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  #1  
Old 28th November 2015, 09:19 AM
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Default Comedy Film

Review YOUR Favourite Comedy film.

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Comedy is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. These films are designed to entertain the audience through amusement, and most often work by exaggerating characteristics of real life for humorous effect.[1] Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (the black comedy being an exception). One of the oldest genres in film, some of the very first silent movies were comedies, as slapstick comedy often relies on visual depictions, without requiring sound. Later, when the sound came in 1927, Comedy films took another swing, due to laughter can now be caused not only by the burlesque situations, but also the dialogues.

Comedy, unlike other film genres, puts much more focus on individual stars, with many former stand-up comics transitioning to the film industry due to their popularity. While many comic films are lighthearted stories with no intent other than to amuse, others contain political or social commentary (such as Wag the Dog and Man of the Year).
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Old 28th November 2015, 09:22 AM
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Default The Early Bird (1965)

The Early Bird (1965)
The older I get more I notice how life is soooooo different from when I was a kid, amazing to think there is a generation of people who think that's a CD player is old fashioned ,let alone would know what a record player is, And what about a MILKMAN,yes kiddies a man dressed all in white would creep around our houses in the early hours of the morning leaving bottles of his best gold top and his cream. Any how its a good job we have Norman Wisdom films ,there kind of cultural foot notes to a bygone time, he's abit like David Starkey but not as patronising. So for everyone who remembers what a milkman was can it back and enjoy Norman Wisdom as Norman Pitkin a clumsy but good hearted employee of Grimsdale's Dairy, but there in danger of being put out of business by a massive organisation called Consolidated Dairies, especially as there top milkman ,Bryan Pringle as Austin goes around smashing Grimsdales empty bottles on customers doorstep's. This could almost be seen as an anti capitalist themed movie, with its small independent firm being threatened by the giant conglomerate ,a real David and Goliath tale,Imagine an anti capitalist rally organised by Norman Wisdom. There some rather cool miniature model effects that's adds to all the action and chaos, like when Pipkin smashes his way thru a greenhouse on a lawn mower which concludes with a tree falling and smashing into a rolls royce,or when he drives a fire engine into a building and the whole side of Consolidated Dairies factory cracks and splinters.Edward Chapman as Mr. Thomas Grimsdale is sort of a Capt Mainwaring character, the straight man to Pipkins antics, although Chapman was also very good in School for Scoundrels as a nemesis to Ian Carmichael. Kind of film people like to watch on a Sunday afternoon , Although I watched it again Friday night so they can f**k off for a start, sunday afternoons is for dogging.Be that as it may this is the simple slapstick fun that are parents use to enjoy before the Carry on films took over,Simple times for simpler people.I loved it.

out of 5

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Old 28th November 2015, 01:15 PM
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Default Play It Again, Sam (1972)

Play It Again, Sam 1972
Allan Felix (Woody Allen) has recently separated from his wife Nancy (Susan Anspach) who wants to live a more exciting lifestyle, Felix is a film reviewer and spends all his time watching movies and when he's not doing that he is day dreaming about Humphrey Bogart (played by Jerry Lacy), who gives him advice on dating women and how to treat them . Meanwhile his closest friends Dick Christie (Tony Roberts) and Linda (Diane Keaton) keep setting Felix up on blind dates. But Felix's clumsy attempts at trying to impersonate Bogey only leads to failure on the dating front.Like most of Allen's early work he really relies on slapstick humour and great one liners, there's very little of the inner naval gazing you get with some of his later films. What Allen is very good at is mocking himself and his sexual prowess with the ladies , he doesn't mind sending himself up or looking the fool to get the joke across. He makes a fool of himself endlessly trying to chase women, there's a great scene where he's dancing with Keaton who encourages him to dance with woman he see's across the floor ,only to be rebutted with "Get lost, creep.". Many of these scenes although slightly exaggerated, most of us can identify with Felix's clumsy attempt at the dating game , especially if you have ever had a disastrous date , but I'm guessing not many have been beaten up by a couple of bikers, and then had the girl go off with them. "I snapped my chin onto a guy's fist and hit one in the knee with my nose. " Using Bogey and the plot of Casablanca is a really great way of seeing into Felix's mind ,he wants to be the hero but just can't pull it off. and the ending too is very clever as it uses Casablanca to tie up all the loose ends in a nice satisfying way.This is up there with Love and Death, Sleeper and Broadway Danny Rose just marvellous and funny. Also very envious of all the film posters and lobby cards in Felix's apartment.

out of 5
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Old 28th November 2015, 05:40 PM
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Default The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse (2005)

