mycatslyone

Lots of sensitive portrayals here. This is NOT a Rambo, shoot'em up type of film. It's a true story about how 511 Americans were rescued out of a Japanese camp by Phillipinos & Americans but doesn't go the blood & guts routine. I don't know how James Franco remembered all those lines he had about direction, maps, instructions, etc! He played Capt. Prince while Benjamin Bratt played his superior. The tall blonde was a treat to watch (Connie ?, pardon me for forgetting). I think the R-rating was given because of the actual war footage shown of dead

& charred bodies. (Horrific & NOT for the squeamish!) This one won't be in my Franco Collection of films simply because one viewing was enough. Probably ANYone could have played the 2 main roles here & the film would've been just as good a history lesson.

This film was colorful & exciting! The dogfight scenes were amazing! Those cardboard box WW1 fighter planes with NO parachutes were like flying coffins! Too bad this great invention had to be used for something as appalling as WAR! Anyway, this is the true story of the Lafayette Escadrille in France, the very first pilots fighting against the Germans. Franco's part is as a Texas rancher named Blaine Rawlings who loses said ranch & goes over to France to give it all a try. Along the way, he becomes an ace pilot, falls in love with a pretty French girl named Lucienne (Jennifer Decker) & then loses said girl - never to see her again. (That's so sad!) At the end when everyone's "bio" comes up on the screen, it's said that Franco's character goes back home & builds the largest ranch in Texas & never flew again. They never say why...

Side Point - Franco actually went & got his pilot's license FOR REAL just before shooting this film. (Congratulations!)

I watch Spiderman for The Franco Factor. There! I admit it! So what? I think the acting is good, too. Peter Parker (Toby McGuire) is a geeky kid who turns into Spiderman after getting bit by a hybrid spider. Such comic book fare but it works! His best friend is rich kid Harry Osborn (the full-lipped, sculpted-faced, gorgeous-looking James Franco!)He's quite thin & wirey in this 1st installment of the 3-part series but wait till you see him in #2 & #3! (sigh!) ANYway, my summary line "Don't Tell Harry!" comes from a piece of dialogue his father(Willem Dafoe) says when Spiderman gets out of the way & he ends up being killed by his own blade. Then it's said again when Peter & MaryJane make plans to have dinner even though MaryJane is supposedly dating Harry. You have to see it to get it!

The comment by Zach above shows that HE GOT IT! So many people who commented just DIDN'T GET IT! The ape itself is never real! It's just a figment of Harry's (James Franco) imagination. He brought out all of Harry's innerisms, things he wants to say or do but can't because he's too reserved. (This seems to be Franco in REAL life, not just REEL life!) Anyway, my favorite scenes were in the office between him & his 2 female co-workers. His boss trying to hook-up with someone via the internet on "Ron-de-Jew" was a real laugh! I wonder who thought that one up?!? HA! I only have one problem with this film & that's all the cussin' & some of the things the ape did. It was totally unnecessary. One thing I DO applaud is James Franco's turn at directing, writing, etc. This was his 1st go at it. I think he did a good job! I really liked his "interview" on the DVD. He expressed himself very well & did not seem as shy as he is today while being interviewed. I'd like to ask him why...

Franco aced Dean's walk, voice, mannerisms! Now every time I watch Franco, it's like I'm watchin' Dean! (Is that a good thing?!) Anyway, I learned a lot about Dean's life in this bio. He truly was a tortured soul! You had to pity him & you'll understand why when you view this film. I bought it & have watched it a lot.

I read that after this film, Franco won a Golden Globe Award (which he said he gave to his mom) & the offers just kept pouring in. After viewing this film, DeNiro hand-picked him to play his son in City By The Sea, which Franco promptly jumped at! (I don't blame him!) May Franco's career continue to shine as he continues honing his craft, ridding himself of his shyness & giving us ever more characters to view & identify with!

