enthralled. I'm shamed to say that I purchased this on DVD five years ago, and it sat on my unwatched pile. I'm now glad I decided to partake in this Retro marathon, because I'm exorcising a few of my DVD demons.

(From Antares' Short Summations on March 30th, 2012)

Flyboys, a review by Eric

Flyboys



Click the pic for details

This movie is based on the true story of the Lafayette Escadrille which was a french squadron composed of american pilots who voluntarily joined the WWI before the United States did.

I really enjoyed this movie from beginning to end and I highly recommend it.  In certain ways, although very different, it could be compared to The Battles of Britain.  The specials effect of flight and combat scenes are spectacular and although there is many of it I never got tired.  It almost makes you feel like watching an IMAX movie at times.

My score:



(From Eric's DVD watching. on September 7th, 2008)

"Stargate SG-1" Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: For three months Jonas Quinn has been on Earth and in the SGC. Now he is allowed to leave for the first time, SG-1 takes him with them to Area 51, where the X-302 has been completed. After the X-301 disaster the X-302 is completely man-made and with the help of the Naqahdriah it even has an hyperlight drive - the Death Gliders don't have one.
But then Teal'c has to return to Chulak because his wife is dying and his son blames him for that. While he's there someone opens the Stargate to Earth but it doesn't close again.

My Opinion: As predicted, Anubis now turns his attention to Earth but obviously he doesn't dare to trike openly - yet. The X-302 has its charme because she really looks like a mixture of stealth bomber and Death Glider. I also like Jack's question if it has Phasers when Sam enumerated all the features.

Synopsis: A little more than 50 hours until the Stargate overloads and will blow up the state of Colorado and poison the atmosphere. The Stargate can't be disabled and ths SGC has no way to contact the Asgard. But then Jonas has an idea and Bra'tac, Teal'c and Rya'c do their best to save Earth.

My Opinion: A good conclusion to this two-parter, especially because they didn't find a technobabble solution to close the Gate but really had to dispose it. And the second Gate didn't come out of nowhere thus it was no miracle solution. Ironically the now installed Gate is the original one and the blown up one is the Antarctica Gate.
BTW: This was the fourth time a Battlestar Galactica cast member made an appearance: Aaron Douglas (Chief Tyrol in BSG) played of of Anubis's Jaffa.

Synopsis: A Ha'tak has entered orbit around Earth but it doesn't attack. SG-1 - whose most recent addition has been Jonas Quinn - and Jacob/Selmak fly to the ship in a Tel'tak. The ship has been abandoned and it is the same ship in which Thor was held prisoner.

My Opinion: I like Jonas. He has an innocent, curious nature. He hasn't yet seen what SG-1 has seen and one really believes that he wants to become a part of it.
A really good effect was when the ring transporter "beamed" Jonas and the water pillar.

Synopsis: Four years after the Antarctica Gate has been discovered a young woman is found - but she is not Jaffa but instead several million years old. She is one of the Ancients but she looks like a human. That means today's humans are only the second evolution of this form on this planet and that can't be a coincedence.

My Opinion: I don't know why but Ayiana always reminded me of Leeloo from The Fifth Element. We also see that Jonas has the same talent Daniel had when it comes to connecting with other beings. Apart from that the episode wasn't that interesting.

(From "Stargate SG-1" Marathon on April 7th, 2008)