A Little Romance

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: April 27, 1979

DVD Release Date: January 7, 2003

Plot 411: An intelligent, young American finds her soulmate in a young Frenchman and falls in love forever.

Review: This is a great little movie about young love starring Diane Lane as Lauren and Thelonious Bernard as Daniel. Lauren is an American student living in France with her mother and third step father. She feels isolated and alone because she has nothing in common with her mother or her world. Her mother is beautiful and flighty. She's obsessed with material things and status (and is a very Knots Landing-ish woman). Lauren is extremely intelligent and has no one she can confide in. She hides who she really is so that she doesn't attract attention to herself and to avoid being labeled as different. When she meets Daniel, she realizes that she's not alone and the two embark on a journey of self-discovery and first love. Along the way they meet Julius (Laurence Olivier), who inspires Lauren as he spins beautiful tales. Olivier is great in this role and is so funny. I enjoyed watching Lane and Bernard together onscreen. The innocence they shared is endearing and pure. It makes you think of simpler times and wonder when did those times end. Lane radiates and is so beautiful onscreen. This is a perfect little story about the marvelous experience of first love.

Watch It: To shed your cynical views of love and reintroduce yourself to something magical.

Skip It: If you need to watch things with deep significance. Even as rom-coms go, this one isn't as full bodied as others are. It's a light picture and doesn't tread to deeply into emotional entanglements.

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Spartacus

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: October 7, 1960

DVD Release Date: March 31, 1998

Plot 411: A slave raises an army of slaves to fight against Rome for their freedom.

Review: This was one of those classics that I'd never seen before so that was the main reason I watched it. However, I ended up liking it a lot. The movie was restored from its original form so the color had that weird orange tint, but other than that it was fine. The plot, of course, is an epic and I can understand why it won so many awards. The struggle of one man with little education who influenced thousands is inspiring. This is one of the greatest stories that highlights the struggle of the poor (in this case, slaves). It's a real underdog-type movie. Needless to say, the acting is wonderful. Kirk Douglas plays the lead while his supporting crew includes Laurence Olivier, Tony Curtis and Jean Simmons. There are huge battle scenes with hundreds of extras and as you know, this is one of the main reasons I like watching these older films. No CGI extras needed. Each extra is decked out in his wardrobe and is an individual whether or not he is directly in front of the camera. The amount of technique and skill involved to shoot these types of scenes must be enormous, especially without the aid of modern computer technology. It makes this movie that much more incredible.

Watch It: For a look at classic film-making techniques telling an epic story on an epic stage.

Skip It: If your idea of a Roman battle is Troy (2004). If that's the case, just forget about it.

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