The Corsican Brothers

The Corsican Brothers (Gregory Ratoff, 2025)

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Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

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This is a fun swashbuckler that really allows Douglas Fairbanks Jr. to show his acting and physicality in a dual role. I really enjoyed watching the adventure, intrigue, and mystery unfold.

Synopsis: After their parents are killed, co-joined twin boys are separated, with one raised as a gentleman in Paris and the other in the mountains becoming a bandit.

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Samurai Marathon: Ran

On our recent trip to Toronto and Algonquin park we read about a Kurosawa marathon happening in major cities in the US. Lamenting that we wouldn't be able to see these stunning, classic films on the big screen we decided to do the next best thing: have our own "Samurai Marathon" in the comfort of our own home. It wouldn't be quite the same, but still a lot of fun.

Ran (Akira Kurosawa, 1985)

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Rating: Q=7, P=6 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

Samurai, Epic, Action, Shakespeare

I was thoroughly mesmerized at this brilliant, tragic, and beautiful adaptation of Shakespeare's King Lear. Kurosawa's masterpiece, many claim. I mostly agree--though some of his earlier films have more subtle, thought-provoking artistry. Ran, in contrast, is full of vibrant color, chaos, and silent drama. I felt that the tragedy of King Lear works even better in a samurai setting, with selfish brothers vying for power. There is so much tension. Kurosawa is able to build so much emotional anxiety in his pacing and emphasis on Hidetora's rapid downfall and insanity.  

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Samurai Marathon: Throne of Blood

On our recent trip to Toronto and Algonquin park we read about a Kurosawa marathon happening in major cities in the US. Lamenting that we wouldn't be able to see these stunning, classic films on the big screen we decided to do the next best thing: have our own "Samurai Marathon" in the comfort of our own home. It wouldn't be quite the same, but still a lot of fun.

Throne of Blood (Akira Kurosawa, 1957)

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Rating: Q=6, P=4 / Average OJ

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Samurai, Epic, Action, Shakespeare

A fascinating version of Shakespeare's Macbeth. I was drawn to the marvelous and creepy performances--especially that of Isuzu Yamada as Lady Washizu. The Noh inspired performances and the tragic story blend together in a way that is hard to describe. So much tension and quiet juxtaposed with chaos. A really beautiful film.

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Samurai Marathon: Kill!

On our recent trip to Toronto and Algonquin park we read about a Kurosawa marathon happening in major cities in the US. Lamenting that we wouldn't be able to see these stunning, classic films on the big screen we decided to do the next best thing: have our own "Samurai Marathon" in the comfort of our own home. It wouldn't be quite the same, but still a lot of fun.

Kill! (Kihachi Okamoto, 1968)

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Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

Samurai, Action, Adventure

Kill! is essentially another version of Sanjuro--both films borrowing from the short story 17 Days at Fort Mountain. The plot gets a bit confusing here and there, but the characters are so memorable that they help you along. You just have to love the determination and grit of Genta and the goofiness and simplicity of Hanji.

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Samurai Marathon: Samurai Rebellion

On our recent trip to Toronto and Algonquin park we read about a Kurosawa marathon happening in major cities in the US. Lamenting that we wouldn't be able to see these stunning, classic films on the big screen we decided to do the next best thing: have our own "Samurai Marathon" in the comfort of our own home. It wouldn't be quite the same, but still a lot of fun.

Samurai Rebellion (Masaki Kobayashi, 1967)

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Rating: Q=7, P=7 / Obsession

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Samurai, Action, Drama, Complex Relationships

I was not expecting to be so thoroughly engrossed in this film, but I really was. Kobayashi is a brilliant storyteller and knows exactly how to create tension. And there is so much of it! A timeless (unfortunately) of what happens when power goes unchecked. We all need to watch this film and remember its message.

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Samurai Marathon: Sword of Doom

On our recent trip to Toronto and Algonquin park we read about a Kurosawa marathon happening in major cities in the US. Lamenting that we wouldn't be able to see these stunning, classic films on the big screen we decided to do the next best thing: have our own "Samurai Marathon" in the comfort of our own home. It wouldn't be quite the same, but still a lot of fun.

