Rio Bravo (1959)

Star Rating- 2
Length of FIlm- 141 minutes
Director-Howard Hawks
Cast- John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Angie Dickinson, Walter Brennan, Ward Bond, John Russell, PEdro Gonzales-Gonzales, Estelita Rodriguez, Claude Akins, Malcolm Atterbury

I'm sorry if I offend any die hard western fans, but I'm just not impressed with John Wayne. He's supposed to be the best of the west, same goes with Clint Eastwood, but they don't impress me.

Leading man, John Wayne plays the sheriff who falls in love with a young, mysterious lady named Feathers (Anie Dickinson) who rolls into town on stagecoach. I mean come on...no one's going believe that a 28 year old falls in love with a 52 year old. (I don't know if this is how old the sheriff and Feathers were in the movie, but this is how old the actors are when they filmed the movie).

The best part of the film was the supportive cast. Other than that...there's nothing there.

 In the book, 1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die it states, "Rio Bravo stands as one of the last of its kind, an old-fashioned and fun romp of a Western where the line between good guys and bad guys couldn't be more clear". -Joshua Klein (He is a Chicago-based freelance write and DVD columnist whose work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Washinton Post, and The Onion).

I do agree with Joshua Klein that it is a movie where it's good guys vs. bad guys. So if that's your type of movie; great! It just wasn't a favorite of mine.

For some reason I cannot upload any photos, sorry!

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Star Rating: 3
Length of Film: 130 minutes
Director: Frank Capra
Cast: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers, Beulah Bondi, Frank Faylen, Ward Bond, Gloria Grahame, H.B. Warner, Frank Albertson, Todd Karns, Samuel S. Hinds, Mary Treen, & Virginia Patton
Oscar Nominations: Frank Capra (best picture), Frank Capra (director), James Stewart (director), William Horbeck (editing), & John Aalberg (sound)

This movie is a classic, it has been mentioned in many movies and tv shows. The scene from Bruce Almighty, where lasso's the moon is from IAWL. It's also in an episode of Friends when Phoebe watches the end of Old Yeller for the first time, Monica let Phoebe borrow It's a Wonderful Life. She never finished it and went back to Monica complaining how awful and heartbreaking it is. Monica told her to keep watching, the ending is the best part.

AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes, this film has 3.

• "What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word, and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down."
• "To my big brother George, the richest man in town!"
• "Look, Daddy. Teacher says, “Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings"

Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore) is a mean man! You will HATE him throughout the movie. He played the selfish, rich man very well.

James Stewarts voice got really annoying. I know he can't help it, but it has got this whiny tone to it,  but his wife, Mary Bailey (Donna Reed) was adorable! Especially after the high school dance, in a bathrobe... the bushes... 

I watched this movie over Christmas (yes, I know it's 1/7/12. It has taken me this long to sit down and write it.)