Rating: 
Summary: Two great Keaton comedies
Review: "Our Hospitality" and "Sherlock Jr." are two of Buster Keaton's finest silent films.In "Our Hospitality", Buster plays Willie McKay, a naive New York City resident (if you can call New York a city in 1830) who returns to his native south to collect an estate from his mother who has just recently died. Unfortunately, McKay's family has been involved in a backwoods feud with the Canfield family who are determined to kill off the last surviving McKay. Further complicating matters, Willie finds himself falling in love with the elder Canfield's daughter who invites him to dinner. The Canfields will not shoot McKay in their house as this violates their code of honor (there is apparently nothing dishonorable about shooting McKay outside). This leads to a series of hilarious comic situations as Willie must find ways to prolong his visit. Later, when he runs out of excuses, he must find a way to sneak out without being recognized. Wait till you see what he uses for a disguise! The film leads up to a hilarious and exciting chase sequence ending on a river. Buster Keaton was quite the acrobat. It's amusing how throughout the film he pokes fun at the south's twisted sense of hospitality. There's also a surprisingly touching finale. "Sherlock Jr." is another great, albeit short film. Buster plays a hapless movie projectionist and amateur detective who is wrongly accused of stealing his girlfriend's father's watch. Ostrasized by his girlfriend, Buster falls asleep in the projection room and in his dream, walks into the movie and interacts with the characters. In his dream, he imagines himself as the great detective Sherlock Jr. and attempts to find the culprit of a stolen watch. "Sherlock Jr." is an interesting film as it deals with Keaton's fascination with the film medium. The special effects for the scene where Buster walks into the screen were incredible for their time. This scene has been copied a lot in subsequent films. Unfortunately, the film is marred somewhat by the inane music score which someone decided to tack on. Nevertheless, it's well worth viewing. Buster Keaton was a genius. His best films matched, if not surpassed those of his rival Charlie Chaplin. They were cinematically superior and had better stuntwork (nothing wrong with Chaplin mind you). A must for any lover of silent comedies.
Rating:
Summary: The Greatest Film Ever and One of the Greatest Films Ever
Review: "Sherlock Jr." is, in addition to hilarious and breathtaking, a remarkable study in how people see film and what illusions exist in the medium. Keaton would never admit it, but this is revoluationary modernism. Even if it isn't, the breathtaking stunts and gags are more than enough. This Kino DVD also uses the 1993 score by the Club Foot Orchestra, one of the best modern scores around. "Our Hospitality" was more influential in integrating a classical film narrative into slapstick comedy than on Modernism, and is also a masterpiece. Note the wonderful detail in the sets and an exact replica of Stephenson's "The Rocket," an insane thin little train built in 1829, one year before the film takes place. Detail like that helps to convince us that the gags are real, not merely film effects. Good plot synopsi can be found elsewhere on this page, so I won't include any.
Rating:
Summary: Stunning imagination/director +Buster doing it all.
Review: All of BK's work reflected a love affair with the camera. Until Welles' Kane, nobody has touched t the essense of Keaton's love affair with the camera and what it could do to totally hold a movie in your arms. As good as good sex,
Rating:
Summary: Timeless Masterpiece
Review: Buster Keaton was a world class artist who had so mastered his craft that, at least in this one sublime film, he could build on it to reach moments of unequaled grace and invention. It should seem very experimental, except that he moves back and forth between comedy and psychology and surrealism with such apparent ease and confidence that the viewer hardly gets the chance to analyze it, but rather surrender to the experience. If you are a student of film, this is required stuff.
Rating:
Summary: EVEN MY 8 YEAR OLD BROTHER LOVES IT
Review: Buster Keaton's stone-faced persona works to its greatest effect in "Sherlock Jr," his best film (just barely topping "The General") and one of the top comedies of all time. More than just tremendously funny, "Sherlock Jr" is heartfelt and sweet. Everything comes out of a scheme to make Buster appear to be a criminal in front of his love, while he is all the while attempting to imprese her with a present on a meager salery. Poor Buster is sent away dejected, with a competitor for his love's affection taking credit for his gift and his love thinking him a bad person. Buster attempts to rectify the situation by using his skills as an amateur detective to find the real criminal. This soon fails and he is forced to return to his job as a film projectionist, showing a mystery/detective story and daydreaming, the spot where one of the most perfect comedy scenes in film history takes place. Of course it all turns out well in the end-- who thought it wouldn't?--but the way that it gets there is funny and memorable, and shouldn't be missed by any movie fan. Even those who usually do not enjoy silent films will like Buster Keaton's "Sherlock Jr." I know this because my eight-year-old brother loves the movie, and he is patently againt black and white movies, much less silent films. If he likes it, so will everyone. "Our Hospitality" is also a lot of fun, but it is not on the same level as "Sherlock Jr." Buy this for "Sherlock Jr" and think of the other feature as a pleasant bonus.