This interview with the ever-handsome James Franco was really good! He shared some FlyBoys info (his latest film at the time), told us that he actually got his pilot's license before he began shooting the film, explained how it was to work at McDonald's Drive-Thru(!) but told us NOTHING of his role as Harry Osborn in the upcoming Spiderman3. As it should be since no one in the film is allowed to divulge any plot info or they could suffer a scolding from the Spidey powers-that-be like Kirsten Dunst (MJ) did after spilling some secret beans about the film!

Carson is a fun host & joked (quite seriously) with the group of annoying screaming young girls that it's hard for him to do his interviews when they scream for him like that! HA! They were all screaming for JAMES!!

WHATEVER IT TAKES could have been a better teen film. LOVE James Franco but I did NOT like his character, Chris Campbell. His only decent scenes were on the stage with his (real, at the time) girlfriend spouting off lines from the other guy who was actually sincere & secretly in love with her. I did NOT like the school nurse's prop! It was so inappropriate! I cannot believe any school would allow such a thing! I cannot believe any PARENTS would allow it, either! I also can't believe all the kids who went to a hotel after the prom! Do high schools & parents really ENDORSE such a thing?!? Stupidity! These were all rich & snooty-type high school kids who just didn't have a clue. I have to say - I'm sorry I bought this one.

Tony Danza is a happy-go-lucky gregarious guy who seems to talk constantly. James Franco is a quiet, cool, laid-back young man who needs to be prodded in conversation. Put these two together and you have one hyper host and one soft-spoken guest. You'd think Tony wanted to take over the entire piece! But if anyone knows Tony, he was just being himself. I could imagine Franco being relieved to exit the show after being linguistically jostled here! When Tony asked James if he was dating anybody, you could tell he didn't want to answer that. Since the answer was cut in the YouTube.com version I saw, I still don't know what he said or how he said it. Reading around the 'net, I see it's Ahna some-body.

I like Danza and I like Franco but together? I have to feel pity for Franco. You gotta toughen-up around Tony! He's just that kinda guy!

Jake Huard (James Franco) sees Annapolis (where you go for Navy training) across the river every day he works in the shipyard with his buddies. His dad is his boss but he wants to 'go the Navy way'. His late mom, who took him for a tour of the place as a kid always said he could make it. And he tried. He thought he might not make it but - well, you have to see the movie! This works! Franco works! Tyrese Gibson works! (Only his 'love interest' doesn't work, IMO!) Glad Franco got such a physical role because he does great with it! That fine young man has grown UP!! See this one for inspiration & a good look at Franco's........works!

Excellent film with medieval intrigue, sword-fights, love, honor & duty all rolled into one! Great cast with James Franco leading the way as Tristan, orphaned son saved & taken in by Lord Mark of Britania. (Forgive me for not remembering that actor's name but he was wonderful in the role!) Franco emotes nicely here & has a way with his eyes that seem to tell just what you need to know! He's quite good! Young forbidden love between Tristan from Britania & Isolde from Ireland makes for quite a story. See it! All the scenes are tastefully 'executed' (pardon the pun!)thus giving it the PG-13 rating. I'm viewing this one again & again!

I was pleasantly surprised when I eyed this Sly film! He is so good with comedy! He has a sarcastic wit about him & he can do things with those big brown puppy eyes that just make ya melt!! He's also in GREAT shape but I'm sorry, his hairpiece in this is just too noticeable. (Sorry, Sly! We still love ya tho!)

Story Line: Frankie (Sly) is bodyguard for Mr. Alegheri (the late great Anthony Quinn). He gets "hit" in a restaurant when Frankie leaves him unattended for a minute or two. All his life, he's been 'on the job' for Quinn, watching his daughter who doesn't even know she's his daughter (Stowe, with the HUGE brown eyes!!) Anyway, it's time for her to find out & to have Frankie watching her closer than ever now & they soon fall in love. Like he says, "I couldn't keep the distance anymore!") He almost loses her to another handsome Italian (the young guy who played opposite Diane Lane in Under the Tuscan Sun) but that relationship went "dead"! (Pun intended!)

