The Jazz Singer (1927), by Albert W. Vogt III
Common trivia will tell you that The Jazz Singer (1927) has the distinction of being the first motion picture featuring sound embedded into the film. It is more typically referred to as the first talking movie. Such factoids should come with an asterisk. For much of the film’s runtime, it is of the silent variety. It has a score, and text… Read more “The Jazz Singer (1927), by Albert W. Vogt III”
Going My Way, by Albert W. Vogt III
When I began The Legionnaire, one of my initial thoughts was to not talk about movies that are self-consciously Catholic. My logic was to cover the ones that have nothing to do with my Faith in order to show how aspects of popular motion pictures can reveal Christianity. Often, this takes some mental gymnastics, but the effort is… Read more “Going My Way, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, by Albert W. Vogt III
A movie like Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) can tell you all you need to know about what Hollywood thinks of Catholicism. It is not all bad. It is not all good, either. In fact, the majority of it is enough to make you clutch your Rosary beads just a little tighter in frustration. On my dissertation committee… Read more “Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Muppet Movie, by Albert W. Vogt III
You have to hand it to Jim Henson, the guy was a genius. Who would have thought that puppets could become as recognizable characters as has his Muppets. I almost hate to say this, but what are essentially toys have gotten to the point where they are seen as real as you and I. That is the way… Read more “The Muppet Movie, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Lion King (1994), by Albert W. Vogt III
Man, you would have thought Disney smeared poop on celluloid and sent it out to theaters for its loyal public to view when it released in 2019 the live-action version of the animated classic The Lion King (2019). I did not see it, so I would not know. Nor do such things stir me to any kind of emotion… Read more “The Lion King (1994), by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), by Albert W. Vogt III
Two years ago my dad was watching Versailles (2015-2018), a dramatic Netflix series about the famous palace of the same name built by King Louis XIV of France. It was my dad who introduced me to history, and many of the films we have watched together over the years have been of the historical variety. After viewing them, our… Read more “The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), by Albert W. Vogt III”
Fantasia, by Albert W. Vogt III
When it is late at night, especially on a Thursday or a Sunday, and I am grading, I like to find something that I can put on in the background. I am not paying complete attention to it because my work is my priority. What I want is something to look up at when my eyes need… Read more “Fantasia, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, by Albert W. Vogt III
If there is a better example of a movie you see one way as a kid, and another as an adult, than Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971), I am unaware of it. It is weird to think about now, but it was only nine years old when I was born. Think back to some of the movies… Read more “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Muppet Christmas Carol, by Albert W. Vogt III
One of the first live stage productions I remember seeing is Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol (1843). What a lot of people do not seem to realize about this classic piece of Victorian literature is that it was originally published as a novella, not a play. Of course, it was soon adapted for the stage, but not by its… Read more “The Muppet Christmas Carol, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Sing 2, by Albert W. Vogt III
As I stood outside of the theater after Sing 2, my youngest niece asked me what I thought of the movie. Ah, to have the innocence of an adolescent once again. . . . I had to go back and see what I thought of Sing (2016), a film that I saw in preparation for the sequel that came out… Read more “Sing 2, by Albert W. Vogt III”
West Side Story (2021), by Albert W. Vogt III
Find me a William Shakespeare story that has not been given a modern twist. Some of these include the more recent takes, like 1999’s 10 Things I Hate About You, which is the Bard’s Taming of the Shrew in a late, turn of the twenty-first century high school setting. Perhaps the Elizabethan poet and playwright’s most iconic work is Romeo and… Read more “West Side Story (2021), by Albert W. Vogt III”
Encanto, by Albert W. Vogt III
There was somewhat of a role reversal for The Legionnaire this past weekend. Usually, Cameron would be the one to see the animated films given my distaste for them. Yet, the past few days had another unusual twist in terms of my typical movie going experience: company. Under normal circumstances, I will look forward to seeing a movie like House of… Read more “Encanto, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Producers (1967), by Albert W. Vogt III
