Shergar

Shergar

Blue Rider Pictures

June 1999

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

More enjoyable a movie about horses and terrorists than I expected.  Dennis C. Lewiston wrote and directed.

The Shepherd AKA El pastor

The Shepherd AKA El pastor

Corinth Films

21 November 2016

Drama

DVD
C-

Not much happens in the first quarter hour, but I liked the music and cinematography.  Jonathan Cenzual Burley wrote and directed.

She Sings to the Stars

She Sings to the Stars

Studio Unknown

September 14, 2015

Drama

DVD
D+

The setting is more interesting than the characters.  Jennifer Corcoran wrote and directed.

Shazam!

Shazam!

New Line Cinema

April 5, 2019

Fantasy, Action

DVD
D-

Repeatedly annoying.  David F. Sandberg directed.

The Shawshank Redemption

The Shawshank Redemption

Castle Rock Entertainment etc.

September 23, 1994

Historical Drama, Crime Drama

DVD
C-

Bumped up a notch for the prettiest movie-prison I've ever seen.  This is based on the Stephen King novel Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, and directed by Frank Darabont, five years before The Green Mile (also inspired by King and set in a prison, and which I gave a D), and seven years before The Majestic (which I gave a B-).

Shattered Glass

Shattered Glass

Lionsgate etc.

November 26, 2003

Drama

DVD
C

I don't know if it was the zigzagging narrative or what, but I couldn't quite get into this.  Like, it made me want to read Wikipedia instead.  Billy Ray wrote and directed.

Lü si niang chuang shao lin

Shaolin Death Squad AKA Lü si niang chuang shao lin

First Films

4 December 1976

Action, Historical Drama?

DVD
D+

Not cheesy enough.  This is the first of a ten-pack of "Shaolin Against Wu Tang: Battle Royale of the Martial Arts," but I'm not going to try the rest.  Shao-Peng Chen directed.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Marvel Studios etc.

September 3, 2021

Action, Fantasy, Comedy
DVD
C

Although I'm not into superhero movies, I did relatively like the fantasy opening and the elements of contemporary comedy, as well as the overall look of what I saw.  I just didn't really care about the characters.  Destin Daniel Cretton directed and co-wrote, four years after Glass Castle (which I gave a D) and Just Mercy (which I gave a B+).

Shane

Shane

Paramount

April 23, 1953

Western, Romance

DVD
C-

Of course I read a polyamorous subtext into this but didn't watch past the first quarter hour.  This is based on the novel by Jack Schaefer, and directed by George Stevens.

Shampoo

Shampoo

Columbia

March 13, 1975

Dramedy

DVD
C-

I've watched this once before, but it just felt really downbeat today, not funny and not sexy.  Still, yeah, there are recognizable faces to spot, although I only did a quarter-hour's worth.  Beatty stars and co-wrote, while Hal Ashby directed.

Shall We Dance[?] (2004)

Shall We Dance[?] (2004)

Miramax

October 15, 2004

Drama, Musical?

DVD
D+

They can't even decide if there's a question mark in the title.  Peter Chelsom directed.

Shall We Dance (1937)

Shall We Dance (1937)

RKO

May 7, 1937

Musical
DVD
C+

The plotting is pretty bad here, and not in a fun fever-dream sort of way, like in Flying Down to Rio, more in a "Are we supposed to forgive all this behavior?" sort of way.  Still, the songs and dances are justifiably famous, and I think this movie is worth watching once, maybe twice.  Mark Sandrich directed.

The Shaggy Dog (1959)

The Shaggy Dog (1959)

Disney

March 19, 1959

Children's, Comedy (tuned out before the "fantasy" part)

DVD
C-

I saw this a few times as a kid but never really warmed up to it like I did to the '70s sequel, The Shaggy D.A. (which I own on DVD).  Watching it today, I think it's that, one, none of the characters is particularly sympathetic, and two, it has a choppy feel.  Oh, and three, it needs more Annette.

This is based on Felix Salten's novel The Hound of Florence and directed by Charles Barton.

Shaft (2019)

Shaft (2019)

New Line Cinema etc.

June 14, 2019

Action, Comedy

DVD

D

I actually would've gone for a D+, because of the humor, and then it used Islamophobia and transphobia for throwaway laugh-lines.  And, no, I haven't seen anything else in the franchise.  Tim Story directed, seventeen years after Barber Shop.

