''Gigi'' and ''The Wizard of Oz''- Movie Reviews

Gigi (1958 movie)

Directed: Vincent Minnelli
Released: 1958
Country: United States

Genre: Musical romantic comedy

Rating: 4 out of 5

Review

Gigi is an amusing, cheerful, lighthearted musical comedy. I enjoyed every minute of it. It was so entertaining and funny! The plot centers around Gigi, a teenaged girl who lives with her mother and grandmother. Her mother is an opera singer, and we never see her (but we do hear her voice). It is Gigi's grandmother who takes care of her. Besides going to school, Gigi is further educated by her great aunt, Alicia, who gives her lessons on becoming a courtesan, lessons that are difficult and need a lot of patience.

Gaston Lachaille is a young, successful man who finds everything in life boring. He is very close to Gigi and her grandmother. One weekend, Gaston takes Gigi and her grandmother to the seaside, for holidays. Gigi and Gaston's relationship gradually becomes stronger, and realizing this, grandmother and Aunt Alicia start giving more emphasis in Gigi's training to become a lady, hoping that someday Gaston will ask her hand in marriage. However, there is Gaston's fame and notoriety, and Gigi's immaturity and working class background. Despite intensive training from Aunt Alicia, it is obviously not possible for Gigi to completely change her manners and attitude. Will these be a barrier to their relationship?

Gigi was really very funny and fully entertaining! It was so lighthearted and charming! The screenplay, situations, and dialogues were humorous and witty. While the songs were not that much memorable, they were really impressive as well! The performances were really very impressive. Leslie Caron (as Gigi), Louis Jourdan (as Gaston), Maurice Chevalier (as Honore Lachaille), Hermine Gingold (as Gigi's grandmother), and Isabel Jeans (as Aunt Alicia)- all of them gave such excellent performances. The characters were wonderful and funny. Overall, ''Gigi'' was an entertaining and funny musical comedy, witty and charming!

4 out of 5

The Wizard of Oz (1939 movie)

Directed by: Victor Fleming
Released: 1939
Country: United States

Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Musical, Drama

Cast: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, Billie Burke, Margaret Hamilton, Clara Blandick, Charley Grapewin

Rating: 5 out of 5

Review
 
Oh, how I love The Wizard of Oz! It had been a long, long time since I last watched the film! I read the book in March 2013, and since then, I have been eager to watch the film again.

The first few scenes and the last scene are filmed in sepia, but the time that Dorothy, the protagonist, spends in the land of Oz, are filmed in brilliant color. Dorothy is a girl who lives with her uncle and aunt in a farm. A vicious neighbor, Miss Gulch, threatens to take away her dog, Toto, from her, because the dog regularly disturbs her. Dorothy yearns to get away from the farm, to somewhere magical, wonderful...

Suddenly, a twister carries Dorothy and Toto, along with the house, to the land of Oz. There, she is warmly greeted by the Munchkins, who are grateful to her because her house had fallen on the Wicked Witch of the East, killing her. However, the Wicked Witch of the West, the dead Witch's sister, now wants to capture Dorothy, because she (Dorothy) has the red slippers previously owned by the dead witch... Dorothy wants to return home, to Kansas. She is told to follow a path made of yellow bricks, to the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. On her way, she comes across a Tin Man looking for a heart, a Scarecrow looking for a brain, and a Lion looking for courage. They decide to go to the wizard together.

However, the Wicked Witch of the West is looking for Dorothy...

I just LOVED The Wizard of Oz! It was so beautiful, so colorful, so lively! It was filled with charming songs. And oh the sceneries, the production design, the sets- they were just BEAUTIFUL!

Dorothy comes to draw parallels between the people whom she meets in Oz, and the people whom she knows in real life. For example, she imagines the Wicked Witch of the West as Miss Gulch, the vicious neighbor who wants take her dear little dog, Toto, away from her. And she finds similarities between her three companions and three friendly workers of the farm.

The farewell scene was really very emotional and touching... The performances were brilliant. Judy Garland, as Dorothy was amazing. Ray Bolger (as the Scarecrow), Bert Lahr (as the Lion), Jack Haley (as the Tin Man) and Frank Morgan (as the Wizard) were amazing! Margaret Hamilton was brilliant as the Wicked Witch of the West.

