Common Sense Movie Reviews

Barbara Bouchet: Picture of the Week #15

2012-02-14T01:45:00.000-08:00

The next Barbara Bouchet review will delve into her second TV show appearance this time on the cult Irwin Allen series Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. This week's picture of the week is a special double dose of promotional photos for the episode. Like most promotion photos they are a little false in terms of the advertising as Bouchet never dons a bikini, but who cares right?

In Harm's Way (1965)

2012-02-10T00:30:00.000-08:00

Not being a big fan of John Wayne or war films, it took me a couple sittings to make it through In Harm's Way. Yet for a Barbara Bouchet completest it's a pivotal film which launches her transition from uncredited extra to certified actress. For everyone else it's a melting pot of some very well known actors and actresses including by not limited to Kirk Douglas, Patricia Neal, Burgess Meredith

Barbara Bouchet: Picture of the Week #14

2012-01-30T00:10:00.000-08:00

With a couple more Barbara Bouchet reviews lined up for the coming weeks I thought it would be a good time to resume with the Picture of the Week segment, which appears from certain site statistics to be the more popular aspect of this on going series. The next film to be reviewed is In Harm's Way. So I felt this to be a proper point for posting the more common Bouchet picture found on the web

What Have You Done to Solange? (1972)

2012-01-28T18:51:00.000-08:00

Enrico Rossini (Fabio Testi) is a young professor at London's St. Hilda's Catholic Girls School and has the reputation for having an nontraditional rapport with his students, which knowingly or unknowingly to the rest of the school staff has lead to possibly numerous student/teacher relationships. His latest one is with senior Elizabeth Seccles (Cristina Galbo) who believes she saw a murder on

V for Vendetta (2006)

2012-01-22T00:00:00.000-08:00

Originally ReviewedSaturday September 2, 2006 Not being a fan of "graphic novels" (which I assume is what this film is based off of) like Sin City, and not being a fan of boyish looking Natalie Portman, I didn't think I would find this film enjoyable in the least. Even the previews didn't look that intriguing to me and it seemed to continue the tired out film style of The Matrix trilogy

Edison Force (2005)

2012-01-19T00:02:00.000-08:00

Originally ReviewedSaturday July 22, 2006 Like many other people who probably rented this film I only rented it because of RT's (Rotten Tomatoes) gorilla marketing campaign to force this down our throats with the constant banner ads and advertisements. Other than that I rented it out of curiosity for how bad it was going to be... well my curiosity has been filled, and this film is

Danger: Diabolik (1968)

2012-01-08T01:21:00.000-08:00

I can't think of a better way to kick off the new year than a review of one of the greatest cult films I have ever seen. Danger: Diabolik a film that combines the brilliant feats of low budget director/cinematographer Mario Bava, the beauty and stage presence of Marisa Mell and the bizarre yet engrossing Italian comic book character protrayed by John Phillip Law of the anti-hero Diabolik! Danger

Common Sense Movie Reviews - 2011 A Year In Review

2011-12-31T00:34:00.000-08:00

Well it's that time of year again when everyone and their dog who has a blog feels the need to trounce out their Top 10 films of 2011. I've never had the ability to do those very well as ten new films or less is usually all I get around to seeing in any given year (I'm still working on my Top 10 of 2007)! That's even more so the case this year as I think I can count on one hand how many 2011

Jurassic Park (1993)

2011-12-29T00:01:00.000-08:00

Originally ReviewedThursday June 1, 2006 "Spared no expense" is what millionaire John Hammond continues to proclaim throughout the film about his theme park geared towards bringing forth a realistic adventure that everyone can visualize and touch. This is Spielberg's attempt in the making of this film and I believe successfully accomplished in his recreation of these massive creatures. The

Cliff Note Reviews #11

2011-12-26T00:31:00.000-08:00

Cliff Note Reviews is an ongoing series where I briefly state my thoughts on recent films I've watched but don't have the desire to create a full review surrounding. Short and to the point opinions on films that might make decent weekend watchers when you have nothing else to do, films to completely stay away from, and occasionally a few highly recommended films that

Perversion Story (1969)

2011-12-18T20:59:00.000-08:00

Actresses of Italian cinema in the 1960's & 70's who weren't of the Hollywood elite, or international stars in some right usually found their fame in what is now often referred to as "cult cinema". One of the largest genres of cult cinema during this period of time in the Italian movie industry was giallo, Italian thrillers that are probably the closest ancestor to what is now referred to as the

The Family Man (2000)

2011-12-13T00:42:00.000-08:00

Originally ReviewedSunday September 24, 2006 Have you ever wondered what your life would be like if you had made a different decision in the past? Can one decision be the life alternating piece that decides whether you're a wealthy and successful business man, or an average middle class family man? For the highly successful Jack Campbell, those questions are about to be answered. Thirteen

Casanova '70 (1965)

2011-11-24T12:12:00.000-08:00

Comedy is one of the more difficult genres to grasp internationally as every country has their own brand of humor. British comedy is usually pretty dry and heavily laced with sarcasm, Spanish comedy seems to find adults dressing up a children highly amusing, and Italians seem to be heavily involved in comedies centered around sexual escapades; at least such was the case in the 60's and 70's.

