1964 war movieRating: 14/20 (Abbey: 20/20)
Plot: Bookkeeper Henry Limpet tries to enlist in the Navy, but they reject him. He goes home and whines to his fish about it. While visiting Coney Island with his wife and some guy named George, he falls into the water and turns into a cartoon fish. His wife and George assume that he's drowned. He meets a cantankerous crab and a sexy lady fish. Mr. Limpet also learns that he can be very valuable to the American Navy. He becomes a secret weapon, leads a Navy convoy through the Atlantic past a bunch of Navy submarines, and almost singlehandedly helps the Allies win World War II. Based on a true story.
My biggest worry about war movies like this is that many people are ignorant enough to watch this movie and think it all happened just like this. The mixture of animation and live action is ok, but the story is a little on the hokey side. There are also a few songs in this that are bad enough that somebody should have had enough sense to say, "Those are terrible. Let's just leave those songs out." Of course what makes this one of the greatest of World War II movies is the presence of Sir Don Knotts (I assume he was knighted) with a truly inspired performance. I'm too lazy to verify this, but I assume he won an Academy Award for this performance as I can't imagine a performance topping this one. This is a good family movie, except there is a graphic cartoon-fish-on-cartoon-fish sex scene that didn't need to be included. But as a guy who enjoys graphic cartoon-fish-on-cartoon-fish sex scenes, I can hardly complain. My only real complaint? That this incredible movie wasn't four times as long!
I was very surpised to see this not getting a 20. Oh, and I'm sorry about the game. That must have been Manning's most frustrating game of his career. He makes one mistake and loses by 14. What in the world happened to the Colts passing defense?
ReplyDeleteYeah, there really should be some sort of Don Knotts rule...
ReplyDeleteThe game...the Colts just weren't aggressive, defensively or offensively. At the end of the 3rd quarter, they get the ball with just under 2 minutes on their own 4 or 5. Three run plays and a punt? It was hard to watch. There weren't many blitzes, and Brees had far too much time to do his thing. Manning had a good enough game, but Garcon's drop in the first half (really, the turning point of the game) and Reggie Wayne not looking like Reggie Wayne at all really hurt. But I really do think it was all about aggression. The Saints took some chances and it paid off.
You're exactly right about everything. The Colts would have probably been up 17-3 without the drop, and Wayne really dropped the ball, in general. The interception was at least as much his fault, and no HOF receiver should blow that last catch because he is afraid of getting hit (or thinking about his next move). Yuk.
ReplyDeleteI think the Colts would win 7 out of 10 between these two, but the Saints really took it and deserved it. I was pulling for the Colts, but that onside kick was one of the most balsy decisions I have ever seen in sports. Imagine how badly Payton would have been villified if it had backfired. Sorry, dude.
I always loved this movie....even though its a pretty slight film with no real reason to be there. I can only imagine the meeting they had for this one.
ReplyDelete"Okay, get this. We have Don Knotts...except he only appears on screen for about ten minutes. The rest of the time he is going to be a fish, with glasses and a huge voice. Yep...during World War 2. Lets green light this baby."
There is no way they make this movie today...and Hollywood is poorer for it.
Burymore! Long time, no read!
ReplyDeleteRight. This is pretty trite stuff, but it's harmless and fun enough.
And I think I read that they're remaking 'Limpit' with Johnny Depp. That could have been a dream though. So either Hollywood or my subconscious would still make a movie like this. Heck, my subconscious could even remake the thing with Don Knotts. Hollywood won't until cloning or computer graphics get better.