The Wizard of Oz is certainly a very delightful, wonderful film!!! It's so magical and charming. The most memorable things about this film are the set decoration, colorful backgrounds and cinematography, dialogues, and some of the songs.

5 out of 5

''Moulin Rouge!'' (2001 movie)- Review

Directed by: Baz Luhrmann
Released: 2001
Country: United States, Australia

Genres: Musical, Romantic drama

Cast: Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, Jim Broadbent, Richard Roxburgh, John Leguizamo

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Review

Moulin Rouge! is perhaps one of the most beautifully told musical love stories I have ever come across. Beautifully written, designed, directed and acted, this film was touching and deep.

Our protagonist is an aspiring writer, Christian (Ewan McGregor), who has moved to Montematre, Paris, to find inspiration for writing. One day, he comes across Toulouse-Lautrec, who, along with several people, is working on a play. Christian gives them advise on writing, which makes them request Christian to write the whole play for them. They are writing the play for Satine (Nicole Kidman), the star of the famous nightclub, Moulin Rouge. They decide to arrange a private meeting between Christian and Satine.

What follows can be a little confusing. A Duke (Richard Roxburgh) has offered to invest in a play, where Satine will play the main role. The owner of the nightclub, Harold Zidler (Jim Broadbent), arranges a private meeting between the Duke and Satine. On the other hand, Christian comes to Satine's room, and Satine thinks Christian is the the Duke. Christian falls in love with Satine at first sight.

Soon when the Duke arrives, he is shocked to see Satine ''in the arms of another man''. Satine and Christian cook up a story, that they are rehearsing for a play. The Duke demands the story of the play. Christian makes a story: a sitar player and a courtesan have fallen in love, but they are threatened by the presence of an evil maharajah, who also loves the courtesan. Hearing the story, the Duke is quite impressed and decides to invest.

Little do they understand, that the play they are working on will become the story of their lives... Satine and Christian fall in love, but there is the Duke, who makes a lot of contribution to Moulin Rouge, under one condition, that Satine should belong to him. And on the other hand, it is also revealed that Satine has tuberculosis (though it is known by only a few people. Satine herself is not informed).

I loved ''Moulin Rouge!''. It was so touching, deep, and well-acted. I loved Christian, and I loved Satine. There were so many beautiful songs... My favorite song is (of course) ''Come What May''. I also loved the song ''One Day I'll Fly Away''.

I loved how the characters of the film were represented by the characters of the play ''Spectacular Spectacular'': the courtesan by Satine, the sitar player by Christian, and the maharajah by the Duke.

''Moulin Rouge!'' is also visually astounding. The cinematography was wonderful. The set decoration was excellent as well. The colorful buildings, and the sky... they looked so beautiful. The costume design was really good as well. The editing was superb.

Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman were amazing! Their performances were so good that they made the characters come to life.

Moulin Rouge! is a touching and deep love story! The performances, the visual aspects, the story,  the songs, they were excellent. It's a beautiful, colorful film.

''Juno'' and ''Chicago''- Reviews

Juno (2007 movie)

Directed by: Jason Reitman
Released: 2007
Country: Canada, United States

Genres: Comedy-drama

Stars: Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner, Allison Janney, J. K. Simmons, Olivia Thirlby

Rating: 4 out of 5

 Juno, directed by Jason Reitman, is not certainly a great movie. But there can be no denying that it is a funny, emotional film that leaves you with a very good feeling, and is one of the best films of 2007: it is entertaining, enjoyable, hilarious and emotional. The story is about 16-year-old high school student Juno (Ellen Page), who suddenly discovers that she is pregnant, and the father of her child is her boyfriend Paulie (Michael Cera). What will she do now? Initially deciding to have an abortion, she then makes up her mind to give birth to the baby and then give the baby to a childless couple. She informs this to her father and stepmother, who support her in her decision. She finds a couple, Mark and Vanessa. Vanessa have always wanted to be a mother, and it is clear from her behavior how she loves children. Juno will be happy to give her baby to such nice people.