Finding Neverland (2004)

2011-11-18T01:13:00.000-08:00

Originally ReviewedThursday May 19, 2005 Ever wish you could get away? Escape the daily grind of life into a fantasy land that only you had the power to open the door to. Finding Neverland tells the story of how such a place came to be, a place where children never grew up and a place where even adults could find solace from the pains of life... that place is called Neverland. Finding

Wimbledon (2004)

2011-11-17T00:58:00.000-08:00

Originally ReviewedMonday January 2, 2006 Wimbledon has to be the only tennis film (or tennis anything for that matter) I've ever seen. I'm racking my brain to think of another film based around tennis, but coming up dry. I rented this film on the basis of someone else's review combined with decent ratings on Netflix. I don't like tennis, I know nothing about tennis and I really can't stand

Cliff Note Reviews #10

2011-11-14T01:53:00.000-08:00

The Man Who Knew Too Little (1997)

2011-11-07T00:04:00.000-08:00

Originally ReviewedMonday December 12, 2005 This is the Bill Murray of old, the classic, the hilarious Bill Murray not the straight dark comedy Bill Murray, the one I find excruciatingly hard to sit through any of his films. I don't find him funny anymore but I guess he's having more success with his new style and genre of film. The Man Who Knew Too Little ranks somewhere in the Top 10

Kate & Leopold (2001)

2011-11-05T13:59:00.000-07:00

Originally ReviewedFriday December 9, 2005 Kate and Leopold takes an interesting spin on a genre that is usually pretty formulaic. Kate's a modern day corporate woman, who's used to doing whatever necessary to succeed, even if it means selling people stuff they really don't need through false advertising. Leopold is a charming 19th century Duke who is forced to pick someone to marry or lose

Cliff Note Reviews #9

2011-10-21T01:53:00.000-07:00

The Possessed (1965)

2011-10-16T00:20:00.000-07:00

The Possessed (or La mujer del lago) is one of those films I was initially excited to see upon reading the synopsis, then slightly disappointed when it was completed, as I realized I didn't read it close enough. The synopsis on IMDb.com readsWhen a visitor arrives in a small Italian village, he discovers that the residents are acting like soul-less zombies--and he begins to suspect that they

Ostinato destino (1992)

2011-10-07T00:23:00.000-07:00

Ostinato destino (Wayward Destiny) stars Monica Bellucci in a dual role of good and evil twin sisters Marina and Angela. The story starts off with the death of a wealthy woman named Carolina Rambaldi, who throws her ungrateful children a curve-ball during the reading of the will when conditions are imposed upon the disposition of the inheritance. Whoever is married and has a child within a

Morsels of Monica #2

2011-10-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

Monica's style is a combination of Mediterranean glamor and sensuality. But of course like many stunning actresses Bellucci wanted to be known for more than simply her looks, although it's something she'll seemingly never escape. But the days of cinema where the actress solely plays the role of the film's eye candy or pin-up girl are quite the thing of the past, and Bellucci understood the

Briganti – Amore e libertà (1990)

2011-10-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

Briganti – Amore e libertà (Bandits – Love and Liberty) is probably another made for TV film as some sources actually refer to La riffa as her first major film role. I also happens to be another film I was only able to locate in Italian without subtitles. The story takes place in 1838 Naples where a bandit named Caruso is shot and killed by one of Baron San Germano's trusted men who finds

Morsels of Monica #1

2011-10-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

Born September 30, 1968 in the Italian village of Città di Castello. She recieved a literary Bachelor's degree in college and enrolled in law school to become a lawyer. Some say her decision to start modeling was initially to pay for law school, but in an issue of Panorama she seem to suggest otherwise.Already 15 years ago when I was in high school, I got excited for the pictures and images. I

Vita coi figli (1990)

2011-10-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

As someone who has never been fond of foreign films that force the viewer to read subtitles, this was one of those occasions where subtitles would have been fondly welcome. As I delve into the filmography of Monica Bellucci I'm learning to prepare myself for an onslaught of foreign films, many (such as this two part TV mini-series) not available with English dubbing or subtitles. It's an