Risselada Blog

movie year countdown #75 - 1932 - Trouble in Paradise

Was this review helpful? [Be the first to tell us!]

Under discussion:

Trouble in Paradise (1932)

This blog entry is part of my “movie year countdown”. To read more about that check out my first Spout filmblog entry.

Trouble in Paradise

I heard a lot of people praising this as a perfect film. Every shot is perfect. Every line of dialogue. It's supposed to be the greatest romantic comedy of all time. Certainly the epitome of the classic romantic comedy and a perfect example of the Lubitch touch.

I can see why people think it's so well constructed, but to me there is no romance in it. Apparently a lot of people see romance in lavish living and swindlers who pose as high society. I find these characters rather vapid and self absorbed in a way that is far from charming.

Some of them are dumb and dopey, and it's fun to laugh at them. But I'm not swayed by the romance of the main characters just because they are more skillful.

I enjoyed it, but was disappointed due to the reputation.

Rating: 7/10

Posted Thursday, August 28, 2008 6:57 PM by Risselada | with 0 comments

7 Plus Seven

Was this review helpful? [Be the first to tell us!]

Under discussion:

Seven Up (1963)

Seven Plus Seven (1970)

7 Plus Seven

I watched this along with the original film in the Seven Up series.

I'd heard about how praised this series was, and so far it has exceeded all my expectations. I'm really excited to watch these children grow.

What a blessing it is that the original filmmakers had this idea long enough before I was born that I am able to watch these movies now and see this group of people grow up at such a rapid pace.

It's really one of the most completely encompassing film works on the human condition. I'm saying this having only even seen the first two films! But I can't imagine how it won't pay off. It's such a simple idea and yet so perfect.

Being a bit of an anglophile and feeling as though the class system in England is really no different than the class separation in the USA, just more defined, I really felt so completely touched in so many complex ways watching these movies. And that's really what the best movies do.

Rating: 10/10

Posted Monday, August 25, 2008 5:21 PM by Risselada | with 0 comments

sickness

Was this review helpful? [Be the first to tell us!]

So on June 19, the day after my last post, I woke up feeling quite strange and rather ill. Since then I've been through a lot.

I've been feeling physically ill ever since. I was eventually diagnosed with mono, but not before developing severe anxiety surrounding my illness.

I think I'm finally starting to feel better. But with all of my illness, being busy at work, and with just trying to otherwise enjoy the outdoors this summer I have not written anything here for a while.

Not that I think a single person on this website even cares or notices, but I'm really just writing this for myself, in case I ever look back and wonder what was going on then. Or maybe some one out there does care...

Posted Monday, August 25, 2008 4:25 PM by Risselada | with 0 comments