RECOMMENDED THIS MONTH:Ivanhoe (1952)
Running length: 106 minutes MPAA rated: NR
Based on Walter Scott's classic novel, Ivanhoe, tells the story of a disinherited knight that returns home to England from the crusades. Upon his return he reunites with his betrothed, the Lady Rowena, befriends a kindly Jewish merchant and his daughter and attempts to rebuild his relationship with his father, Sir Cedric. As the movie unfolds, he learns that King Richard has been captured and is being held for ransom in Austria. He tries to get help from Prince John, but the ambitious John has other plans. Ivanhoe is forced to take matters into his own hands and raise the ransom himself.
Ivanhoe is a classic romantic adventure film. Robert Taylor does a fine job of playing the hero. George Sanders is perfectly cast as the villain of the movie, Sir Brian De Bois-Guilbert. Joan Fontaine is exquisite as the Lady Rowena. Her blonde hair and noble demeanor light up the screen in every frame she appears in.
My favorite performance in this film is Elizabeth Taylor as Rebecca. Her talent separates her from the rest of the cast. She is vulnerable, intelligent, beautiful and ultimately strong willed and defiant in the face of her enemies. The love triangle between Rebecca, Ivanhoe and Rowena is believable largely due to Taylor's performance. This part of the story could very easily become melodramatic and sappy, yet it does not. Taylor's performance keeps it real and honest.
In addition, the jousting scenes and the castle siege scene near the end of the film are fun to watch. The heraldry and armor are not always historically correct, but for Hollywood it is not too bad.
Ivanhoe is definetly worth two hours or so of your time. The film was nominated for three Academy Awards in the catagories of Best Cinematography, Best Music and Best Picture. By the way, if you enjoy the movie, (and I think that you will) be sure to try your hand at reading the novel on which it is based. I think that you will be glad that you did.
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
Running length: 102 minutes MPAA rated: PG
"Welcome to Sherwood my Lady." If you have not seen this classic swashbuckler film, then please run - don’t walk to your nearest movie rental store and pick this one up. You will be glad that you did. There are some films that you just shouldn’t miss and this is one of them.
Errol Flynn was at the peak of his career doing what he did best, the swashbuckling heroic leading man. Flynn's performance of Robin Hood has been the standard to which many actors following him have tried to achieve. Basil Rathbone is also brilliant in his role as the Sherriff of Nottingham. Claude Raines plays a memorable Prince John and Olivia De Havilland is well cast as the beautiful Maid Marion.
Archers take note: the battle scenes are hysterical. Many of the extras simply did not know how to shoot a bow. There is also a part in the film where Robin Hood has five arrows in his quiver, but he shoots 12, and the number of arrows that he is carrying never decreases.
The bright technicolor costumes are also good for a laugh. Some of the color combinations on Mair Marion's striped and patterned gowns are so horrible that it will make you shake your head in disbelief.
The Adventures of Robin Hood was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It won for Best Art Direction, Best Musical Score and Best Film Editing.
The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965)
Running length: 138 minutes MPAA rated: NR
Michelangelo was commissioned by Pope Julius II to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. It was painted between 1508 and 1512. The Agony and the Ecstasy focuses on Michelangelo's artistic struggles to finish his work and on the tumultous relationship between the artist and Pope Julius II. The film is based on the novel of the same name and has very little to do with what actually occurred in history. However, that being said, The Agony and the Ecstasy is still entertaining and is enjoyable to watch.
Charlton Heston, considered by some to be one of the best actors in his generation, does not dissapoint in his portrayal of the troubled genius Michelangelo. In addition, those of you who are only familiar with Rex Harrison's work in the films My Fair Lady or Dr. Dolittle will be pleasantly surprised by his performance as Pope Julius II. Here are two great actors that turn in great performances.
The film does a decent job of portraying some of the difficulties that Michelangelo faced in creating his work. He had to design his own scaffold and the painting itself was very labor intensive. The artist is also shown arguing with church officials about the content of his work. An artistic rivalry with Raphael is also touched on in the film.
The pacing is a bit slow but the film is stunningly beautiful. The colors are striking and the film is almost worth seeing for that fact alone. The Agony and the Ecstasy received five Oscar nominations.
If you have any interest at all in renaissance art, then I suggest that you give this one a try.
Anne of a Thousand Days (1969)
Running length: 145 minutes MPAA rated: PG
This is old Hollywood at its best. The film received 16 Oscar nominations and was awarded with six of them. It took home the award for Best Costume Design, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor.
Anne of a Thousand Days focuses on the great love affair that sprung up between Henry and Anne Boleyn and the political changes that resulted from their relationship. The film may move a little slow for some since it is arranged in a classic narrative style. There are also some historical inaccuracies.
However the great acting performances make up for all of that. Genevieve Bujold gives a stunning performance as the spoiled Anne Boleyn and Richard Burton's portrayal of Henry VIII simply should not be missed.
Costumers take note - this film contains some of the most beautiful garments ever put on screen. The blackwork alone will leave you breathless.
Arabian Knights (2000)
Running length: 175 minutes MPAA rated: NR
Arabian Knights is a made for TV production by Hallmark Entertainment that is based on the classic story "A Thousand and One Nights." The film stars Dougray Scott as a troubled Sultan with some major relationship issues and Mili Avital as Scheherazade, his seductive and resourceful bride.
The Sultan, damaged from his wife's betrayal, lets his paranoia toward women in general run wild. He devises a plan in which he will marry a woman from the harem and then have her executed in the morning. Scheherazade volunteers for the position and manages to save her head and cure the Sultan by seducing him with her storytelling abilities.
The film includes retellings of stories such as Aladdin, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves and The Three Brothers. All three segments are done very well. I was impressed by how they were able to tie all the stories together at the end of the film. The special effects, sets and costumes are all surprisingly good for a made for TV miniseries.
Scott and Avital turn in fine performances. Avital looks beautiful in this production, the camera just loves her. Also look out for Jason Scott Lee as Aladdin, John Leguizamo as the Genie and Rufus Sewell as Ali Baba.
Parents take note: some parts of the film may be too scary for very young children.
Army of Darkness (1992)
Running length: 96 minutes MPAA rated: R
Army of Darkness is the last film in director Sam Raimi's Evil Dead trilogy. The film has become a cult favorite for horror, sci-fi and fantasy fans.
Army of Darkness sends our present day hero, Ash, back in time to 1300 A.D. where he finds himself mixed up in a war between two rival kingdoms. It is later revealed that this medieval society is being plagued by evil beings known as the Deadites. Ash must fullfill a prophecy and go on a quest to find the Necronomicon. If Ash is able to retrieve the Necronomicon, or Book of the Dead, and read the correct passage aloud then everyone will be free of the evil Deadites that haunt them and Ash will be able to return to his own time.
Bruce Campbell turns in a brilliant peformance as the gun-crazy-chainsaw-loving Ash. His comedic timing and tongue-in-cheek delivery is superb. Campbell is one of the most under rated actors of his generation.
Sam and Ivan Raimi have also written one of the funniest scripts in existence. Army of Darkness is full of memorable, quotable one liners. "Shop smart ... shop S-Mart." (I have many of them as sound bites on my computer.)
Army of Darkness is not a film to be taken seriously. It is not meant to be an Academy Award winner. It is a downright silly (and I'll admit it, at times stupid) comedy. However, there is nothing else out there like it. Grab some popcorn and just have fun!
There are a few versions of Army of Darkness available. I recommend watching the Director's Cut. It has some great extras as well as an alternate ending.