Sometimes you have to make fun of history. For a historian, I do this more than most of my colleagues. It may not be the most professional thing to do, but every once in a while you have to let loose. The past can be deadly serious, particularly World War II. Why do I bring up World War II? Because… Read more “The Producers (1967), by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Wizard of Oz, by Albert W. Vogt III
I am somewhat surprised that The Wizard of Oz (1939) has yet to be suggested. It is one of the most familiar films of all time, and there are a lot of reasons for this fact. For starters, it is one of the first color films in cinematic history. That is quite the accomplishment, and would give it merit by… Read more “The Wizard of Oz, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Tangled, by Albert W. Vogt III
One thing I must hand to Disney for: their movies are usually short and to the point, even the musicals. Lately, I find myself pressed for time in the evening. Part of this is due to my desire to get back to watching Downton Abbey for the third time through, and also owing to an increasingly busy schedule. Downton Abbey is… Read more “Tangled, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Dear Evan Hansen, by Albert W. Vogt III
During my last stint as a youth minister, one night I received a phone call from my pastor. This was not a usual occurrence, but he had been inspired by a musical he had just seen called Dear Evan Hansen. What he wanted was for me to organize an outing for my ministry to go see it as… Read more “Dear Evan Hansen, by Albert W. Vogt III”
In the Heights (Part 2), by Albert W. Vogt III
No, they have not already made a sequel to In the Heights. The other night I got home from watching another run-of-the-mill Hollywood offering in The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard and wanted something special. Because I have a subscription to HBO Max, I thought what could be better than In the Heights? It is certainly the best movie I have seen so far… Read more “In the Heights (Part 2), by Albert W. Vogt III”
In the Heights, by Albert W. Vogt III
Once more, for the record: I do not enjoy musicals. Yet, I chose In the Heights this weekend because I figured it would be the biggest release of the weekend. I mean, I suppose I could have seen Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway, but since I never watched its predecessor, I thought I would be… Read more “In the Heights, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Beauty and the Beast (1991), by Albert W. Vogt III
Another classic Disney film I have never seen has fallen. This time it is Beauty and the Beast (1991). Actually, I saw Beauty and the Beast (2017) before, but I guess the live action version does not count. Because I am only a lukewarm Disney fan at best (despite my commercial habits), I never understood… Read more “Beauty and the Beast (1991), by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Little Mermaid, by Albert W. Vogt III
The Little Mermaid (1989) is a good movie, but I do not care for it. I feel like I need to tread carefully here because I have too many friends that love this movie, and the last thing I want to do is upset them. But we all have those films, no? The ones that everyone acknowledges is good… Read more “The Little Mermaid, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Mary Poppins, by Albert W. Vogt III
Perhaps I reviewed them backwards, having done Saving Mr. Banks (2013) first. Oh well. I blame it on all of you, though I mean that in an entirely humorous fashion. I appreciate your suggestions, even if I do not always enjoy them as much as you do. But, as the old saying goes, there is… Read more “Mary Poppins, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Sound of Music, by Albert W. Vogt III
When my sister and I were still in elementary school, our mother forced us to watch The Sound of Music (1965). We rented it from the video store and we were told that we had to sit down in front of the television for its entire three hours, or else. To this day, I am… Read more “The Sound of Music, by Albert W. Vogt III”
The Greatest Showman, by Albert W. Vogt III
After watching The Greatest Showman (2017), I went on YouTube and took in Screen Junkies “Honest Trailer” for the film. You can check it out here, and it is worth doing so. If you watch it before reading the rest of this review, then you might be in for a bit of repetition. Still, I… Read more “The Greatest Showman, by Albert W. Vogt III”
Frozen II, by Albert W. Vogt III
Very soon into Frozen II, my friend Scott leaned over to me and said, “Holy *%#$ this is the Fifth Element.” It took all my powers of restraint to not laugh out loud at an inappropriate time in the movie. Essentially Elsa (Idina Menzel) is the Fifth Element, and with her powers she is the… Read more “Frozen II, by Albert W. Vogt III”
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