Sword of Doom (Kihachi Okamoto, 1966)

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Rating: Q=7, P=6 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

Samurai, Action, Drama, Psychological

Okamoto takes us on a ride in Sword of Doom. This is the story of a man utterly obsessed with mastering his swordsmanship that it costs him his mind, is intense. This film has some of the most eerie and visually stunning sequences and scenes in cinema.

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Samurai Marathon: Seven Samurai

On our recent trip to Toronto and Algonquin park we read about a Kurosawa marathon happening in major cities in the US. Lamenting that we wouldn't be able to see these stunning, classic films on the big screen we decided to do the next best thing: have our own "Samurai Marathon" in the comfort of our own home. It wouldn't be quite the same, but still a lot of fun.

Seven Samurai (Akira Kurosawa, 1954)

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Rating: Q=7, P=7 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=3

Samurai, Action, Adventure

I had seen many versions of this epic story, perhaps most notably the Magnificent Seven and a very fun episode of the Mandalorian series. Nothing compares to this original, though. All the performances are stirring and memorable, the cinematography is breathtaking, the music is powerful. It is inspiring and bittersweet filmmaking.

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Samurai Marathon: Hidden Fortress, revisited

On our recent trip to Toronto and Algonquin park we read about a Kurosawa marathon happening in major cities in the US. Lamenting that we wouldn't be able to see these stunning, classic films on the big screen we decided to do the next best thing: have our own "Samurai Marathon" in the comfort of our own home. It wouldn't be quite the same, but still a lot of fun.

The Hidden Fortress (Akira Kurosawa, 1958)

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Rating: Q=7, P=6 / Can't Get Enough

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Samurai, Action, Adventure

Hidden Fortress is the inspiration for Star Wars and each time I watch it I enjoy it more. That's actually saying a lot for an action/adventure film--for me, many action films lose some of their appeal on repeat viewings. This one is tense, hilarious, beautiful, and sad. The story is timeless.

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Samurai Marathon: Yojimo and Sanjuro, revisited

On our recent trip to Toronto and Algonquin park we read about a Kurosawa marathon happening in major cities in the US. Lamenting that we wouldn't be able to see these stunning, classic films on the big screen we decided to do the next best thing: have our own "Samurai Marathon" in the comfort of our own home. It wouldn't be quite the same, but still a lot of fun.

Yojimo (Akira Kurosawa, 1961)

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Rating: Q=7, P=7 / Obsession

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=4

Samurai, Drama, Action

Yojimo stands out, for me. And not just as a samurai story, but as a drama. It is loosely based on Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett. It has been remade many times, most notably (and notoriously) as Fistful of Dollars. We all likely have encountered the theme and plot, perhaps without even knowing it. I think this is because the story is so succinct and tells such a valuable lesson of the evils and consequences of corruption. Brilliant film.

Sanjuro (Akira Kurosawa, 1962)

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Rating: Q=7, P=6 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

Samurai, Drama, Action

I really enjoy Sanjuro, but for very different reasons from Yojimbo. While it is a sequel, these two stories don't feel that connected. I like this tale because it focuses on the consequences of immaturity and rash decisions and exposes that what a samurai means and what he is are two different concepts. It is also very funny.

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SPECIAL: The Marx Brothers, Paramount Films

For Christmas I received the best gift ever: a collection of the Marx Brothers' first five films with Paramount pictures: The Cocoanuts, Animal Crackers, Monkey Business, Horse Feathers, and Duck Soup. Of course, I was thrilled. I started watching them nearly right away. I had seen all the films before, but some had been a while. And now I could watch them whenever I wanted.

The Marx Brothers hold a very special place in my heart and in the world of cinema, too. I would watch the movies when they happened to be on or when my dad was watching, but it was never really planned. Sometimes when I was home sick from school I would try to find one as watching the zany antics nearly always made me feel better. But my love affair didn't really start until I was in college and actually started paying more attention to classic films, through film classes and just voraciously watching everything.

No other performers created a bridge between the world of vaudeville and the silver screen like the Marx Brothers did. Some of the earliest films are like watching their stage shows, which is amazing to think about--we have a window into the world of vaudeville through these films. A window into a wholly different culture and time, now almost 100 years ago. Wow.

