Giant

Rating: Not Rated

Movie Release Date: November 24, 1956

DVD Release Date: May 31, 2005

Plot 411: The story of three generations of Benedicts, a family rich in land and cattle.

Review: This is a great saga about Bick (Rock Hudson) and Leslie (Elizabeth Taylor) Benedict and their family. When Bick goes east to buy a stud horse, he meets Leslie and marries her. Upon bringing his new bride home, she and his sister (Mercedes McCambridge) buck heads for control over the household. Leslie also encounters ideological differences between her life back east and her life in Texas - wealth vs. poverty, racism against Mexicans and the male dominated culture of Texas. Ranch hand Jet (James Dean), who comes from modest means, is jealous of the Benedicts' rich lives and falls for Leslie, and he sets out to make a name for himself. The family is confronted with real examples of racism when Bick's son (Dennis Hopper) marries a Mexican girl, and Bick must also face his own prejudice. Bick and Leslie must also adjust their dreams for their children as the children grow up and have dreams of their own. They must adapt with the changing times. I enjoyed this movie despite its extra long run time. Some might say it isn't as good as Gone With The Wind, however, I liked it better. For me, its themes and attitudes were more relatable (which is probably just a generational thing), and James Dean and Rock Hudson were quite easy on the eyes.

Watch It: For an interesting look at several generations of life and the society changes experienced through one family.

Skip It: Because this is not Gone With The Wind.

Rebel Without A Cause

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: October 27, 1955

DVD Release Date: September 21, 1999

Plot 411: The new kid in town must stand up for his honor against a local gang and his parents.

Review: James Dean plays Jim Stark in this classic movie about teen angst and generational differences. Jim and his parents move to a new town to escape gossip everytime he gets into trouble. His mother refuses to see acknowledge his bad behavior and his father doesn't possess enough of a backbone to oppose her. His first day of school Jim is confronted by a gang of greasers who taunt him by calling him chicken. To uphold his honor, he must challenge their leader in a race toward a cliff. Not only does this movie call forth a renewed idea of the meaning of dignity and honor, it blatantly shines a spotlight on the lack of a strong family unit and moral code. Surprisingly, this film seems to be more a comment on the social structure of the family than the rebellion of a teen. It takes a serious look at the miscommunication between parent and child, and I can only assume this was a problem especially significant during that time (not that it does not exist today). Also in this film are Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo and Dennis Hopper.

Watch It: For a pointed commentary on the vast differences in thoughts and values of people in the same family.

Skip It: If you think it's all about romanticizing the rebel.

Easy Rider

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: July 14, 1969

DVD Release Date: June 4, 2002

Plot 411: Two friends ride their motorcycles cross country to Mardi Gras and encounter all walks of life along the way.

Review: This movie is a trip - literally, figuratively and heavily drug-induced. It's a road movie that travels from L.A. (Los Angeles) to LA (Louisiana). As the audience, we're along for the ride and encounter all sorts of characters with Wyatt (Peter Fonda) and Billy (Dennis Hopper). The scenery we partake in along the way acts as another character in the film. For me, the best part about the movie was the score, which I think excellently represents America at that time. Overall I found this film to be a little confusing to follow. Perhaps you need drugs to thoroughly appreciate it in its entirety? In any case, I think it's about the death of individual freedom and the hypocricy of an America (and Americans) that only believes in freedom as a theory and not as a practice. I think this message was probably prevalent at the time of the movie's making, but I feel it continues to be current in today's world as well. Having just watched Death of a President, it is clear that individual liberties and freedoms are still being taken away from people. Even though that was a fictional account, we can't turn a blind eye to its implications. Nothing much has changed in the past 40 years since Easy Rider, has it?

Watch It: For a period piece that shook up the world.

Skip It: If you're not interested in movies that make you think. Hopper definitely made this movie to make people (and generations) think.

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