Comments on: Modern Times Blu Ray Review

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 09:13:54 +0000

Excellent review. Especially the point about ‘internal calibration’ and being easy to watch and enjoy nearly 75 years later. Two things I’d add. You won’t find a sexier, more lively female co-star in a silent comedy. Paulette Goddard was a great woman in her won right and as much as I adore Buster Keaton there’s nothing like her in any of his films.

Also, while on an over-all-body-of-work basis I prefer Buster I say this deserves the ‘Best Comedy of All Time’ label bestowed on The General by Orson Welles. It has darkness and social commentary as well as slapstick and fart jokes. The improvised song scene is genius and I’ve never seen anyone draw out a joke so well. The first half hour of the film is practically one gag.

By: C Phillips

C Phillips — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 04:41:39 +0000

People often don’t know that Chaplin was perhaps the only actor/director who had complete control over his own films to the extent he retained all the originals for himself and kept them in a vault. This is perhaps the single most reason his films and their recent digital copies do not suffer from the scratches, dust, and wear many earlier films do. Studios, in those days, did not see the value of retaining good copies and films were more a marketing tool with the end product being money. Chaplin had the insight to get control over his originals. These were, according to my understanding, seen in recent years with permission from his estate. I have not seen this criterion version, but the previous warner version of these films from the vault were actually very good considering the condition of other films of the era. I can only imagine the criterion version benefiting from their unique and quality treatment. Can’t wait to see it.

By: Jonny Ashley

Jonny Ashley — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 23:35:41 +0000

I would also like to add that Chaplin has a weird resemblance to Mike Myers

By: Aaron

Aaron — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 01:17:35 +0000

I picked this up as well and completely agree that it’s a classic. Out of the Chaplin films I’ve seen, this one is my favorite.

By: rjdelight

rjdelight — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 17:44:29 +0000

Any time travellers in this one?

By: Jonny Ashley

Jonny Ashley — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 22:17:09 +0000

This is an awesome review, Jay. I had the great fortune a few weeks ago to watch Modern Times on film in my Film History class. I was really interested to hear you explain that rollerskating scene. We’ve also watched a lot of Buster Keaton, which is also loaded with a lot of death defying stunts performed by the leading man himself. While Chaplin isn’t exactly risking being run over by a moving train, his movies do have some serious balls.

Your word “puzzling” is an apt description. It’s a really weird grey area between wanting to laugh at the physical humor going on, and preparing to gasp in horror before something horrible happens. One of the strangest feelings I get from this movie comes from seeing what a fucking idiot the Tramp character is. Modern Times takes several baffling 180 degree turns over the course of the movie. It’s borderline Mr. Magoo, but it occasionally gets your hopes up, letting you think that he’s somewhat competent (For example, stopping the prison break, and being let off for good behavior). However, moments after he’ll fuck it all up by sending a boatframe into the ocean.

It’s a very strange movie, but all the more interesting for those reasons.