Spartacus (1960)

A slave trained by Roman oppressors to fight to the death as a gladiator in their barbaric games takes his fate into his own hands. Spartacus, the slave in question, applies what he learned in the arena to a cause greater than himself. His words and deeds give voice to the feeling in all slaves' hearts.
It certainly deserves its many accolades, but I have reservations when it comes to scoring. Being wholly subjective, many of the relationships point toward something greater than they themselves deliver upon. It's almost as if the message overpowers some of the emotions, whereas in a perfect world they would've been equals. If the film didn't repeatedly push my thoughts in that direction, then I'd no doubt be awed by it completely, but something ingrained in either it or me keeps me from giving it the full 5 stars.

4 stand up guys out of 5

The Night of the Hunter (1955)

We're told at the outset that “blessed are the pure in heart…” That rules out Robert Mitchum’s character, although it doesn't stop him talking directly to God. They have something in common after all: God kills people, too.
The first half is superb stuff, filled with the kind of filmic techniques and cinematic quality that would make even Orson Welles grin and cough up for a round of drinks. The second half has some equally notable scenes but the story feels rushed in the last 15-20 minutes. An appreciation for what it dared to do from a technical point of view and an acceptance that it falls to pieces at the end are required to recognise its true worth.

4 warring fingers out of 5