Rating:
Summary: If you don't buy any other movie in your life...
Review: First, we should all be thankful to Kino on Video for having the genius and hospitality to bring these truly classic films to a medium. Now Chaplin and Langdon are essential to a movie lover's comedy collection, but so is Keaton! This brilliant, influential masterpieces deserve more than just five stars, they dserve a spot among the greatest comedies ever made. If you're interested, then these other films are good to buy along with this: MONSIEUR VERDOUX; CITY LIGHTS; SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS; MODERN TIMES; LIMELIGHT; and THE GENERAL. A must!
Rating:
Summary: The art of Buster Keaton.
Review: I am a Buster Keaton fan, even though I had only seen a few of his films until now. My favorite remains "The General" which is a great Civil War adventure with a lot of laughs, too. This Kino DVD, a combo of Sherlock Jr and Our Hospitality, is hilarious! Our Hospitality is the first on the DVD and tells the tale of Buster Keaton's woes when he wanders into an old blood feud between families and spends half the film blissfully unaware that he is a walking bullseye. The film is set in the 1830s and has some hilarious scenes, such as the early railroad trip back to the old homestead (some of the jokes in this part are a prelude to The General) and some great stunt work (Keaton on the edge of a REAL waterfall). And Keaton does all his own stunts, it's amazing he didn't hurt himself more often! Sherlock Jr. is probably one of Keaton's more famous works, but to be honest, I liked the first movie on the DVD more. This one is funny, too, but it's kinda scattered, plot-wise. Keaton plays a movie projectionist who enters his movie (in a dream), solves the mystery, and saves the girl. It's really an excuse for some great special effects (back in those days, at least!). I guess some things never change (I wonder if Sherlock Jr. was a summer film...) but this film is still really really funny. Back to back, these films are funnier and more original than almost anything you'd see in theaters today. Just a few words about the DVD itself - these films are 70+ years old, so they aren't in perfect condition. Our Hospitality has scratches and dust. The source print is ok but looks its age. At least the image is clear with good contrast, unlike a lot of silent films which look all black with patches of white. Sherlock Jr's print source is great! It almost looks new and has great contrast. Plus, the best part is the soundtrack. The Sherlock Jr soundtrack is really jazzy with bits of James Bond/Batman/saxophone music; it doesn't have the typical ragtime piano or organ music you usually hear and it really makes the movie sound fantastic (that's something you don't hear much about silent films...) Too bad there are not extras on the DVD, except for chapter search. I would have liked to see a Keaton biography or filmography, especially since this DVD is a little pricey. Still, a great DVD, and a must for Buster Keaton fans! Get the General, too! Or any of the Chaplin feature films (get them from Image, which has access to the Chaplin vaults and has the best looking films as a result).
Rating:
Summary: Really funny DVD!
Review: I am a Buster Keaton fan, even though I had only seen a few of his films until now. My favorite remains "The General" which is a great Civil War adventure with a lot of laughs, too. This Kino DVD, a combo of Sherlock Jr and Our Hospitality, is hilarious! Our Hospitality is the first on the DVD and tells the tale of Buster Keaton's woes when he wanders into an old blood feud between families and spends half the film blissfully unaware that he is a walking bullseye. The film is set in the 1830s and has some hilarious scenes, such as the early railroad trip back to the old homestead (some of the jokes in this part are a prelude to The General) and some great stunt work (Keaton on the edge of a REAL waterfall). And Keaton does all his own stunts, it's amazing he didn't hurt himself more often! Sherlock Jr. is probably one of Keaton's more famous works, but to be honest, I liked the first movie on the DVD more. This one is funny, too, but it's kinda scattered, plot-wise. Keaton plays a movie projectionist who enters his movie (in a dream), solves the mystery, and saves the girl. It's really an excuse for some great special effects (back in those days, at least!). I guess some things never change (I wonder if Sherlock Jr. was a summer film...) but this film is still really really funny. Back to back, these films are funnier and more original than almost anything you'd see in theaters today. Just a few words about the DVD itself - these films are 70+ years old, so they aren't in perfect condition. Our Hospitality has scratches and dust. The source print is ok but looks its age. At least the image is clear with good contrast, unlike a lot of silent films which look all black with patches of white. Sherlock Jr's print source is great! It almost looks new and has great contrast. Plus, the best part is the soundtrack. The Sherlock Jr soundtrack is really jazzy with bits of James Bond/Batman/saxophone music; it doesn't have the typical ragtime piano or organ music you usually hear and it really makes the movie sound fantastic (that's something you don't hear much about silent films...) Too bad there are not extras on the DVD, except for chapter search. I would have liked to see a Keaton biography or filmography, especially since this DVD is a little pricey. Still, a great DVD, and a must for Buster Keaton fans! Get the General, too! Or any of the Chaplin feature films (get them from Image, which has access to the Chaplin vaults and has the best looking films as a result).