Ellen Page and Michael Cera in ''Juno''

The film is very funny, the script is very witty, and the dialogues are delightful. The jokes about the baby having fingernails were very funny, among others. But however, as an emotional journey it is no less remarkable. It also has an emotional depth. Paulie, the father of Juno's unborn child, a girl, and Juno tells him: "Are you ashamed we did it because at least you don't have the evidence under your sweater...'' Isn't it such a touching line? Throughout the movie, the incidences and experiences that Juno goes through are quite enough. Thankfully, they are shown in a lighthearted and witty manner that makes us have a smile in our face almost throughout the movie. Of course, there are exceptions, for example Juno's quarrel with Mark when he tells her that he is going to leave Vanessa. That quarrel scene was very, what will I say, emotional. Also, Vanessa's love for the unborn baby is also very touching.

Jason Reitman's direction is amazing. Ellen Page, as Juno, rightly deserved the Oscar nomination which she got for her role in this film. Michael Cera is no less remarkable, as the nerdy boyfriend of Juno. This character looks awkward and shy every time we see him. And oh, the beautiful Jennifer Garner as Vanessa! She gave such a superb and touching performance. In short, all the actors were well-cast in their roles. The screenplay and the wonderful dialogues also deserve special praise.

Overall, this bittersweet comedy-drama is a wonderful film. Not a masterpiece, but certainly a very feel-good movie.




Chicago (2002 movie)

Directed by: Rob Marshall
Released: 2002
Country: United States

Cast: Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, John C. Reilly

Genres: Musical crime comedy

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Review

Rod Marshall's ''Chicago'' is, in a word, superb. It is one of the best, and even possibly the best musical film from the 2000s. This funny, musically astounding, technically wonderful film takes us back to the 1920s Chicago. Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) is a famous jazz singer who performs with her sister Veronica. Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger) is an ambitious and fame hungry woman. Their happy lives come to a pause when Velma kills her husband and her sister upon discovering them together in bed. Roxie kills her boyfriend when she realizes that she is not going to make her a famous star. Both are sent to prison, and may be hanged.

Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, and Renee Zellweger in ''Chicago''

The corrupted matron of the prison, played by the amazing Queen Latifah, contacts the successful lawyer, Billy Flynn, for the prisoners, in exchange of money. Both Roxie and Velma pay the matron, known as ''Mama'', for Billy. Initially, Billy pays little importance to Roxie, but then they work out a plan by which Roxie can escape a death sentence: Roxie will make the public have sympathy on her. Through lies, deceiving and coquettish smiles, Roxie not only makes the public sympathize her, but she becomes something of a celebrity, with the newspapers filled with her pictures and articles about her.

This is an astounding, superb film. I LOVED it. The music is extremely pleasant. The songs are... amazing. My favorite songs in this film are ''When You're Good to Mama'' and ''We Both Reached For the Gun''. Renee Zellweger gives a praiseworthy performance as the cunning Roxie. The character is too difficult to analyze. Do we like or dislike her? Surely, she is a cunning, deceiving person, yet Roxie is sweet, and, umm, coquettish. Catherine Zeta-Jones's Velma is also quite remarkable and hugely memorable. Queen Latifah, oh, what a wonder! Seriously, Queen Latifah astounded me. As the corrupt matron, she gives such a highlighting performance. Her character's most memorable scenes in this film were when she sang the song ''When You're Good to Mama''.

Cinematography and editing are wonderful. I liked it when a character is talking, suddenly, in the background, we see her singing and dancing and expressing her emotions in a musical way. It was as if they were performing instead of talking. And the credits go to the actors, directors, cinematographer and the editors.

On the whole, I really loved ''Chicago'' and I'd recommend it to anybody who would like a light and crazy musical comedy. 



