James
Thurber: The Life and Hard Times (2000/First Run DVD)
Picture:
C Sound: C Extras: D Film: B+
James
Thurbur, an artist, a humorist and all American satirist. He was
re-known for his short story "The Life of Walter Mitty",
but we mostly know him for his illustrations for New Yorker Magazine.
He was said to be a modern Mark Twain, making fun and giving insight
to upper class American citizens in their daily lives. Thurber is a
simple cartoonist, yet like his pictures it somehow captured and
showed the humorous things of city life. His cartoons showed no
matter how rich or well behaved a man was, he was still an animal on
the inside and no matter how serious a man is, he needs to take
things lightly from time to time.
Thurber
was not a rich man or deeply being intellectual or showy, but he was
at least a funny man and considered one of the greatest cartoonist
ever. With a few simple lines and a single picture he was able to
convey story, or a moment, in which people could relate to. While he
was never able to become a novelist like he wanted, he is still
remembered for things he had done. That you don't have to do great
things to be considered a great man. The picture and sound here are
passable at best and there are no extras.
-
Ricky Chiang