Shadows (1959)

Shadows (1959)

British Lion

November 11, 1959

Drama

DVD
C-

I wasn't drawn in, but I liked the period details.  Cassavetes wrote and directed.

Shadows (1922)

Shadows (1922)

Preferred Pictures

November 10, 1922

Drama

DVD
D+

Chaney plays the most sympathetic character, but yes, it's a stereotypical "Chinaman."  Note that a completely different actor named Harrison Ford shows up close to the quarter hour.  Tom Forman directed.

Sex and the City: The Movie

Sex and the City: The Movie

New Line Cinema etc.

May 27, 2008

Comedy

DVD
C-

I never watched much of the TV show, but I was aware of it generally.  I didn't find this particularly sexy, or romantic, or funny, or touching.  But, yeah, I've definitely seen worse modern-ish comedies.  This is indirectly based on the writings of Candace Bushnell, and the director Michael Patrick King co-wrote the screenplay.

The Seventh Seal AKA Det sjunde inseglet

The Seventh Seal AKA Det sjunde inseglet

AB Svensk Filmindustri

16 February 1957

Historical Drama

DVD
C

I didn't really understand what was going on, but I could see how people could groove on this.  Bergman wrote and directed.

Seven Samurai AKA Shichinin no Samurai

Seven Samurai AKA Shichinin no Samurai

Toho

26 April 1954

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

Not my thing but I've seen worse in this genre.  Akira Kurosawa directed and co-wrote.

Seven Days in Entebbe

Seven Days in Entebbe

Working Title Films etc.

March 16, 2018

Historical Drama, Action
DVD
D

Considering it felt like propaganda and it's about a hijacking, it could've been worse.  José Padilha directed.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

MGM

August 6, 1954

Musical, Historical Comedy
DVD
D

As unpalatable as I always imagined, although I did tune out before the kidnappings.  This is based on Stephen Vincent Benet's short story "The Sobbin' Women," and directed by Stanley Donen, whose movies in this project have been hit or miss.

Seven Alone

Seven Alone

Doty-Dayton Production

December 20, 1974

Historical Drama

DVD
D-

Sexist and amateurish (including dialogue being out of sync).  This is based on the book by Honore Morrow, and directed by Earl Bellamy.

The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T

The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T

Columbia

July 1, 1953

Children's, Fantasy, Musical

DVD
D+

My library files this under "Seuss," and I had been curious for years about this combination of talents, but I found it more disturbing (in a psychoanalytic way) than entertaining.  Roy Rowland directed.

The Serpent and the Rainbow

The Serpent and the Rainbow

Universal

February 5, 1988

Horror

DVD
D

At least the scenery and jaguar were nice to look at.  This is based on the nonfiction book by Wade Davis and directed by Wes Craven.

Serious Moonlight

Serious Moonlight

Magnolia Pictures

December 4, 2009

Horror

DVD
D-

Meg Ryan hopes for a Stockholm Syndrome reconciliation with Timothy Hutton.  Cheryl Hines directed.

Serenity (2005)

Serenity (2005)

Universal etc.

September 30, 2005

Sci-Fi

DVD
D-

Back when I socialized with pretentious Seattle people, invariably someone would sing the praises of Firefly.  Watching a quarter-hour of this today, and seeing how shockingly bad it is (especially the acting), I'm glad I didn't give in to peer pressure and sample the franchise then.  Joss Whedon wrote and directed.

Seraphine

Seraphine

Diaphana Films

1 October 2008

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

A middle-aged woman has about ten jobs but still steals from a church.  Martin Provost directed and co-wrote.

A Separation AKA Jodâyi-e Nâder az Simin

A Separation AKA Jodâyi-e Nâder az Simin

Filmiran

1 February 2011

Drama

DVD

C-

Downbeat but not bad.  Asghar Farhadi wrote and directed, seven years before Everybody Knows AKA Todos lo saben.

The Sense of an Ending

The Sense of an Ending

BBC Films etc.

14 April 2017

Drama

DVD
C-

I wasn't really drawn into the protagonist's past or his present.  Ritesh Batra directed.

Selma

Selma

Harpo Films etc.

