Casablanca

Pros: Everything!
Cons: That would be a no!

26 November 1942, a day that probably means nothing to no-one (unless of course you happen to have been born on that particular day, but it will mean nothing to most other people) yet it's a day that should go down in history as the birth of a ...

Pros: Only the most important things: story and acting.
Cons: The hype might keep you away from it as long as it did me.

Casablanca is one of the usual suspects. You know what I mean. The Battleship Potemkin, Metropolis, Citizen Kane, Seven Samurai, North by Northwest, 2001: A Space Odyssey. You know the type, the films ...

Pros: It has nearly everything most people want in a movie.
Cons: It hurts a little, but it's a good hurt.

It is fairly easy to pick the worst movie ever made; a lot of people are in agreement that this egregious honor goes to Plan 9 from Outer Space. A task much harder is to pick the best movie ever made. There are many contenders ...

Pros: Everything.
Cons: Nothing...not even that costuming gaffe.

(To the reader: This review is about the original MGM DVD release and NOT about the 2-disc edition released by Warner Home Video in 2003.) Casablanca! The very name conjures up an exotic mix of adventure, intrigue, heroism, selfless sacrifice, and ...

Pros: Too many to mention here
Cons: If you find one, let me know

"Casablanca" is one of the most beloved films in the history of cinema. Every key player in this Oscar-winning picture of 1943 is remembered for their part in this unforgettable film. Some people have seen this film so many times, they know every word...

Pros: As close to perfect as Hollywood gets, everything came together like a dream on this movie: direction, writing, music, cinematography and--of course--a first-rate cast
Cons: One or two lines of sappy dialogue--but ONLY one or two!

On January 6, 1942, screenwriter Robert Buckner sent a memo to Hal Wallis, the legendary producer at Warner Brothers studios regarding a play he’d just read: “Dear Hal, I don’t believe the story or the characters. Its main situations and the basic...

Pros: great lines, tight direction, great performances, compelling story
Cons: melodrama, one flashback too many

Captain Renault: What in heaven's name brought you to Casablanca? Rick: My health. I came to Casablanca for the waters. Captain Renault: The waters? What waters? We're in the desert. Rick: I was misinformed. Major Strasser: Are you one of ...

Pros: An absolute gem!
Cons: None

A film which many critics consider the finest in history is Director Michael Curtiz' "Casablanca". I happen to think it is right on up there, although I've never pinned myself down to a formal ranking of my very, very favorites. The ...

Pros: Dialogue, performances
Cons: Doesn't live up to its own hype

I remove nothing from Casablanca. It's a good movie, even a great one. But when you already watch a movie for the first time bursting with over-the-top expectations, a movie has to be better than just great. And when I first saw Casablanca back in my ...

Pros: Considered one of the cinematic greats...
Cons: ...but to 2004 eyes it'll be ever so dated.

Continuing the tireless struggle of Catching Up With Movies I Should Have Seen By 21, I snuggled up with my paramour (if one's teddy bear can be considered a paramour and why not I say) to sit down and watch the DVD of Casablanca. Directed by ...

Pros: A mythical classic, a movie which comes up often in conversations
Cons: Lower your expectations dramatically, and you might like it!

Until last week, I was one of the few Americans who had not seen the cult movie "Casablanca". Well, I had seen some famous scenes here and there, but never the whole thing. This time I decided to rent the DVD and try to figure out what makes this movie ...

Pros: This is simply one of Hollywood's greatest achievements. Ever.
Cons: Not much (aside from Lauren Bacall's face in the documentary. YIKES.)

Rick: Who are you really, and what were you before? What did you do, and what did you think, huh?

Ilsa: We said no questions.

Rick: Here’s looking at you, kid.



The other night I was feeling a bit...

Pros: speechless
Cons: .

I love _Casablanca_. Like a truffle, it might escape the uninitiated few who might disregard it as just another garden-variety romantic flick. But most people who have seen it will agree that it is a succulent tribute to love, war, and humanity. They...

Pros: One of the few truly timeless films.
Cons: "Is that cannon fire...?" etc.

If you are over 15 and haven't seen this film yet, you should be arrested. I mean, really.

Yes, it's a very old movie, and it's black and white. Yes, there are a couple of lines in it that are meant to be deeply moving, but make modern-day...

Pros: beautiful lighting, movie's ending is very satisfying
Cons: Nazi's could have been made to look more evil.

Without a doubt, this is one of the greatest movies of all time. Currently ranked #2 on the American Film Institute's list of the Top 100 Greatest American Movies. (Citizen Kane, produced one year earlier in 1941, is ranked at the top of the...