Review of Code 46 (2003) by Jacob L — 17 Jul 2007

[u]Code 46[/u].

Another sci-fi near future cautionary tale. I guess having recently seen Children of Men this paled in comparasion. Besides Shawshank Redemption, I've never been much of a Tim Robbins fan, he just seemed bland here. I couldn't warm up to any of the characters. I liked the fact that they sort of just dumped you into this near future world and really didn't spend much time explaining the why's and how's but certain things just didnt seem to add up for me. With all the technology we have, the main necessity article being a piece of paper ? Papelle? This just seemed dry and bland to me, but remember I am not a sci-fi person so take that into account.

[u]Young Frankenstein[/u].

I had always heard how good this movie was and was pleased to see it was on PBS a few nights back. I am usually a big fan of Mel Brooks movies or movies like Airplane with what I called "doh" humor or rimshot humor (need a drummer like in a night club for the jokes) but this didnt make me laugh much. A chuckle here and there but mainly Wilder's over the top performance got on my nerves a bit.

[u]Judgement at Nuremberg[/u].

Fascinating examination of the trials of Nazi era judges in Nuremberg 3 yrs after WW2. It is not the pat treatment that you might expect, portraying the Germans as monolithic evil. It raises the debate of who is actually responsible for the evil in society and what part each of us plays in encouraging it by going along tacitly or just indifference. The judge played by Spencer Tracy is under the additional political pressure to expedite things and be more lenient due to the need for German support in the Cold War which is just beginning. This movie was apparently one of, if not, the first place where concentration camp footage was shown and must have been quite a shock in 1961. Montgomery Clift plays, with his usual intensity, a victim of Nazi sterilization and Judy Garland, a reluctant witness in relaying the hardships she went through for friendship with a Jewish man. Maximillian Schell as the defense attorney Rolfe provides a reluctant but stubborn defense and his arguments are logical. But as Tracy tells him near the end , Logic doesnt always mean just or right. Burt Lancaster also shines as the lead Nazi judge on trial and his impassioned speech near the end of the trial is a highlite. Upon closer inspection, you will find Werner Klemperer (Col Klink - Hogans Heroes) and William Shatner in supporting roles. A little long at over 3 hrs but an interesting trip for history buffs.

[u]Zorba the Greek[/u].

A buddy type picture which has been imitated in a way many times since. Alan Bates plays a stolid emotionless English writer who has traveled to Crete to see some mining land he now owns. On the boat there, he meets Zorba (Quinn) who is his polar opposite. The story is the journey of Zorba showing Bates character (Basil) how to live life to the fullest. Zorba lives every minute as though it was his last, indulging fully his senses and passions. Basil is scared to take any risks or challenges, is plagued by fear of pursuing the widow (Irene Pappas) with whom there is an obvious mutual attraction. Zorba helps whoever is in need from the widow woman to the old French lady who is searching for love and validation of her appeal.

Zorba rescues the widow from the murderous crowds when Basil is paralyzed by fear. He "marries" the old lady near her death bed to comfort her when the "marriage" was only proposed by Basil to get back at Zorba for a percieved wrong. The contrasts of others not valuing life as much as Zorba are made very clear in two tragic scenes. The "pack" after the widow as they blame her for a suicide of a young man who was in love with her and the pillaging for "stuff" of the old lady's place immediately after her death.

Zorba by saving the parrot (living thing) as contrasted with the "stuff " (material goods) being taken by the people. Zorba didnt care about her funeral as saying "she is dead, what does it matter".

The lesson of this movie is to "seize the day and go for the gusto".. to take risks and chances like Zorba to get the most out of life.

Will try to come back in and expand on some quotes from this movie if I can and add some pics but not sure. I just wanted to get these intial comments up before I forgot my main thoughts as I tend to ramble in these writings. Thanks for putting up with this lol. Comment away.