 
  

''My Fair Lady'' and ''Run Lola Run''

My Fair Lady (1964 movie)

Directed by: George Cukor 
Released: 1964
Country: United States

Main cast: Audrey Hepburn, Rex Harrison, Wilfrid Hyde-White,  Stanley Holloway, Jeremy Brett, Theodore Bikel, Gladys Cooper, Mona Washbourne

Genres: Musical, Drama, Romantic, Comedy

Rating: 5 out of 5

Short review

One of the many things I love about musical films are their musical charm- how emotions, feelings, nostalgia, are reflected though songs and music. As of now, my favorite musical film of all time is ''The Sound of Music'', but I think now ''My Fair Lady'' is competing with ''The Sound of Music'' to be my favorite musical film! I absolutely loved George Cukor's ''My Fair Lady''; it's a wonderfully touching film with a powerful musical charm. The film is set in the Edwardian Era. Henry Higgins, an expert in phonetics, one day meets flower seller Eliza Doolittle, a poor young woman who speaks with a Cockney accent. Higgins challenges that he can improve Eliza's accent within six weeks and can present her as a Duchess at the embassy ball. Eliza decides to take phonetics lessons from him so that she can have a status in the society and run a florist shop.  Within weeks, after hard and intense lessons and practices, Eliza's accent improves, and she quite looks aristocratic. At the ball, everybody praises her, some even mistaking that she is a foreign Princess. After the ball, Eliza assumes that Higgins did all these just to win his bet, and leaves his house. Only then the arrogant Higgins realizes how much he has grown accustomed to Eliza.

I simply loved ''My Fair Lady''. Audrey Hepburn gives one of the finest performances of her career. It is a surprising thing that Audrey wasn't nominated for the Oscar for this role. Rex Harrison, as Higgins, is also fascinating. The musical charm of this film is beyond remarks. So many memorable songs are present. My favorite song is ''Wouldn't it be Loverly?'' Oh, such a beautiful song! The script is great. The cinematography is charming. Overall, it is one of the most memorable films I have seen recently.

Run Lola Run (1998 movie)

Directed by: Tom Tykwer
Released: 1998
Country: Germany

Main cast: Franka Potente, Moritz Bleibtreu, Herbert Knaup

Genres: Crime Action-thriller, Drama

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Review

Oh, ''Run Lola Run'' is one of the most technically astounding films I have seen recently. What will I say? It's an amazing, excellently written, directed, and edited film. The story is simply. Lola's boyfriend Manni has lost a lot of money that belonged to his criminal boss. Now, Lola must get that much money before Manni robs a store. She starts running to her father, who might help her. This is shown in three ways, and in each story, there are different results to the incidence and characters. The film's major charm is it's technical aspects. The editing is simply awesome. The sudden fast paces, occasional use of animation, speeding up, and the marvelous musics playing at the background makes it something of a technical achievement. The story is also touching, and the screenplay is, oh, wonderful! Franka Potente as Lola gives a superb acting. ''Run Lola Run'' is nothing short of a technical masterpiece! 

4.5 out of 5

4.5 out of 5 
  

''Les Misérables'' (2012 movie)- Review

Directed by: Tom Hooper
Released: 2012
Country: United Kingdom

Main cast: Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham Carter, Samantha Barks

Genres: Musical Drama

Rating: 4 out of 5

Review

Hugh Jackman is a powerful and mesmerizing actor, and gives a wonderful performance in this 2012 film version of the world famous novel, a movie to fall in love with. As well-made it is, so is it, along with being an excellent adaptation, an emotional journey and captivating musical film. Along with ''Lincoln'', ''Hitchcock'' and ''Silver Linings Playbook'', it falls in my list of the best films of 2012 (I haven't yet seen other best-reviewed films from 2012 like ''Amour'', ''Argo'' or ''Django Unchained'', but I'll soon see them).

It is an adaptation of the musical by Alain Boublil, and Claude-Michel Schönberg, which is based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo, the film has a musical charm added to such a well-known story. Director Tom Hooper, whom you might remember as the director of ''The King's Speech'', amazingly directs this movie from a screenplay by William Nicholson, Alain Boublil, Claide-Michel Schönberg, and Herbert Kretzmer. The film itself is, in a word, wonderful, with wonderful songs and music, the brilliant scenes created with the help of highly praiseworthy cinematography and production design, the score. The dark, beautiful cinematography makes it an extremely good-looking film.

Oh, the story? Here you are:

Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) has been released from prison under parole, after nineteen long years of imprisonment for only stealing some bread. After being released, he is inspired by the grace of a Bishop, he works hard, breaks the parole, and starts a new life with a new identity. 