My favorite of the first five films is Horse Feathers. I love it because of the music, especially, but also because of the fantastic lines and gags. Monkey Business is my second favorite, it is nostalgic for me and has some brilliant scenes. The others are all equally great, too, just for different reasons. I can't get enough of them and am so glad I have them in my collection now.

The Cocoanuts

Rating: Q=6, P=6 / Average OJ

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Animal Crackers

Rating: Q=6, P=6 / Average OJ

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Monkey Business

Rating: Q=7, P=7 / Obsession

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Horse Feathers

Rating: Q=7, P=8 / Obsession

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Duck Soup

Rating: Q=7, P=7 / Obsession

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=4

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Captain Blood

Captain Blood (Michael Curtiz, 1935)

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Rating: Q=6, P=6 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

Swashbuckling, Historical, Adventure

I've been enjoying watching more classic films, especially from the early to mid-1930s. Errol Flynn will always be one of my favorites. It was a shame that he was so type casted and each of his most famous roles are very similar. But I could still watch them over and over again. Captain Blood is a great story with beautiful sets and great acting. And who can resist a renegade or pirate story? Blood is not my favorite character of Flynn's, but he has some wonderful lines. This is a fun watch that still captivates nearly a century later.

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Summer Magic, Revisited

Summer Magic (James Neilson, 1963)

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Rating: Q=5, P=5 / Average OJ

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Comedy, Family, Coming of Age, Uplifting

I had only watched Summer Magic once and only really remembered some of the songs. This time watching was lovely--it was heartwarming to watch Burl Ives (as Osh Popum) and James Mathers (Peter) sing about caterpillars and see Michael J. Pollard (Digby) hide his adorable smiles when talking about venturing out of his small hometown. It's nice to live in a world with so much charm and light-heartedness for a few hours :)

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Pollyanna, Revisited

Pollyanna (David Swift, 1960)

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Rating: Q=5, P=6 / Average OJ

Scale 1=2, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

Comedy, Family, Coming of Age, Uplifting

Winter tends to make me nostalgic and I like returning to uplifting Disney classics. So, I've been re-watching all the animated feature films in chronological order, throwing in a few live action favorites. It had been some time since watching Pollyanna, and I'm glad I decided to watch again. Such a lovely, cheerful story! And much funnier than I remembered it. Hayley Mills is charming, Agnes Moorehead's Mrs. Snow is hilarious, and the story is timeless and brings a tear to your eye. Worth watching every so often, especially when you need a reminder that life is precious and beautiful. Hope, good cheer, and love for your fellow human beings can absolutely change everything.

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The Golden Age of Sinbad

The Golden Age of Sinbad (Gordon Hessler, 1973)

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Rating: Q=4, P=5 / Average OJ

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Adventure, Fantasy, Based on Book

I love all stories about Sinbad--a favorite film is the The 7th Voyage of Sinbad from 1953. But The Golden Age of Sinbad was...weird. While it had the escapist tone and the Ray Harryhausen visuals, it definitely felt like Sinbad in the 1970s. The story was a little outlandish and some of the characters a bit stereotypical or flat, but it's still a fun little adventure.

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Kings of the Sun

Kings of the Sun (J. Lee Thompson, 1963)

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Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

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Adventure, Fantasy, Historical Fiction

Continuing on our journey through adventure movies of the 1940s-1960s, Kings of the Sun is an interesting film. It is a story of cultures and philosophies during the time of Chichen Itza in Mesoamerica. The visuals and color are beautiful and some average performances by Yul Brynner and George Chakiris. The film isn't especially grand and the story isn't amazing, but it still left a good impression and the world was fun to delve into for a few hours.

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The Thief of Baghdad

The Thief of Baghdad (Berger, Powell, Whelan 1940)

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Rating: Q=6, P=6 / Average OJ

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Adventure, Fantasy, Based on Book

I'm not entirely sure why I hadn't watched this film until now. A fantastic adaptation of the 1001 Arabian Nights story and a marvel for 1940. This film won many awards for its innovative cinematography and art direction. It may feel a bit goofy today, but the tone and vibrancy of this film still holds up, in my opinion. I love the music and the acting is great. I felt immersed in a world far, far away and that's exactly what I want.