I don't know why this film was given an R rating. Granted, there were 2 times the "f" word was used but I've heard that in PG-13's!! Perhaps it would have gotten seen by more people if it were rated PG-13. I know I would have seen it sooner! This is clearly a woman's movie, a love story for Sly FINALLY!! (Unless you count The Specialist?) Too bad he didn't get them when he was younger. Ooooooooh - to heat up the screen!! YO!!

Jack Carter (Sly) is a "financial adjuster", as he calls it, who works out of Vegas. His brother in Seattle dies in a drunk driving accident but he doesn't buy that. He eventually finds out the truth & "adjusts" the 3 people who had a hand in his brother's murder. HOW he "adjusts" them is well, I won't tell you. You have to see the film.

In his quest for vengeance, he humanely ties up some loose ends with his sister-in-law & niece. Those are very touching moments in the film, giving us a Carter we can relate to.

I have never seen the original Get Carter with Michael Caine in the lead so I really can't compare the two.

Sly is older & more tired-looking here but ya gotta love his goatee & shiny suits! I DID!!

It's commendable that after 5 yrs in the Pen, this "Handsome Hispanic" desperately wants to reform himself for good & for the love of a good woman. (Why, oh WHY does she have to be a blonde?!?) Anyway, the irrepressible Pacino gets involved with the wrong people anyhow which ultimately causes him NOT to 'get his way'. "Benny from the Bronx" (Leguizamo) is one of those people. Sean Penn with a 'fro & glasses is just too much! What a lawyer! I like the narration here: Pacino's talking' to you with that sssssslick hispanic "A'ssent". Of course, he was much more 'over the top' with it in Scarface but Carlito's a treat to watch, too. (See the edited version to cut the violence.)

This film is really good. If you like Italian, if you have a touch of sentimentalism in you, if you like Pacino (who doesn't)& if you're nostalgic for films about yesteryear (1930's, The Great Depression), then this one'll be a treat for you.

Twelve year old Gennaro wants to go to the "air-cooled" La Paloma Movie House. He needs 25 cents but money is hard to come by at this time. The kid is resourceful though. He's willing to work for his goal. Jobs are scarce & people are dying from lack of food & things they cannot afford like medicine. "Grampa Pacino" is on his death-bed out in the back yard but he 'can't die' until he gets forgiven for something he did decades ago. He gets his grandson to ask the person for forgiveness - THEN he can have the 25 cents.

I really like the closeness of these two characters. I don't know where this young Jerry Barone (Gennaro) came from but he's a good actor & he's handsome. (He could probably play Hispanic, too.) So enjoy a bit of the old country with Two Bits. You'll be surprised. There's nothing' sappy about it. It's for everyone...

The Rose Gang looked like they just learned how to ride.

Who buried 1/2 the map in the grave & who put the other 1/2 on the Sheriff's chest? (BTW, Louis Mandylor's sheriff was FINE but who gave him such a big hat?!)

Why did the sheriff wait until Bobby Brown's gang came into town before he tried to get to the well where the gold was? Why didn't he go get the gold sooner?

Why did the sheriff accept money from Bobby Brown's gang for women?

Where were all the REAL deputies to help out the sheriff?

The big woman with the long black hair who was lookin' for the girl who shot her sister - since it wasn't one of the Rose Gang, what sheriff was it that killed her? We're not told. Couldn't have been Sheriff Shoeshine (where'd he get that name?!) becuz that was a different town from Flatridge, no?

Why did Mario van Peeples shoot Kim down from the noose & then disappear for the rest of the movie? Was he paying homage to his film POSSE?

Why were the last 3 of the Rose Gang left at the well at the end of the picture? Did they ever get the gold because we didn't see it.

How could Maria in white never get dirty?

There's just so many unanswered questions to this movie! I saw the edited version. Maybe I need to watch it a few times to 'get it'?! But the riding is too long! I keep fast forwarding!