The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse 2005
Like a few other people on its release I was a little bit disappointed with Apocalypse, when your familiar with a tv series you love you tend to want more of the same thing, In hindsight the ideas and story were much better than I remembered. Having an alternative universe where Royston Vasey is slowly being destroyed because the creators of the tv show are going to cancel the series is a stroke of genius and the kind of thing they do in comic book universe all the time. The other noticeable difference is how cinematic the Roydon Vasey universe looks , obviously let loose from the tv budget restraints the effects and sets are on a much larger scale than previously been seen before on the tv series .Its really strange seeing the characters from the television series interact with the real world and the real town of Hadfield, its genuinely confusing and especially when they sit down and watch there own tv show is a real head f@&K.It makes you wonder why someone has not done this before (if they have I haven't seen it) Some of the characters even realise that there two strange to mix with the real world. By accident Herr Lipp, Hilary Briss and Geoff Tipps are inadvertently chosen to travel to London and stop the real actors fron destroying the fantasy world of Royston Vasey .This is the first time ive re-it in quite awhile and I think time has been good to this film , its definitely improved over time,its not perfect but itys got so many good ideas running through the film. Having the actors play themselves, and then have one of the characters then pretend to be one of the real life actors is pure Twilight Zone.Im big LOG fan so and this film has definitely grown on me over the years. And any film with David Warner in it,well it has to be good.

out of 5
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  #5  
Old 29th November 2015, 07:08 PM
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Default Steptoe and Son (1972)

Steptoe and Son (film)1972
I'm as guilty as the next person for over using the words, genius and classic, but when it comes to the script writing of Ray Galton and Alan Simpson then I think its more than justified. Whether its Hancock's Half Hour or Steptoe and Son the duo have created some of the best written British comedy ever made. The characters they have created are so believable and the writing is so poignant yet funny at the same time. Harold's constant striving to better himself and Albert trying to thwart him at every opportunity pretty much touches everything we all go through in live. Although my old dad never had bath in the kitchen sink, but give it time. Problem with tv shows being translated to films, is that every bodys default position is that it will never be as good as the original tv show. This of course is total bollocks , while never actually equalling the shows the films in general are well written and well made,Likely Lads, Porridge, Dad Army (1971 version) and On the Buses films are all very funny and all add to the wonderful universe that these shows live in.Wilfrid Brambell and Harry H. Corbett are just perfect in there roles, although as we al know stereotyping pretty much killed there careers after Steptoe finished, Its amazing to think that Harry H. Corbett was considered to be a British Marlon Brando and a classic actor to boot. The film itself is about Harold falling in love and marrying a stripper Carolyn Seymour as Zita .After a rather diabolical honeymoon in which Albert insists on coming then gets food poisoning, and has to be escorted home by Harold, leaving Zita behind with a lecherous tour guide. The break up of the marriage and subsequent finding out that Harold is a father is equally funny and touching the sense of loss ,and betrayal just proves how good and clever Galton and Simpson's writing is.
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  #6  
Old 30th November 2015, 09:25 PM
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Default On the Buses (1971)

On the Buses (1971) Hammer Film Productions
On the Buses became Britain's top box-office film of 1971
making a profit to Hammer of £532,000. Its box office gross was nearly 28 times the amount of its budget.
As a social commentary on the early part of the 1970's On The Buses would make very confusing viewing for the proverbial Alien looking to see what are recent history was like. Ugly middle aged men with bad teeth chasing young women in mini skirts, and managing to have sex with some of them. In the 1970's being sexiest, and being racist was something that seemed to ingrained into the nations psyche, You can't condone it nor can you ignore it, its just there like flock wallpaper and safari suits. So when a woman is referred to as a bird or a black gentleman is called chalky, what are we supposed to do smash the television in and call Jeremy Corbyn around for some cake and brain washing. We can no more change what happened on television in the 1970's than we can change the British colonization of Africa in the 1800's.What has this got to do with the On the Buses movie, F$%k knows it just that its been a long day. Mean while back at the bus station Stan (Reg Varney) and Bob Grant - Jack Harper are having a terrible time with a bunch of newly hired bus drivers ,only this time they have hired WOMEN bus drivers. Back at the Butler household Olive (Anna Karen) finds herself pregnant, much to the surprise of Michael Robbins as Arthur Rudge. Stan is also facing a dilemma as he is having trouble with the birds, er I mean women. Its not sophisticated or clever and has absolutely nothing to say about mankind and the universe we live in , so it must be the crumpet.

out 0f 5
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Old 1st December 2015, 08:32 PM
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Default The Pink Panther (1963)