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Prince of Foxes

Prince of Foxes (Henry King, 1949)

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Rating: Q=7, P=5 / Can't Get Enough

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Action, War/Intrigue, Renaissance

A beautiful film set in 1500 Italy--done completely on location at the sites of the story. What a feat! The acting here is wonderful and somewhat overlooked, I feel--Orson Welles, Tyrone Power, Wanda Hendrix, and Everett Sloane. All had great performances with such an inspiring background to work in. This story of man caught in the world of Cesare Borgia is intense and full of intrigue and wickedness and redemption. Worth watching!

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The Sea Hawk

The Sea Hawk (1940)

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Rating: Q=7, P=6 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

Action, Swashbuckling, War/Intrigue, Late Renaissance

I'm not sure how I managed to go for so long without having seen this classic film. I have always loved Errol Flynn and the dashing hero character of the late 1930s through WWII that he helped create and popularize. Captain Thorpe is the seafaring Robin Hood and he simply oozes charm. His crew all love him from the moment they meet him and would happily die for him. The sets in The Sea Hawk are incredible and stunning, especially today when so many action films rely on CGI. I loved the adventure and intrigue of this story, the acting, and the time period. An inspiring film.

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Nightmare Alley (1947)

Nightmare Alley (1947)

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Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

Film Noir, Carnival, Crime, Thriller

I can't believe I hadn't seen this film before--really? A film noir that escaped me when I was in film school? Well, I was compelled to watch this original before I saw the new remake that got so many award nominations.

This film wasn't a huge success at the time it was released but it has since become a classic. The lighting, editing, dialogue--all of it works so well at pushing you along and building up the suspense. Not a lot actually happens in this film--subtle things, slow build--but that works. At the end you are left with such a bittersweet and solemn feeling. A timeless story.

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10 Years Ago: A Short List for Snow-bound Viewers

I started this blog in December 2011--now ten years ago! It's hard to believe. I thought that this year I'd do some revisiting to posts I made during that first year. Here's one that included tons of films that fit particular moods.

Originally posted on January 23, 2012:

Feel like watching something to fit a very specific mood? I've compiled a list of not-so-typical categories and matched each with a show or movie that you will hopefully enjoy. Pile the blankets on, brew another cup of tea, and wait for those snow and ice storms to pass!

Animated: Ponyo (Hayao Miyazaki, 2008)

British Comedy: Black Books, seasons 1-3 (Dylan Moran, 2000-2004)

from China: The King of Masks (Tian-Ming Wu, 1997)

with intense Dialogue: My Dinner with Andre (Louis Malle, 1981)

Epic: East of Eden (Elia Kazan, 1955)

Fantasy: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (Terry Gilliam, 2009)

with a Group of Guys: Diner (Barry Levinson, 1982)

Historical: The Way We Live Now, miniseries (David Yates, 2001)

Illuminating/Inspiring: Water (Deepa Mehta, 2005)

with a Journey: The Motorcycle Diaries (Walter Salles, 2004)

with a King: The Tudors, seasons 1-4 (Michael Hirst, 2007-2010)

with a Love Story: Lovers of the Arctic Circle (Julio Medem, 1998)

from Mexico: Like Water for Chocolate (Alfonso Arau, 1992)

about Nature: Life in the Undergrowth, miniseries (David Attenborough, 2005)

Outlandish: Monty Python's Life of Brian (Terry Jones, 1979)

Psychological Thriller: Gaslight (George Cukor, 1944)

Quiet: Babies (Thomas Balmes, 2010)

Rebellion: The Wild One (Laslo Benedek, 1953)

about a Sleuth: Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, seasons 1-4 (John Bowen & David Cook, 1996-1998)

Tear-jerker: Biutiful (Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, 2010)

Understated Classic: The Last Picture Show (Peter Bogdanovich, 1971)

Vivid Imagery: Raise the Red Lantern (Yimou Zhang, 1991)

Whimsical: Antonia's Line (Marlene Gorris, 1995)

eXhilarating: Man on Wire (James Marsh, 2008)

about Youth: My Life as a Dog (Lasse Hallstrom, 1985)

Zany: Micmacs (Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 2009)

If you ever want a specific recommendation or personal suggestion, send me a message. Eventually, I hope to create a little interactive quiz/questionnaire to do this- keep on the lookout!