I was surprised about this film's rating. I ordered the NR (Not Rated) version, I get an R version with no cussing but a 'gratuitous' bedroom scene that was totally unnecessary. What's up with that? Synopsis: Detective Jack Newland (the ever-handsome Louis Mandylor) is sent to Vegas from Florida after narrowingly escaping having his badge pulled because of a drug bust involving other men on the force. He was clean but there was speculation. He now has to find operation books of a casino owner & decide whether to hand them over to the Feds or to someone else & make off with the cash he bargained for, girlfriend in tow. He does the right thing in the end.

Note: Didn't like the way said girlfriend threw herself at him down at the pool as soon as he gets into town & the 'gratuitous' scene could've been toned down a lot more. He does so much in 24 hours, you'd think he'd be exhausted. And isn't it hot in the Las Vegas desert?!? Then WHY do they dress him up in a tweed jacket, long sleeve shirt & tie?!? His character wouldn't come off a lot better, more 'in charge' if he would have been dressed more casual like with kind of a Miami Vice feel. And what's with the ugly goggle shades at the end of the film when driving away in the big red Cadillac?!? He should have kept the ones he had in the beginning of the film. They were way cool.

The movie was funny & so is this sitcom. There are some changes but you live with them because there's so many of the original cast members that it just doesn't matter. For instance, Toula is now called Nia, Ian is now called Thomas & is NOT John Corbett (because he had other obligations), Joey Fatone's goatee is gone so now he just looks like a pudgy little boy. And Nia & Thomas live across the street from Dancing Zorba's instead of right next door to her family.

The DVD has all the episodes on it & it's fun to watch them all without commercial interruption. But you cannot skip around to the episode you want to see. You must sit through them all or just fast forward.

Note to Louis Mandylor Lovers: The next-to-the-last episode is where Nick moves out of the house & gets his own apt. Although he kind of plays a bit ditzy at times in the sitcom, he didn't in the movie. This episode is a fun one to watch & showcases him quite well.

This is really Costos Mandylor's movie. His brother, Louis only has a cameo as a cop. Like I said, hit the edited version of this, if you can. The 'gratuitous' cussing is so unnecessary, it hurts! Synopsis: Good guy Tony (Costos) owns a restaurant & wants to keep his life clean & free of what his father used to do - be mixed up w/the Mob. Tony's got a loving wife & a couple of kids & wants their lives kept clean, too. Should he get into the Witness Protection Program to avoid getting in the middle of a Mob war? Afterall, they killed his father & plenty of other people Tony grew up with. Should he take care of things on his own? You'll have to hit the video store, get this & see for yourself.

I am not a fan of Van Damme but I bought this DVD because I thought Louis Mandylor would somehow be showcased more prominently being that he, too is an expert at kickboxing. But he was only in the beginning of the film (as a smartly dressed gangster) & that was it. Since Van Damme said he'd be back to that city, I thought Mandylor would get back at him, too for stealing his money. But he didn't.

The start of the film was exciting but after Van Damme gets to that island & is sold into servitude by Roger Moore's character, I lost interest. The film seemed to have too many loose ends, as many of you mentioned here on this board of reviews.

Freshman college football with a 34 yr old playing? (Scott Bakula) A HUGE science teacher playing? (The ever-funny Sinbad)A rich kid who gains confidence from the 34 yr old? (Jason Bateman) The best lookin' Greek-Aussie I ever saw & probably the smallest in football? (Louis Mandylor) I bought this DVD thinking it would be another Major League. Well, it was a little drier but still funny. When the GIANT guys come out on the field from prison, (The Refrigerator, Too-Tall, etc.) you wonder how & why but it's only to 'toughen up' the team. The roughness is necessary! See this for a laugh, especially during football season. And ladies, there is always something for US in these sports films! It's your choice!!

