Power Rangers

Review Written By Michael J. Ruhland.
















Michael's Movie Grade:C

Review: A surprisingly good movie, even if it is far from a great one.

What surprisingly works well here is the characters and the emotional moments. This almost feels more like a Breakfast Club like movie, with teenagers who happen to be super heroes. Scenes like the one around the camp fire as well as the Red and Pink Rangers speaking in his bedroom, were surprisingly kind of touching. To a much different extant Rita was an over the top and quite fun villain. I kind of miss these over the top villains and this one was definitely fun.

This film did however delve into a few clichés that I am so tired of and don't want to see anymore. One of these is a terribly written school bully, who is simply a walking stereotype of a school bully. Another one is (without giving anything away (not that you can't see it coming in the first place)) a scene where they try to make you think the film is going to do something we all know it isn't. Also surprisingly with how good the characters and emotional scenes are the big action scene is kind of underwhelming. It isn't bad but it could be much better.

I would complain about the Krispy Kreme product placement, but it was so ridiculous, I found it funny instead of annoying. There is even a scene where Rita stops in the middle of an action scene to eat a doughnut. Again this so over the top and silly that instead of finding this annoying it is downright funny.

Overall a good movie, even if it is far from a great one.

-Michael J. Ruhland.    

Old Town Music Hall: You Were Never Lovlier (1942)

Review Written by Michael J. Ruhland.













Michael's Movie Grade: A+

Review: Once again I am doing a review of another great time I had at the old town music hall. This is an incredible place for all those who love old movies and if you are ever in El Segundo, California, it is a place that you must go to.

As always before the movie Bill Field (an extremely talented musician) played the Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ. This pipe organ has existed since 1925 and still sounds amazing to this day. Then the screen came down and introduced what films and concerts were coming soon. Following this lyrics to songs appeared on the screen, and the whole audience sang along. These songs included such great songs as Mairzy Doats, April Showers, and Pretty Baby.

Following this was a silent short film starring Our Gang. In this short after hearing about Noah's Ark, they decide to make their own Noah's Ark. This was a fast paced and very funny short. Some of the highlights included dressing a dog up as a lion, and a cars reaction to a skunk. The Our Gang kids are really great comic actors easily on par with the best adult comic actors. They were pure professionals and pure talent and nowhere does that show better than on the screen. Accompanying this short was Bill Field on the pipe organ. If you have not seen a silent film with live music, you are only cheating yourself. This is a completely different experience than watching one of these films on TV. Honestly this is something everybody needs to do sometime in their life, esspicially if they are movie lovers.

After a short intermission came the feature and what a great feature it was. Like many movies with Fred Astaire, the story itself is pleasant but predictable. However when watching the movie you don't care at all, because everything is done so well. The dialogue is extremely clever, fast paced and just plain funny ("Just think papa, you've been married longer than we've lived!" "I consider that a very fortunate coincidence, my dear."). The chemistry between Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth is near perfect. You simply believe the relationship between these two so well and it is just a joy to see them share the screen. Of course though the best thing about this film is the singing and dancing. There is so much energy, talent and commitment in these scenes to a level you rarely see in today's films. They may not make movies like this anymore, but after watching this film (esspicially in such a great atmosphere with an amazing audience) I have to say this film has never been lovelier.

-Michael J. Ruhland   

Beauty and the Beast

Review Written By Michael J. Ruhland










Note: Before I start anything let me state here this film has a major fault, it is just too darn similar to the 1991 animated movie, and that movie is better. There are some differences (besides being live action), but they make little to no difference. Because of this you may leave the theater not knowing why exactly this movie exists or be less impressed because the 1991 movie was just so amazing that this film can't help but pale in comparison. However this film is fantastic if you do not compare it to the 1991 movie, even though that is hard. Because of this I am reviewing this as a stand alone film and not compare it to that movie, because this truly is a great movie despite that. So the grade this movie gets and the review are not affected by this fault at all.

Michael's Movie Grade: A-

Review: Fantastic film.

What really makes this work is just how good the story and characters are. Every character is extremely likable and well thought out. Belle and Beast bonding over books is a brilliant touch. It makes this romance completely believable. In fact the whole relationship between this two characters is downright beautiful and is utterly believable. More than this though Gaston is an amazing villain. He is a lot of fun, but still threatening. This is a hard combination to do and it is done very well here. The story may be a very old fairy tale, however it was adapted to feel more modern here very successfully, and without compromising any of the magic of the original tale.

On the downside is the designs of the servants who were turned into household objects. To fit in with live action there are made to look very realistic. These designs look just plain strange and can be a little distracting (this is not a comparison to the 1991 film, these designs would be distracting if that never existed). However the design of the castle is fantastic and a joy to look at. This feels like you are entering a fantasy world, it is just that good.

Overall a fantastic movie.

Note: Yeah this was hard to write a review without comparing it to the 1991 movie, because they are just that similar. I will say the Be Our Guest scene pales very much in comparison here though. Overall with the other film in mind this is a great movie, but completely pointless.

-Michael J. Ruhland