The Longest Day Baked Cinema Review

The Longest Day (Rated G)

I have seen countless war films, and few capture the essence of war quite as well as The Longest Day. This ensemble focuses on D-Day June 6th, 1944 and we see the day play out from all sides; and unlike many films of the day, this actually shows all sides of the war in a fairly neutral manner. Nazi's are easy to hate which sadly means that instead of being portrayed as real characters; what we get instead are simply cartoon cutouts. I am not suggesting that Nazi's should be shown in an overly sympathetic light, but it is disingenuous to historical context to just show Nazi's as "Storm Troopers". This was an enormously ambitious production in its time, with a production spanning the globe and three directors, in fact, it would still be just as ambitious if it was made today.

Yet a film like this is such a product of it's time that it could only have been made in 1962. This is not just due to the film's legendary cast, but by the film's entire production design which is still incredibly impressive to this day. There was no such thing as digital effects when this film was made, which does mean some of the film's effects can look especially dated; yet there is something about seeing these kind of "old-school practical effects" that is consistently charming and endlessly enduring. There is also something to say for black and white cinematography, it really seems to be a lost art. So many shots in this film are not only exciting, but visually stunning as well.

There is so much to say about the golden age of Hollywood filmmaking; so many films of the day could be viewed silently and still be captivating based on the wondrous images alone. This was a time when everything put to screen mattered, this is something totally lost in most of today's films. You can take so many still images from this film and they look simply dazzling. This is classic visual artistry at it's absolute best, and what makes this film even more special in this way; is the simple fact that so few World War II films look like this.

There are so many black and white World War II films, yet few of them are as packed to the brim as The Longest Day is.  There is just so much going on in this film with its expert direction and pacing that even at it's nearly three-hour running time, your never left bored and it's over long before you'd like it to be. Which is something I can rarely say about films of this length. While it may seem slow moving to start with for some; the slow burn nature of the first fifty minutes really ratchets up the tension and suspense, it also perfectly captures how the men must have felt waiting for the go to begin the operation.

There is no shortage of action once things get started, and the action scenes are among some of the most impressive of it's or anytime. Things get started off with a hair-raising  glider landing, and the capture of a key objective which includes a very exciting gun battle. It is worth noting that the action scenes are very realistic in terms of the tactics used, while there are a few scenes that may appear slightly laughable, this is mostly a result of the time in which the film was made. One scene in particular which I am sure was incredibly tense and shocking upon release, will be hard for some modern viewers to take seriously.

I am also sure most people will have noticed that the film is rated G, which does not make one think gritty war film and while the film does lack blood and gore; it does effectively capture the essence of what war is. This film does not glamorize or promote war, yet war can be exciting, it can be terrifying, there are moments of humor even in our darkest times and war is often just as random as it is cruel. It is no easy feat to capture the terror of war when you could not show graphic images like the opening of Saving Private Ryan; as a matter of fact, I think blood and gore may be the cheap way of showing the terror of war.

One of the film's most astounding sequences is one of the airborne unit's failed landings, instead of landing in a safe area they land in a town full of Nazis just waiting to execute each paratrooper as they land.We see the entire scene from the point of view of a paratrooper who's left dangling on a cathedral bell tower by his parachute. We watch with a bird's eye view of the city square full of Nazis happily mowing down the allied forces. This scene is one of the most powerful in the entire film, as we watch the paratrooper played by Red Button's reactions to his situation; his performance in this scene is extraordinary. He perfectly captures how someone must feel in that situation, his reactions feel totally genuine and you can't help but feel compelled to watch it all unfold.

One of the film's other highlights is one of the most impressive long shot's in any film, we see allied forces taking a town with an incredible tracking shot. We see the action unfold from the sky in one shot, one take, with no digital effects. What you see in that scene is simply incredible. This film is just so captivating that you can never take your eyes off screen; it is a testament to classic cinema these films can not be replicated. You have an all-star cast that can not be beaten, and an incredible score that perfectly supplements what were seeing on screen.