Rating:
Summary: Really funny DVD!
Review: I am a Buster Keaton fan, even though I had only seen a few of his films until now. My favorite remains "The General" which is a great Civil War adventure with a lot of laughs, too. This Kino DVD, a combo of Sherlock Jr and Our Hospitality, is hilarious! Our Hospitality is the first on the DVD and tells the tale of Buster Keaton's woes when he wanders into an old blood feud between families and spends half the film blissfully unaware that he is a walking bullseye. The film is set in the 1830s and has some hilarious scenes, such as the early railroad trip back to the old homestead (some of the jokes in this part are a prelude to The General) and some great stunt work (Keaton on the edge of a REAL waterfall). And Keaton does all his own stunts, it's amazing he didn't hurt himself more often! Sherlock Jr. is probably one of Keaton's more famous works, but to be honest, I liked the first movie on the DVD more. This one is funny, too, but it's kinda scattered, plot-wise. Keaton plays a movie projectionist who enters his movie (in a dream), solves the mystery, and saves the girl. It's really an excuse for some great special effects (back in those days, at least!). I guess some things never change (I wonder if Sherlock Jr. was a summer film...) but this film is still really really funny. Back to back, these films are funnier and more original than almost anything you'd see in theaters today. Just a few words about the DVD itself - these films are 70+ years old, so they aren't in perfect condition. Our Hospitality has scratches and dust. The source print is ok but looks its age. At least the image is clear with good contrast, unlike a lot of silent films which look all black with patches of white. Sherlock Jr's print source is great! It almost looks new and has great contrast. Plus, the best part is the soundtrack. The Sherlock Jr soundtrack is really jazzy with bits of James Bond/Batman/saxophone music; it doesn't have the typical ragtime piano or organ music you usually hear and it really makes the movie sound fantastic (that's something you don't hear much about silent films...) Too bad there are not extras on the DVD, except for chapter search. I would have liked to see a Keaton biography or filmography, especially since this DVD is a little pricey. Still, a great DVD, and a must for Buster Keaton fans! Get the General, too! Or any of the Chaplin feature films (get them from Image, which has access to the Chaplin vaults and has the best looking films as a result).
Rating: 
Summary: Music purists beware
Review: I don't have too much to add re: the movies themselves, because previous reviewers have covered that territory pretty well. The prints are reasonably good (Sherlock Jr. struck my as *very* clean) and the speed was also pretty good, although I could have used the framespeed maybe just a shade slower here and there, but that's usual for films of this era because they were hand-cranked and usually a tad slower than 24 frames/sec.
I'm a pianist who has played silents for years, first at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and a few years later at the American Museum of the Moving Image. I found the score of Sherlock, Jr. totally distracting and bizarre. Movie scores are best treated like makeup: if you notice it's there its just *too much*. With a frenetic movie like Sherlock Jr. it's simply disasterous to shift music to attempt to make clever commentaries on each scene...the James Bond reference made me groan, and the blues guitar whenever a wooden shack appears in the scene is simply childish and derivative. I think if you're into avant-garde treatment of Buster Keaton movies, I think Bill Frissell did a much better job. Anyway different strokes I suppose, but the Club Foot orchestra turned a happy, brilliant movie into a narsisistic exercise in disconcertive disruptive twaddle.
So I'd recommend turning the sound down for Sherlock Jr. and maybe just putting on of the the Paragon Ragtime albums or Dick Hyman...the movie will be tons more fun that way.
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