Film Commentary by CGK

For now, most films will be reviewed with a brief plot summary followed by the commentary section.

After some consideration, I have decided to include ratings at the end of the reviews for each of the movies, ranging from 0 (worst) to 10 (best). Also, the directors' names are included on this index and with the reviews but if you want the full cast, crew, or other general information about the film, try the IMDB.

Note: The number ratings are somewhat meaningless and are present just for curiosity's sake. They include subjective and personal biases and are not meant to say one film is better than another. They might change at any time and are often low compared to others' ratings. They also may reflect: the copy of the film I saw, preconceived expectations, the external conditions, what kind of mood I was in when I watched the film, enjoyment, incomprehension, if I would like to see the film again, or how much the film spoke to my personal concerns. They hopefully represent how the film felt, without analyzing it too much.

American Graffiti (1973, Lucas)

The Ballad of Narayama (1983, Imamura)

The Battle Over Citizen Kane (1996, Epstein and Lennon)

Battleship Potemkin (1925, Eisenstein)

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946, Wyler)

The Bicycle Thief (1948, De Sica)

The Birth of a Nation (1915, Griffith)

The Burmese Harp (1956, Ichikawa)

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1919, Wiene)