This is without a doubt one of the best war films of all time, and the incredible depiction of D-Day is truly remarkable. While many of the war pictures from this era do feel very dated, The Longest Day holds up and has stood the test of time better than any other of it's kind. I am sure many younger film fans will unfavorably compare the Normandy landing scene to the blood bath in Saving Private Ryan, and that film's opening is incredible and one that is hard to beat. The Normandy landing scene in this film does not necessarily top the visceral on-screen action of Saving Private Ryan, but it is just as entertaining and this film gives a much clearer view of what happened on D-Day.

Sucker Punch Extended Cut, Baked Cinema Review

Sucker Punch Extended Cut Review (Rated R)

This film holds a unique place in my heart; I was very excited to see it when it came to theaters, a few years ago. Still, as much as I enjoyed the experience in the cinema; the film felt like something was missing. Like the films very soul was gutted, the theatrical cut is an exciting and an entertaining film; and I appreciated it. But once I saw the Extended Cut during its home video debut, it all made since. I had greatly anticipated this film; and I knew that while it was a simple story, some of its emotional depth was stolen to secure a PG-13 rating. Which sadly, hurt the film tremendously. 

People were disappointed when the film originally came out; and while I did enjoy and indeed love the film. I too felt like we had not seen the full story; while I was disappointed, maybe I even felt a bit cheated. The studio copped out on the rating; thinking this film would sell to teenage boys, because of the sex and violence. However, this is not the standard sexy, flashy action mess that sells well to that audience. They will totally miss the point of the story; they won't understand the metaphors and the main message. Which is what makes the film so engaging and memorable. 

Unlike most summer blockbusters; Sucker Punch actually gives great context and reason for the epic fantasy set pieces. Specifically, this new longer cut of the film, which expands the story making the main message far clearer. It is not a super deep or complex story; the themes are simple and it may even be blunt at times. Yet, if you do not pay attention to the film, you will miss out on things that give the outlandish sequences meaning. Admittedly, it may just be a great excuse to show cool action scenes. But, they at least came up with an artistic and original reason for the action in the film. I found the themes relatable and meaningful.

I also loved the use of music as a way to tell the story; you're not just hearing the story through dialogue, you are understanding the emotions of the scene, and the meaning they are meant to convey. Through the carefully synced music and onscreen visuals, this is music video style story telling; but here it is used effectively. For me the way these scenes were constructed, made them flow organically with the soundtrack. The opening ten minutes are mostly silent; with the expectation of the haunting music accompanying these larger than life scenes. Now yes I obviously inhaled during the film, but I will inform you this is my first time viewing the film "baked". So while I have a better perception of the film now; I always thought this was an excellent dark fairy tale. 

 

This is a modern day fairy tale; it has all the necessary qualities. A fairy tale should be fantastical, exciting entertainment; but it also needs a message. They should capture your imagination as well as your heart. You should as the kids say these days "catch feelings". Yes, that was a lame and corny attempt at humor; but at least I tried. Damn, I caught "the feelings". In any case, this is a very emotional; yet completely engaging and exciting piece of entertainment. I am not trying to give it more credit than it is due, it deserves it and then some. Only the poor choice to cut the film, to secure a lower rating, hurt the film's credibility.

I do not blame anyone who saw the PG-13 theatrical cut and though it was a jumbled mess. While, I will say that even in the watered down cut; you could see the potential in the story and the ideas. But, sadly they were not fleshed out enough, so most people just assumed there was nothing beneath the surface. What is even sadder, is that the majority of the cut scenes did not feature much more graphic sex or violence. No instead the cut scenes fleshed out the story, and added depth to the story's emotion; giving a much greater context to the fantasy elements of the story.

In the directors R-rated cut, the message and deeper meaning behind the fantasy sequences is explained. Not directly or blatantly, but cleverly and with subtly; still it is clear and easy to comprehend. The message may be simple, but it was delivered surprisingly well. It is a very dark story; a story of survival, justice and doing what is right. It shows that ultimate victory has a high price; because sometimes victory, true victory is not a simple happy ending. But it shows you can never give up, and that help can come from the most unexpected places. Most of all, that our power comes from within ourselves. This stuff is simple and some may say uninspired, but I appreciated the unique angle the film took.   

