Rating: 
Summary: Massacre at the Odessa Steps.
Review: Whenever the subject of Sergei Eisenstein's "The Battleship Potemkin" comes up, it is virtually impossible not to immediately think of the amazing Odessa Steps sequence, but there is so much more to admire about this landmark film in addition to that legendary moment. It takes only one look to realize that it still maintains all of the emotional power and technical brilliance that it possessed all those decades ago. The crew of the Battleship Potemkin returns home after its battle against Japan. A mutiny erupts onboard after the crew is given contaminated rations and soon news of their rebellious movement reaches shore. The sympathetic townspeople near the ship send them food and water but they are soon fired upon by troops sent to deal with the mutineers. The Russian fleet is then dispatched to destroy the Potemkin and put an end to the uprising. "The Battleship Potemkin" is a propaganda product that has exceeded its original purpose to become something much more significant. When it was first made, the film was more important for its commentary on class struggle but it is now more renown for its innovations in cinematic storytelling. Eisenstein's use of juxtaposed images was the origin of the modern film montage and his editing techniques gave rise to a faster and more energetic narrative style that was much more satisfying than the start-and-stop, jarring method that characterized other films of the era. The expert craftsmanship typical of so many films made today owe "The Battleship Potemkin" a debt of gratitude for influencing their look and feel. Clearly this is one ship that has not sailed into the sunset to be forgotten.
Rating: 
Summary: Good film, terrible DVD
Review: With modern multi-million dollar blockbusters with computer effects, an OLD film like this can be difficult to watch. With the masterful scoring, it justs adds to the effect. Film School students have undoubtedly seen the "Odessa Step" sequence. It is a great source of semiotic analysis with editing cuts and cuts to shapes. Not to mention the diagonal lines. This scene, with the baby carriage incident, was used in "The Untouchables". The "Odessa Step" scene is the part I remember the most. The mother carrying her small son up to the soldier's after he'd been shot. They shot her, and walk over the body. Or the young mother with the baby in the carriage, you know the baby is going to go down the steps because that's what happens in every other movie.
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