Eight years have passed, and Jean Valjean is known by a different name, and is now a mayor and factory owner. The prison guard, Javert (Russell Crowe) is still trying to relocate Jean Valjean and punish him.

One of Valjean's workers, Fantine (Anne Hathaway) has a daughter who lives far from her with the owners of an inn. She is fired by the foreman of the factory as she is thought to have no character. She has been informed that her daughter is very sick and she must send money to the innkeepers, for her daughter's treatment. Without any money or a job, she is forced to sacrifice her hair and two teeth, and has to become a prostitute. One day, she hits a man who was behaving badly with her, and Javert decides to arrest her. However, Jean Valjean saves her, takes her to his home, and after knowing everything about her, he decides to reunite Fantine with her daughter Cosette. But sadly, Fantine dies soon.

After some incidences, Jean Valjean's identity becomes known, and Valjean flees away, and after taking Cosette from the innkeepers, he starts a new life with a new identity, with Cosette, who he treats as a daughter. Then after nine years...

The performances are extremely wonderful. Hugh Jackman, as I had mentioned at the very beginning of the review, gives one of the best performances of 2012. Anne Hathaway is excellent, and I think she deserves to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, for which she has been nominated for. Russell Crowe is yet another wonder; and he should have also been nominated for the Oscar for  Best Supporting Actor. Amanda Seyfried is amazing. Samantha Barks, making her film debut as Eponine, is a beautiful and wonderful actress. Eddie Redmayne is good. Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen are present as the cruel innkeepers with whom Cosette had stayed as a child. Bonham Carter and Baron Cohen were previously seen together in another musical movie, ''Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street''. 

It should have got two more Oscar nominations, one for Best Cinematography and another for Best Supporting Actor (Crowe). 

Despite it lacks some emotions and beauty of the original novel, this musical film is indeed a film to fall in love with, a 2 hour 30 minutes of wonderful journey. Beautiful!

4 out of 5


  

''Corpse Bride'' (2005 movie)- Review

Directed by: Tim Burton, Mike Johnson
Released: 2005
Country: United Kingdom, United States

Genres: Animation, Fantasy, Musical, Romantic

Main cast: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson, Tracey Ullman, Paul Whitehouse, Paul Whitehouse, Joanna Lumley, Albert Finney, Richard E. Grant, Christopher Lee

Rating: 4 out of 5

Review

Directed by Tim Burton and Mike Johnson, ''Corpse Bride'' tells a sweet love story. Corpse Bride is a stop-motion animated film. It tells a love story, and deals with a somewhat love triangle, but you start to like and feel sympathy for all three protagonists.

''Corpse Bride'' is set during the Victorian era. Victor Van Dort is a soft-spoken son of nouveau rich parents. Victoria Everglot is the gentle, soft-spoken daughter of bankrupt aristocrats. Victoria's cunning and cold parents want her to marry Victor so that they can restore their wealth.

The nervous Victor and Victoria, upon meeting each other, immediately fall in love with each other. Victor accidently ruins the wedding reharsal and then, going to a forest, practises his wedding vows, and places the ring on a tree root.

But the root is in fact the finger of a dead woman, Emily. Emily believes that Victor has married her. Victor finds himself at the Land of the Dead, with all kinds of spirits around himself. And then? He hears Emily's sad story of how she had died. But Victor wants to return to his place... Meanwhile, Victor's parents, Victoria's parents, and Victoria are waiting for Victor. Where has he gone, they wonder.

We can see that Emily has truly fallen in love with Victor. This is indeed sweet. When she was alive, Emily had loved a person. She decided to elope with him. But on the night of their elopement, the lover killed her, running away with her money and jewels. She waited under the tree until a man sets her free. She believes that Victor truly loves her, setting herself free.

But what makes us feel so amazed is that all three of the protagonists are equally sweet and likeable. Victor, Victoria, and Emily- they all seem wonderful. We start feeling sympathy for all three of them. And the ending was truly heartwarming and touching. This film is very cute.

The film is not very long in length (only 77 minutes). But within these 77 minutes, the film amuses us, amazes us, touches us.

