Piccadilly (1929)

Okay, I watched this movie because some feminist blog or another mentioned it and said it was okay. Made in 1929, Piccadilly tells the story of a dishwasher-turned-dancer [Anna May Wong]. Thumbs up, movie, for having an Asian protagonist who is a lady, and two thumbs up for actually employing an Asian woman [unlike every other movie]. Netflix's description promised exciting sex, murder, and nudity [the DVD sports the image of a topless woman], but guess what? No nudity, no sex, and only the mention of a murder. This movie was intensely disappointing and felt like four hours instead of two.

2/5 pizzas

Birth of a Nation (1915)

Why did I watch this? It's 4 hours, it's incredibly racist and problematic, and the majority of the story is boring. I suppose it's way famous and maybe seeing at least one Griffith movie is required of me. One thing is true: You'll never get me to watch Intolerance, D.W. Never.

1/5 pizzas

Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari (1920)

Once in a while German Expressionist filmmaking is totally rad. Sometimes it is not. Since this movie is German, and Wiene's style is "expressionistic," then by the transitive property this movie is rad. Most of it, at least. I generally have trouble watching silent dramas, as I usually get antsy throughout the film, yet I very much enjoy silent comedies and shorts. I know this does not bode well for my career as a professional movie watcher, but I am practicing my silents. Plus I've seen a bunch at this point, so great job. Anyway, besides this movie being melodramatic [which is inevitable for a flick of its ilk] and for me feeling antsy, Caligari was splendid. The scenery was so slanty! That totally set the eerie tone. Plus, the film dealt with death, desire, murderous gazes, vocabulary with Latin roots [somnambulist] and extra round glasses. Good show.

4/5 pizzas