The Name of the Rose

The Name of the Rose

Columbia

September 24, 1986

Historical Drama

DVD
D-

Boring and a little gross.  This is based on the Umberto Eco novel and directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, fifteen years before Enemy at the Gates.

The Man Who Would Be King

The Man Who Would Be King

Allied Artists

December 19, 1975

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

I was leaning towards a D+ but things perked up a bit on the train.  This is based on the Rudyard Kipling novella and directed by John Huston, who cowrote the screenplay.

A Fine Madness

 A Fine Madness

Warner Bros.

June 29, 1966

Dramedy

DVD
D-

Connery is an obnoxious, adulterous carpet-cleaner/poet.  Elliott Baker adapted his own novel, and Irvin Kershner directed.

The Entrapment

The Entrapment
20th Century Fox
April 30, 1999
Action
DVD
D+

Art theft and cat & mouse games.  Jon Amiel directed.

Dr. No

Dr. No
United Artists
10 October 1962
Action
DVD
C

I was surprised that I almost liked this first James Bond movie.  (Well, the first quarter hour of it anyway.)  Oddly enough, it's the very "stodginess" of it that caught my interest, along with the pop-art opening credit sequence.  Even Connery is almost genuinely charming and much less smug.  Still, I didn't care about the plot threads.  Terence Young directed.

Diamonds Are Forever

Diamonds Are Forever
United Artists
December 17, 1971
Action
DVD
D

I knew I wasn't going to stick with this, as soon as Bond (Connery in this entry) made a leering pun and then choked a woman with her own bikini top!  (Note that two of the villains appear to be gay, since they hold hands after blowing up a helicopter.)  Still, I'll admit there is style to this series, including the credit sequences.  Hypothetically, I might watch a different entry, maybe with a different lead.  Guy Hamilton directed this one, a couple years after Battle of Britain.

A Bridge Too Far

A Bridge Too Far
United Artists
June 15, 1977
War Drama
DVD
C-

Well, a quarter hour of this (out of three hours!) wasn't too painful, mostly because I sort of liked the wry humor and other personal elements.  Nonetheless, it's a movie about planning a phase of World War II, and that's not really going to hold my interest, even with the promise of stars ranging from Robert Redford to John Ratzenberger.

William Goldman adapted the Cornelius Ryan novel.  Richard Attenborough directed.