We hear the voices of Johnny Depp (as Victor), Helena Bonham Carter (as Emily), Emily Watson (as Victoria), and many others, including Tracey Ullman, Paul Whitehouse, Joanna Lumley, Albert Finney, Richard E. Grant, Christopher Lee, Michael Gough, Deep Roy, Jane Horrocks, and Danny Elfman, who voice supporting characters.

The music and the songs are very good!

Shortly, Tim Burton's ''Corpse Bride'' is a love story that is so sweet and so touching that it brings a smile in our face! Such a nice movie!


4 out of 5

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007 movie)

Directed by:  Tim Burton
Released: 2007
Country: United States, United Kingdom

Main cast: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Jamie Campbell-Bower, Jayne Wiesener, Ed Sanders

Genres: Musical, Horror, Thriller, Crime

Rating: 4 out of 5

Review

Directed by Tim Burton, this film stars two of the actors whom we can see in many of Tim Burton's films: Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. In addition, the film stars Alan Rickman as the antagonist, Timothy Spall as a secondary antagonist, and Jamie Campbell-Bower in a supporting role.

Johnny Depp plays Benjamin Barker, a.k.a. Sweeney Todd, the antihero of the film. With a tragic past, the character makes an evil plan to take revenge from all those who had wronged him.

The film is adapted from the well-known musical by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler. And this film is dark, violent and full of music.

Most musicals are cheerful and bright. But Sweeney Todd isn't. Rather, Sweeney Todd is a dark, violent movie.

One of the charms of this film is that there is music within dialogues. Many of the dialogues are songs. There are lots of songs in this movie, most of which are excellent.

The film starts as a middle-aged man, Sweeney Todd (played by Johnny Depp) is coming to London with a young man, Anthony (played by Jamie Campbell-Bower). Upon reaching London, through a song, tells him about a barbar. The barber is, as we are shown in the flashback, Todd himself. His name was then Benjamin Barker. He had a beautiful wife, Lucy, and a little daughter. They were very happy.

But the evil Judge Turpin (played by Alan Rickman) is in love with Lucy, and banishes Barker for a crime he didn't commit.

Back in the present day, Barker has changed his name to Sweeney Todd and has come back to London. He goes to the Fleet Street, where he goes to the shop of Mrs. Lovett, who makes the worst meat pies in London. Todd used to live in the flat above Mrs. Lovett's shop.

Mrs. Lovett tells Todd what happened to Lucy. Judge Turpin had raped Lucy, and Lucy poisoned herself using Arsenic. Judge Turpin raise Johanna, Todd's daughter, as his ward.

Upon recognizing Todd, Mrs Lovett takes him upstairs, and returns his silver razors to him.

Then several events follow. Todd wants to take revenge from those who wronged him. And he and Mrs. Lovett think of an evil plan.

The film is violent and dark. The film is musical. The film has a violent, dark tale of revenge. But in spite of being violent, Sweeney Todd is memorable and remarkable because of a number of reasons. First of all, the presentation. The film is presented excellently through music, songs, a bit of humor. At times, it is highly scary. 

The character of Sweeney Todd first appeared as a murderer in the the penny dreadful series in 1846-1847. More additions were made to the story later on. There have been different versions of the story. 

The cast is strong. Johnny Depp's performance as the antihero Sweeney Todd is excellent. Helena Bonham Carter is also quite excellent in her role as Todd's partner in crimes, Mrs Lovett. Alan Rickman's performance as the evil Judge Turpin is remarkable. Timothy Spall also gives a good performance as Mr. Beadle, Turpin's associate.

Jamie Campbell Bower gives an excellent performance as Anthony. Sacha Baron Cohen plays Pirelli, as a barber and secondary antagonist. Ed Sanders is a brilliant child actor and his performance as Tobias is highly noteworthy. Jayne Wiesener, in her relatively small role as Todd's daughter and Turpin's ward Johanna, is okay.

Cinematography is excellent. The sets are excellent as well. Costumes are okay, and makeup deserves praise. Truly, the makeup was remarkable. And also, the music of this film is truly excellent.

