Pandora's Box and Why is Jack The Ripper Here?

Film: Die Buchse Der Pandora (Pandora's Box)
Year: 1929
Where I saw it: Netflix

This film was great!  Little bit love story, little bit femme fatal story and all mixed in the setting of the Roaring Twenties.  I was surprised at some of the content of this film.  I had always assumed older films were held to more rigorous censorship and therefore could tackle topics which were considered "blue".  The main character is a prostitute and the film follows her exploits.  Now, the next question is, "Do we get to see boobs?"  Nope, but you do see her many clients and how they all fall for her and MUST have her to themselves.

Another controversial point (for the time) in this film is the fact that one of her admires is a lesbian.  And at one point they even (gasp) dance together.  The question of boobs is probably coming up again and I have to say no.

So the prostitute eventually marries one of her admirers and right after (and I MEAN right after) the groom realizes this may have not been the best idea and he shoots himself.  The police think she killed him and the second half of the film is how she lives on the streets and keeps ahead of the law.

And here's where things get weird.  This film takes place in the Twenties but for the last scene the film takes place in the late 1800's.  "Oh, do you mean a prequel of sorts?"  Nope.  No prequel, no dream sequence, no Doc showing up in a Delorean.  Just for some reason we are now in the late 1800's.  And who does she meet?  Jack The Ripper.  Spoiler Alert:  she dies.

One Last Point - If you want to see some boobs, go to a Strip Joint, but do not marry her.

Thanks for reading! - Scott Scene

Metropolis and Woman Who Seems to be Afraid of Flashlights

Film: Metropolis
Year: 1927
Where I saw it: Netflix

Unless you are a science fiction fan and want a strong dose of "you've come a long way baby" or you are interested in the history of special effects, I wouldn't recommend this one.  Being a silent film which clocks in at almost two and a half hours long, it can easily lose your interest.  Now don't get me wrong.  I liked it.  The effects by today's standards may seem hokey but must have blown the minds of people back in the day.  It's a neat blend of future society and medieval imagery.  But if you're not a fan of the genre, then you might want to let this one pass.

The main female lead does an amazing job.  She plays two parts.  One, a serine priestess trying to bring comfort to her people and the other being an evil robot clone.  (This is why I say you have to be a fan.  Me:  Evil robot clone?  LET'S DO THIS THING!!!  My wife:  Evil robot clone?  You're an idiot.)  She does seem to be afraid of flashlights though.  There's one scene where the bad guy is going to catch her.  He does this by shining what looks to be a flashlight on the floor and on the walls in order to scare her into his trap.  It's great.  The main male lead is awful.  If one of your goals in life is to over act everything you do then this guy would be a great role model.  For example, in one scene someone knocks at the door.  His reaction to this is equivalent to someone telling him that they just slowly ran over his dog and then stuffed it with candy and gave it to the parents of a small child because they needed a pinata.

One last point - The film takes place in the year 2026.  Get on it science!  I'm still waiting for my hoverboard!

Thanks for reading! - Scott Scene

Nosferatu and Harker's Creepy Boss

Film: Nosferatu
Year: 1922
Where I saw it:  DVD

So here goes nothing.  Nosferatu.  This film is creepy.  I mean everything's creepy.  The vampire's creepy, the other cast members are creepy and I have no proof, but I'm pretty sure the crew must be creepy as well.  But the creepiest person by far in the film is not the vampire but Harker's boss Reinfield.  Just watch the opening scene and you'll see what I mean.  No one would work for this guy much less do anything he says.  Picture yourself at where ever you work then picture your boss saying to you, "Hey, your next assignment may cause a little pain and blood."  Unless you work for the UFC or you happen to star on Deadliest Catch, you would probably be concerned.  Never mind the fact that your boss looks like a gremlin crossed with one of the Keebler elves with a dash of Humpty Dumpty. 

Being a silent film, you might think it would have trouble holding your attention but it doesn't.  I enjoyed it very much.  But I did have trouble telling whether scenes took place in the day or at night (all films had to be shot in the day or well lit area's at the time because of camera limitations).  For example, there's one scene where the vampire is walking down the street carrying his coffin under his arm in what looked to be the middle of the day and no one seemed to care or even notice.

One last point, Van Helsing, is not the Vampire Hunter we all know and love in this film.  In this film, he only teaches Biology to some extras and then we never see him again.

Thanks for reading!  - Scott Scene