My movie review site

Yesterday (2/7/2008) my wife and I went for a date and watched this movie.

In between the sexual references, politically incorrect scenes and racial stereotyping this movie also gave insight about being faithful when you meet your one true love, being free to follow your dreams, aiming for racial harmony and parent and child relationships.

To me, it seems that the writers, cast and crew had potential to create a clever movie based on wit and a good story line but did not reach a high standard as they resorted to crude comedy and visual effects.

Should you watch this movie, be warned, you will leave the cinema with images that you may not want to remember.

Out of 5 (where 5 would be for the movie I'd love to make) I'd probably give an overall score of two and a half.

HALLELUJAH TRAIL - Burt Lancaster, Lee Remick, Jim Hutton, and Pamela Tiffin (DVD 2001).

Last Sunday I watched the movie 'Hallelujah Trail' with my wife, my parents and my children. To me this was quality time (159 mins) as a family and I can safely say we laughed together at classic scenes from this movie.

Without giving away the story line the scenes I most enjoyed were:

The battle scene with the cavalry, the whisky-maker/entrepreneur, three tribes of American Indians, the unionists, the female temperance society and the miners from Denver.

The Indians racing off with their cargo of exploding champagne as trade for the women in the temperance society that were captured by them the night before.

Cora brashley entering the Colonel's bathroom room while he was having a bath and then seeing the reverse when Colonel Gearhart enters Cora's tent while she baths in a covered portable bath at the campsite.

The Oracle's eyes lighting up when he received the right amount of whiskey and his visions (Hallelujah) became clear.

Finally, even the old fashioned interval sign with music from the movie being played.

Personally, I enjoyed the plot that mixed together differences between men and women, the cavalry and Indians, temperance and whiskey drinking.

I did find the editing of the opening scenes, where the calvary mistakenly try to save their fort from attack, quite out of character with the rest of the film. In these scenes, the Cavalry ride in daylight but enter the fort in pitch black darkness. However, as the film progresses this oversight is soon forgotten and the significance of the scenes that follow are realised as the relationships are layed out for the rest of the film.

As a result, I would recommend this film to anyone who enjoys ageless humour and hope that the politically incorrect messages may provide a laugh in context of the era it was created.