The Pink Panther (1963)
It' quite amazing to think that Peter Sellers went from the Goons radio show to British film actor to pretty much Hollywood star mainly due to the Pink Panther film series and Blake Edwards.It also surprised me on re-watching The Pink Panther how much more of an ensemble piece of acting it was instead of being wholly concentrated on the Jacques Clouseau character. In fact Pink Panther has a stellar cast David Niven, Peter Sellers, Robert Wagner, Capucine, and Claudia Cardinale. I love Peter Sellers and the Panther films ,but wonder if they had all been abit more like the first film,and had more of ensemble cast instead on entirely relying on Sellers to carry the film they could of been slightly better. Perhaps Sellers ego wouldn't let that happen,and he needed to be the star attraction of the later films. David Niven is the elusive thief The Phantom, who has his eye on The Pink Panther a diamond with a flaw in the centre that resembles a Panther, but also has his eyes on the young Princess Dala (Claudia Cardinale) .
Blake Edwards has a great talent for comedy. especially when directing Sellers as Clouseau ,although he's not as most destructive as he would in the later films,he's more clumsy in kind of Mr Bean fashion and sadly no Kato Fong in this film which is a shame as Burt Kwouk is about the only actor who can manage to steal a scene from Sellers, and is totally undepreciated as a comedy actor. The Pink Panther is such a well written and well made affair ,and is in a class of its own, its a million miles away from the Ealing comedies which Sellers appeared in,and more amazing still he would make Dr Strangelove a year later.
Also there's a chase with gorilla suits at the end what more could you want.

out of 5
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Old 1st December 2015, 08:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Inspector Abberline View Post
On the Buses (1971)
I watched an episode of this last week on ITV 3/4 whichever. I'd never really seen it for decades however.

The guys were attempting to weld part of their motorbike and side car.

Absolutely piss funny.

I will be buying the complete On the Buses very soon indeed.
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Old 1st December 2015, 08:50 PM
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Originally Posted by Inspector Abberline View Post
The Pink Panther (1963)
It' quite amazing to think that Peter Sellers went from the Goons radio show to British film actor to pretty much Hollywood star mainly due to the Pink Panther film series and Blake Edwards.It also surprised me on re-watching The Pink Panther how much more of an ensemble piece of acting it was instead of being wholly concentrated on the Jacques Clouseau character. In fact Pink Panther has a stellar cast David Niven, Peter Sellers, Robert Wagner, Capucine, and Claudia Cardinale. I love Peter Sellers and the Panther films ,but wonder if they had all been abit more like the first film,and had more of ensemble cast instead on entirely relying on Sellers to carry the film they could of been slightly better. Perhaps Sellers ego wouldn't let that happen,and he needed to be the star attraction of the later films. David Niven is the elusive thief The Phantom, who has his eye on The Pink Panther a diamond with a flaw in the centre that resembles a Panther, but also has his eyes on the young Princess Dala (Claudia Cardinale) .
Blake Edwards has a great talent for comedy. especially when directing Sellers as Clouseau ,although he's not as most destructive as he would in the later films,he's more clumsy in kind of Mr Bean fashion and sadly no Kato Fong in this film which is a shame as Burt Kwouk is about the only actor who can manage to steal a scene from Sellers, and is totally undepreciated as a comedy actor. The Pink Panther is such a well written and well made affair ,and is in a class of its own, its a million miles away from the Ealing comedies which Sellers appeared in,and more amazing still he would make Dr Strangelove a year later.
Also there's a chase with gorilla suits at the end what more could you want.

out of 5
Nice review. I must admit to never being overly fond of the first film. I much prefer A Shot in the Dark and Return of the Pink Panther. The moment in Return... when Clouseau wrecks an office trying to pick up a pen is fried gold.
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Old 2nd December 2015, 06:33 PM
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Default Skin Game 1971

Skin Game [DVD] [1971]
James Garner as Quincy Drew and Louis Gossett, Jr. as Jason O'Rourke are a pair of con men travelling pre civil war USA, they've worked a con where Jason is sold as a slave then Quincy helps him escape and then they split the profits of the sale and move onto another town and do the same thing there again, You don't get that many comedy films that deal with race and slavery ,and before Blazing Saddles (1974) not that many comedies that used the N word either. Compared to Blazing Saddles, The Skin Game is fairly mild in tone and humour , and doesn't come close to its sheer loonesy. But the Skin Game is kind of uncomfortable to watch at times because the whole film revolves around the slave trade and uses it for humour . Louis Gossett, Jr character Jason was born a free man in New Jersey and has to play the part of a slave so he can be sold, In fact if his character even shows any sign of being well spoken or educated he's threatened with violence, Andrew Duggan as Howard Calloway a plantation owner does this in a scene where Jason un wisely tries to talk to Duggan as an equal. So if you can get past the rather unpleasant subject matter what you got is fairly light hearted comedy.James Garner and Louis Gossett, Jr. have a good chemistry together and make a great comedy duo, something they did again in James Garners tv show The Rockford Files a couple of times. If your a fan of films like Support Your Local Sheriff! and Support Your Local Gunfighter and are a big James Garner fan like myself then you'll appreciate his cool laid back likable self. Politically correct it aint, which is why I think it hasn't had a uk release on dvd,then again it may be just another forgotten film.

out of 5
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