November 11, 2014

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

I kept wishing I was watching a documentary instead, because both Dr. King and President Johnson felt miscast.  Ava DuVernay directed, a couple years before Middle of Nowhere.

Selena

Selena 

Warner Bros. etc.

March 21, 1997

Historical Drama, Musical

DVD
C-

I wasn't really drawn in, but the music was nice.  Gregory Nava directed and wrote.

See No Evil, Hear No Evil

See No Evil, Hear No Evil

Tristar

May 12, 1989

Comedy

DVD
D+

To be honest, I'm surprised it's not worse than it is, with this concept.  Wilder co-wrote, and Arthur Hiller directed, a couple years after Outrageous Fortune, which has some of the same problems of shrillness and pathetic humor.

The Secrets We Keep

The Secrets We Keep

Bleecker Street etc.

September 16, 2020

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

I would've rated this lower if I hadn't tuned out before it got violent.  Yuval Adler directed and co-wrote.

Secretariat

Secretariat

Disney

October 8, 2010

Historical Drama, Sports Drama

DVD
C-

As usual, the horses are more interesting than the people.  This is based on William Nack's book and directed by Randall Wallace, four years before Heaven Is For Real.

Secret Window

Secret Window

Columbia etc.

March 12, 2004

Drama

DVD
D+

Bumped up a notch for the scenery.  Director David Koepp adapted the Stephen King novel.

Secret Sunshine AKA Miryang

Secret Sunshine AKA Miryang

Pine House Films etc.

17 May 2007

Drama

DVD
C-

I found the town more interesting than the characters.  Director Lee Chang-dong adapted Chung-Joon Lee's novel (or short story) "The Story of a Bug."

The Secret Life of Pets

The Secret Life of Pets

Illumination Entertainment etc.

July 8, 2016

Children's, Fantasy, Comedy
DVD

C-

Likes: the "scenery" and "sets," voice acting, music.  Dislikes: the character design and writing.  Chris Renaud directed, three years after Despicable Me 2.

The Secret in Their Eyes AKA El secreto de sus ojos

The Secret in Their Eyes AKA El secreto de sus ojos

Haddock Films etc.

13 August 2009

Crime Drama

DVD
F-

Not only is this about a cold case of a rape-murder, but everyone in the movie seems to have a sick sense of humor.  Director Juan José Campanella co-adapted the novel La pregunta de sus ojos (The Question in Their Eyes by Eduardo Sacheri.

Secret Garden (1993)

Secret Garden (1993)

Warner Bros.

August 13, 1993

Children's, Historical Drama

DVD
C-

Clumsy adaptation of the Frances Hodgson Burnett novel which was one of my childhood favorites.  Agnieszka Holland directed.

Secret Ballot AKA Ra'ye makhfi

Secret Ballot AKA Ra'ye makhfi

Payam Films etc.

4 September 2001

Dramedy

DVD
C-

Slow but at least it's set on an island.  Babak Payami directed and co-wrote.

Searching (2018)

Searching (2018)

Sony Pictures Rising etc.

August 31, 2018

Mystery
DVD
B

One of the best contemporary mysteries I've ever seen, although not flawless.  (Messing sadly is not on Cho's level in this.)  It uses modern websites, apps, etc., to tell its story, without ever seeming gimmicky, and the title works on at least two levels, with Cho as the worried father searching on the Internet as he searches for his daughter.  That it is set in a modified version of a city I know well (San Jose, CA) adds to the feeling of heightened reality.  Aneesh Chaganty directed and co-wrote.

The Sea Wolves

The Sea Wolves

Lorimar Productions

8 August 1980

War Drama

DVD

D+

I appreciate that this has more banter than action.  Not particularly good banter, but shrug.  This is based on James Leasor's novel Boarding Party, and directed by Andrew V. McLaglen.

The Sea of Grass

The Sea of Grass

MGM

April 25, 1947

Western

DVD
C-

At least we're not supposed to like Spencer Tracy in this movie.  This is based on the Conrad Richter novel and directed by Elia Kazan.

The Sea Inside AKA Mar adentro

The Sea Inside AKA Mar adentro

New Line etc.

2 September 2004

Drama

DVD
D+

Bumped up a notch for actual shots of the sea.  Alejandro Amenábar directed and co-wrote, three years before Los Otros.

Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse

Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse

Paramount etc.