I stumbled upon this movie a couple weeks ago & thought it was so funny! You have to be mafia-conscious to know what's going on & what films these spoofs are taken from in order to get the gist. The Godfather films, Casino, Goodfellas (even Jurassic Park & Forrest Gump are thrown in as a bit of a surprise!) There's a 'Ginger-type' girl from Casino paroding Sharon Stone & so many more people playing people from those famous films! See if you can pick out who's playing who & that's the fun of it! And the scenes have been re-created so exact, it's eerie! Sometimes you forget you're NOT watching The Godfather until you see white-haired Lloyd Bridges in that dark 'business office' of his naming people & events that are non-existent! See it for laughs!

(Ladies, see Louis Mandylor as the middle-aged Vincenzo! That's what caught MY eye!)

Ahhhh! The Greek life! They were the 1st peoples to do ANYthing & EVERYthing, as 'Toula's father would have you believe. Her big fat Greek family is a hoot! (And her gorgeous brother, Nick is a true Greek treat for the eyes!!!) This is the story of 2 very different cultures trying to accept & make their way together in life. It works for 'Toula & her non-Greek man. He's been looking for someone different to settle down with because all the other women he's dated seem like clones of themselves. They're just blonde & pretty. But 'Toula is NOT blonde & NOT pretty when we 1st see her. She has mousy brown hair, hides her voluptuous (read: NOT skinny) shape under mousy clothes, wears glasses too big for her face & has no motivation in life UNTIL she spies her future sitting in her family's restaurant where she works her life away and she pours him some coffee. Once she gets her parents to let her go to night school & run her aunt's travel agency, she becomes a swan seemingly overnight & Ian doesn't know what hit him when he meets up with her again at the agency! This film is funny! Even if you're Italian, you will see the similarities in the families! Big, loud, dark & ethnic! Lanie Kazan is a wonderful ethnic mother of WHATEVER kind! She's so believable! Michael Constantine (from Room 222 fame) is the old world dad who's stressing his daughters' life & wedding. See this with the family, WHATEVER kind of family you have! It's a good clean laugh!

"Put some windex on it!"

I love this movie! Curtis plays it to the hilt. You see him scheming, you see him analyzing, you see him schmoozing & it all works. Leaving the slums behind & wanting a girl who's out of his league (but not her sister, who's clearly in love w/him), Mr. Cory creates a name for himself as the business-guy of a gambling house where said rich girl can cavort with him under wraps whilst still keeping up appearances. When Curtis sees the real deal with her, he lets her have it, but good! She deserves it. She actually makes HIM feel cheap when she's really the one who's worth nothing! See this for Mr. Curtis' snappy style & how great he looks in a suit! He's usually such a talker in his films. In this, you can SEE him thinking & it all works.

I love this movie! Kirk is at this showy best, Tony is underplaying his part, which fits here & Borgnine is a big hoot! Janet Leigh is, of course her usual pretty self. She's quite thin but beautiful. Her & Curtis are such opposites in view that it works, even in real life.

Borgnine is the father to both Kirk & Curtis but doesn't know about Curtis. It's not revealed until after Borgnine jumps to his death into a pit of ravenous wolves. Curtis is just a slave & he & Kirk instantly dislike each other when they meet. Kirk is after Leigh after she's been captured for a ransom & Curtis wants to free her. He does which makes Kirk hate him even more & he goes after him across the sea.

The authenticity of the Viking ships & way of life is amazing. This film is a great adventure! A must-see!

This film shows the seedy side of newspapermen. How they pay off informants & use people to get what they want. Lancaster's obscene JJ Hunsecker character wants his teenage sister all to himself even tho she tries to rid herself of him to marry a young musician. Curtis plays his right arm, his gopher, selling bits of info to other paper guys & blackmailing them. The dirty streets & smoke-filled clubs shown here are nothing short of desperation. I don't watch this film when it's on because I've seen it once. And that's enough. It's just not pretty. But then the city never is. But for who Curtis & Lancaster have to play, they do their jobs. I felt sorry for the poor cigarette girl who got pigeonholed into doing something she clearly did not want to do - with Larry Tate from Bewitched! Go figure!