"A Fistful of Dollars" (1964)

Clint Eastwood western.  I grew up when Sunday afternoons all that was on were old westerns--and as a kid, I generally went and did something else.  Now as I continue my exploration of films, it seems too weird to try watching an old western at any other time than in the afternoon.

What strikes me about this one--'64, is that early?--is the question of music.  One of the versions of My Darling Clementine simply plays the song "Oh, My Darling Clementine"--which might be obvious from the title, but does harken back to cowboy folk songs.  A Fistful of Dollars seems to try addressing the question "How do you say 'Western' and 'Modern' at the same time?"  You have whistles and chorus--perhaps connecting to cowboy ballads which were both sung and whistled to--, but the whistles are made using modern sounds--as if just a little more push to 'em and they'd be only electronic sounds--which would be all wrong for an "old western".

As for watching a western in the afternoon--that bright sunlight outside seems to help counterbalance all the violent shoot out stuff.  The western ends, you look outside, and that ol' sun reminds you that that story is done, that that isn't here and now, and you have a chance to reflect that the story was woven well enough together that you enjoyed it--and the good guy won.

"Night at the Museum" (2006)

I think this is probably a great movie for certain audiences--young audiences, families, and those who enjoy this style of humor.  I watched the start of this one and can see that it was done well, and I probably would enjoy the heart-warming parts of this movie.  However, my sense of humor is on the dry side, and the movie seems to cornerstone on slapstick.  So, for those audiences that this is geared for, those scenes probably are great, but for me, just seem slow.  And if I was handed an instruction manual for a job, I'd be reading it.  I realize then that would cut off part of the humor and sense of discovery.  Also, movie included (and butchered) a quote from Twelfth Night.  It just doesn't sell me watching it to the end.

I believe this to be a very good movie.  I just didn't watch it all myself.

Later:
I found that there was a enough charm to this movie that I pulled it back out and watched the rest of it.  The humor was still "stupid" humor, but the charm of the movie was enough to make up for it.