October 30, 2015

Horror, Comedy
DVD
C-

Not as terrible as I'd expected.  Christopher Landon directed, four years before Happy Death Day 2U, which was also better than it should be but not quite watchable for me.

The Score (2001)

The Score (2001)

Paramount etc.

July 13, 2001

Crime Drama

DVD
D

Of interest only to see what Brando looked like at that point.  Frank Oz directed.

Schultze Gets the Blues

Schultze Gets the Blues

Studio Unknown

23 October 2003

Dramedy

DVD
D+

Uneventful.  Michael Schorr wrote and directed.

Scenes of a Sexual Nature

Scenes of a Sexual Nature

Tin Pan Films etc.

3 November 2006

Dramedy
DVD
D+

Unappealing (personality, not appearance) people, thankfully not having sex.  Ed Blum directed.

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

Lionsgate etc.

August 9, 2019

Mystery

DVD
C-

I appreciate that this is more "boo" than gory, but I thought the setting was more interesting than the characters.  This is based on the children's book series by Alvin Schwartz, although this movie seems aimed more at teens.  Guillermo del Toro co-wrote but André Øvredal directed.

Scarface (1932)

Scarface (1932)

United Artists

April 9, 1932

Crime Drama

DVD
C-

Not my kind of movie of course, but I did like the composition of some of the shots, like the murder in silhouette.  This is based on the book by Armitage Trail, and co-directed by Howard Hawks and Richard Rosson.

Saw

Saw

Lionsgate etc.

October 29, 2004

Horror

DVD
D-

Saved from an F+ by the "puzzle-solving" aspect.  Director James Wan, who later did Insidious, co-wrote with Leigh Whannell, who plays one of the two leads.  (I tuned out when there were still only two characters.)

Saving Sloane

Saving Sloane

Lionsgate

October 26, 2021

Children's, Drama

DVD
C-

This is cliched but better than I expected.  Steve Franke wrote and directed.

Saving Silverman

Saving Silverman

Sony Pictures Rising etc.

February 9, 2001

Comedy
DVD
C-

I saw this in the theater and found it funny, although I remember the critics bashing it.  Even now, there are more painful comedies I've tried for this project, and the cast helps.  But I didn't feel like watching it all the way through again.  Dennis Dugan directed, one of five of his comedies I've rejected so far on this project.

Saving Mr. Banks

Saving Mr. Banks

Disney etc.

December 20, 2013

Historical Drama

DVD
C

I saw this in the theater and disliked the basic concept, although there were moments I liked.  The truth is, the "Mr. Banks" aspect of Mary Poppins mars that movie, so getting the backstory to it feels pointless to me.  John Lee Hancock directed, before The Founder (which I gave a B-) and The Little Things (which I gave a D).

Save Yourselves!

Save Yourselves!

Bleecker Street etc.

October 2, 2020

Comedy

DVD

C-

This felt like a not particularly funny satire of many acquaintances I knew in Seattle in the 2000s (although the couple is from Brooklyn and this is recent).  And I guess it becomes sci-fi comedy sometime after the first quarter hour.  Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson co-directed and co-wrote.

Santa Clause

Santa Clause

Disney etc.

November 11, 1994

Comedy, Fantasy, Children's

DVD
C-

Tim Allen's character is a jerk but the movie is almost funny.  John Pasquin directed, and this was actually released the same day as his Miss Congeniality 2.

Sanjuro

Sanjuro

Toho

1 January 1962

Historical Drama

DVD

D+

I like the music.  This is based on the novel Hibi Heian, by Shûgorô Yamamoto, and directed by Akira Kurosawa.

The Sandlot

The Sandlot

20th Century Fox

April 7, 1993

Sports Drama, Sports Comedy, Historical Drama, Historical Comedy, Children's

DVD

D+

Not my kind of movie, although I couldn't help seeing it going in a dark-comedy direction with Leary cast as the stepfather.  David Mickey Evans directed, a decade before National Lampoon's Barely Legal.

San Quentin

San Quentin

Warner Bros.

August 7, 1937

Crime Drama

DVD
C-

Of course I cared more about the whole soap-opera subplot (warden falls for singer with criminal brother) than, you know, the actual prison stuff.  Lloyd Bacon directed, after 42nd Street and before Action in the North Atlantic, with Bogie.