This is the reason why I enjoy and appreciate this film so much because few films tackle depression and mental anguish like this film did. You can say I'm reading too much into this; that the film is not that deep. But, the film gives enough context while still leaving things ambiguous enough, to leave it open to the viewer's interpretation. Which are the kind of films I like, I like films that make me think, and that is why I love "baking" while I watch. I get more engaged, and sucked into the film. In fact, I didn't even analyze the film after viewing; all these thoughts just naturally occurred with that special green "buddy" of mine. Do you get it? Do ya? OK, I'll stop, sorry guys, I let you down. See you in the next paragraph. 

While the film could be considered shallow compared to more classic cinema; the fact is, this is one of the more inspired and well thought out films of the past decade. Certainly one of the most underrated of the last decade. The film also is heavily influenced by Anime; as a matter of fact, this is basically a live action anime. It has all the main ingredients; over the top action and melodrama, coupled with a dark and melancholy story line. The film's art direction is also a vital part of the storytelling, as the colors and lighting of a scene is dependent on the tone of that story element. Sucker Punch may not be one of the best films of the decade; but it is without a doubt, a very underrated one.  

I love the reason and context for this film's most spectacular scenes; I love that the film tries to give meaning to every scene, even if it is relatively simple. The story and themes may not be appealing to everyone, But it is a film that I know will click with a great number of people. I know my appreciation of the film, is due to how much I could relate to it. I wish they would have released this version as the theatrical cut; Because while it could be shallow to some, I think the message of the film is timely and made for a more poignant piece of entertainment than most. 

(My goal with all of my content, is to create reliable information that is also entertaining. Most people write things to tell you what to think. My goal is to inspire you to form your own opinion. If you agree with me, that's awesome. But, if I entertained you or made you think, then my my mission was accomplished.)

Baked Cinema, M 1931 Review

M Review ( Not Rated )

Fritz Lang's Masterpiece M; is about the hunt for a child killer who has taken yet another victim. The suspected killer is played brilliantly by Peter Lorre; largely a character actor but here he commands the screen. The film was made in Germany, and is one of the finest films from that country. Being made in 1931, meant it was made just as the Nazis rose to power, nevertheless the subject here is equally disturbing. Anyone calling themselves a serious film aficionado needs to see M. Saying it's ahead of its time, is an understatement and Lorre's monologue at the end of the film is truly captivating. His performance in the climax is intense, disturbing, powerful and truly a stunning work of art. The film is one taunt suspenseful scene after another; Fritz Lang was a true visionary.

This is one of the most haunting and disturbing accounts of a serial killer put to film. The fact that you never see any of the murders take place; make's the film even stronger. Less is truly more in this masterpiece of cinema; every scene was shot with extreme precision and attention to detail. The way the camera lingers slowly, and the way Lang chose to have or not have sound in certain scenes, this along with the entire way the sound is edited and utilized provides masterful impact.

The way the story works; particularly the ending is something few modern films could achieve. It's not loud and action packed; in fact, it takes place in one room, and to top that off there's very little violence in the last act. However; it is incredibly tense, Lorre's monologue, as I mentioned before, leaves you breathless. Lang was a master of suspense; truly eclipsing the work of Hitchcock. This film is a milestone; I could keep going on and on about M, the fact that Lorre could be so monstrously evil, but also compel sympathy and nearly bring you to his side by the film's end.

  

A film like this would have trouble being made today let alone over eighty years ago. I have never seen a film done quite like this; it's part horror, thriller, and police procedural. The film is about the relentless hunt for the killer; but also to save the last girl taken, to find her before he kills her. But it's not vigilante justice like you have seen before; the film ends in a kangaroo court trial. Lang considered this to be his finest work, and I have to agree.

There is not a single flaw in this film; it is simply one of the few examples of a perfectly made film. Riveting and evocative filled with superb performances, M is a film that you may not have heard of, but one that you need to see. When classic cinema is talked about; this film should always be mentioned. A film this old could be terribly dated by today's standards, but M is simply timeless. It portrays a killer with more depth than most films made on the subject, and was made by a true cinematic visionary. Fritz Lang's M is true cinematic art.