Overall, Sweeney Todd is an excellent film, and it is the combination of everything- songs, music, story, script, cast, cinematography, makeup and presentation- that makes this film a great one. The film's scary, and excellent.

4 out of 5

August Rush (2007 movie)

Directed by: Kirsten Sheridan
Released: 2007
Country: United States

Main Cast: Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Robin Williams, Terrence Howard

Genres: Musical, Drama

Rating: 3 out of 5

Review

Music. Music to find someone. To love music. ''August Rush'' is such a film where music is a major theme.

This film is filled with sentimental elements and music. In the beginning of the film, we see Evan Taylor, growing up in a boys' orphanage. Evan is a young boy who can hear music everywhere. He believes one day, he can go back to his parents. He is mocked by boys of the orphanage who call him a ''freak''. This young boy, Evan Taylor, is played by Freddie Highmore, the brilliant actor whom we all know from ''Finding Neverland''.

There is a flashback. We see Evan's parents, Louis and Lyla. Lyla is a cellist and Louis is the lead singer of a band. (They don't know each other). One night, they meet each other, and sleep together on a rooftop.  But the next morning, Lyla has to go. Louis tells her to meet him at a certain place. But when Louis runs to meet her, she doesn't acknowledge him.Later it is known that Lyla is pregnant. After she gives birth, she is said that the baby has died. 

Both Louis and Lyla give up performing...

The baby, now growing up in an orphanage, is Evan Taylor. Eleven years have passed, and one day, Evan ''follows the music'' he hears all around him and ends up alone in the crowdy city. There, he meets a young boy, Arthur, who sings in the streets, and asks him for shelter. Arthur takes him to his home, which is in a condemned theater. He meets Wizard (played by Robin Williams), a man who teaches these homeless children singing. He then hear Evan playing a guitar, and is really very impressed and takes him to sing at the streets and renames him ''August Rush'', knowing one day he will indeed become famous.

At this stage, I was starting to think a bit, ''Is this being a bit familiar?'' Somehow, oh somehow. I was starting to think hard, and then I wondered, ''Hey, isn't Wizard so similar to Fagin of Oliver Twist?'' Oh yes, Fagin! 

When one day police raid the place, everybody run away. August arrives at a church. Very soon, his talents are recognized. He is taken at the Julliard School. He learns excellently. 

Meanwhile, Lyla and Louis are also back to music. Louis is looking for Lyla. Lyla is looking for Evan (or August). August is looking for Louis and Lyla. Will music bring the family back together?

Well, I have given enough details; I won't wanna spoil the movie anymore for you.

Freddie Highmore is a brilliant actor. Like his performance in Finding Neverland, he performs brilliantly in this movie as well. Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Keri Russell both play their roles excellently. Robin William is also okay. So are Leon J. Thomas III as Arthur, and Terrence Howard as Counselor Richard Jeffries.

Entertaining to watch, filled with very excellent music, emotional theme, and a touching story, this film may not be excellent, but is truly touching, presented nicely, and is certainly worth watching.

3 out of 5.

Singin' in the Rain (1952 movie)

Directed by: Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly
Released: 1952
Country: United States
 
Plot synopsis
 
Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont are a famous on-screen couple, but Lina mistakenly thinks that they are really in love, which is denied by Don. When sound is introduced in the films, and Don and Lina's movie is to be a musical, they feel a problem as Lina has a rather nasty voice. Then they find a solution: Kathy Seldon, an aspiring actress, will dub over Lina's voice, while, as Lina urges, Kathy's name will not be shown in the credits. As time passes, Don falls in love with Kathy. What happens then? Will Kathy continue to work uncredited, or will get her deserved fame and attention?
 
Cast
 
Gene Kelly as Don Lockwood
Donald O'Connor as Cosmo Brown
Debbie Reynolds as Kathy Seldon
Jean Hagen as Lina Lamont
Millard Mitchell as R. F. Simpson
 
Achievements
 
Singin' in the Rain was nominated for 2 Oscars, including Best Supporting Actress (Jean Hagen), and won a Golden Globe Award, among other awards and nominations.
 
My Opinion
 
A wonderful movie! A very funny and romantic film! The music of film is truly nice!

4 out of 5.