Samurai X: The Motion Picture

Samurai X: The Motion Picture

Gallop etc.

20 December 1997

Anime, Historical Drama, Action

DVD
D+

I've seen some of the Rurouni Kenshin TV series, but I didn't feel drawn into this, no pun intended.  Tsuji Hatsuki directed.

Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto

Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto

Toho

26 September 1954

Historical Drama, War Drama

DVD
D+

Although I'm not into these genres, the bond between the best friends bumps this up a notch or two.  Hiroshi Inagaki directed and co-wrote.

Salvation (2014)

Salvation (2014)

Nordisk etc.

Western

22 May 2014

DVD
D-

Very manipulative but I appreciated that the family at least tried to fight back on the stagecoach.  Kristian Levring directed and co-wrote.

Saltwater

Saltwater

Kerrdog Productions etc.

July 15, 2012

Romance

DVD
C-

I guess it's not a romcom if the two men argue about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" on their first date.  Charlie Vaughn directed.

The Salt of Life AKA Gianni e le donne

The Salt of Life AKA Gianni e le donne

Zeitgeist Films

11 February 2011

Dramedy?

DVD
D+

My mind wandered even more than the main character's eyes.  Gianni Di Gregorio directed, co-wrote, and stars.

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

BBC Films etc.

10 September 2011

Dramedy

DVD
C-

I can see why people like this, although the characters and story didn't catch my interest.  This is based on the novel by Paul Torday and directed by Lasse Hallström, who did Chocolat, as well as a bunch of movies I've rejected for this project.

The Saint (1997)

The Saint (1997)

Paramount etc.

April 4, 1997

Action

DVD

D-

Cheesy and not in a good way.  Phillip Noyce directed, after Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger.

Sail a Crooked Ship

Sail a Crooked Ship

Columbia Pictures

December 1961

Comedy
DVD
C-

Bumped up a notch for the intriguing cast, although I didn't feel they were given anything funny to work with.  This is based on the Nathaniel Benchley novel, and directed by Irving Brecher.

Saikaku Ichidai Onna

The Life of Oharu AKA Saikaku Ichidai Onna

Shintoho

17 April 1952

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

Not really a story I was interested in, but an occasional interesting line.  Director Kenji Mizoguchi helped adapt the 17th-century book The Life of an Amorous Woman by Ihara Saikaku.

Safety Not Guaranteed

Safety Not Guaranteed

Big Beach, etc.

January 22, 2012

Comedy, Sci-Fi

DVD
B-

I enjoyed this movie at the time, but I honestly haven't thought about it in a decade, so it was interesting to watch it today and not know how it would end.  It does hold up to a second viewing, although I can definitely see some loose plot threads.  I'd say, watch it for the lovely Washington State scenery and for the wary sweetness of its story and its protagonist.  Colin Trevorrow directed.

Safe House (2012)

Safe House (2012)

Universal etc.

February 10, 2012

Action

DVD
D-

Boring, violent, maybe racist.  Daniel Espinosa directed, five years before Life.

Saboteur

Saboteur

Universal Pictures etc.

April 24, 1942

Mystery

DVD
C-

This is so early in Bob Cummings's career, his 25-year-old character is referred to as a kid.  Hitchcock directed and co-wrote, including with Dorothy Parker.

Rust Creek

Rust Creek

IFC Films etc.

May 3, 2018

Horror

DVD
D+

I appreciate that the heroine isn't a total idiot.  Jen McGowan directed.

The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming

The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming

United Artists

May 25, 1966

Comedy
DVD
D+

I'd heard of this movie for years, but the first quarter hour is kind of flat.  This is based on Nathaniel Benchley's novel The Off-Islanders, and directed by Norman Jewison.

Rushmore

Rushmore

Touchstone etc.

October 9, 1998

Dramedy

DVD
D+

I could kind of see what they were going for, but I didn't find it either funny or insightful.  Also, Wes Anderson's style appeals to me less over time, and he directed this, as well as co-wrote it with Owen Wilson.

The Runaways (2019)

The Runaways (2019)

Slackjaw Film

4 March 2019

Drama

DVD

B-

I'm not sure how well this film all hangs together, but the Northern English scenery is gorgeous and the acting for the trio of young siblings is believable.  Richard Heap wrote and directed.