SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

A Brilliant Conflict

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

1968! That year again and here's another major oddity thrown up for all to enjoy. You will read all about the 'camp classic' claims and that John Waters uses it to assess whether he can be friends with someone. All good stuff but and then some of these 'fans' sit and hoot with laughter at every line. No need to worry, this is fine. More than fine it is really good. Tennessee Williams, the writer, can be somewhat overwrought and melodramatic but here, whether due in part to director, Joseph Losey or simply to the main couple, that is not a problem here. Indeed, Noel Coward and Joanna Shimkus are good but it is the central performances of Taylor and Burton that ensure classic status upon this film. The script is not quite 'Who'se Afraid of Virginia Wolf?' but these two performances pretty much are. Taylor especially seems to revel in displaying her range and simultaneously amusing, annoying and thrilling both us and Burton's character. I understand that the Taylor part was written as a dying gay man and even Coward's part as a woman but it all works well like this and as I intimated earlier might well have been just too much for this tale of dying and the vanity of the living to be delivered undiluted.

Anything that Taylor & Burton do together is interesting and Boom stands right up there in that it definitely keeps your interest. The story is not one of Tennessee William's strongest or most dramatic but it is certainly above the average in terms of what it says although that is a bit murky to say the least. The Taylor character alas is not sympathetic and for a lead female that is a great disadvantage even if it is Elizabeth Taylor. Burton is a perfect foil for Taylor's hysterics and in fact looks better than one would expect considering the amount of drinking Burton was doing during this period and which eventually killed him - after all he was Welsh and booze is their poison.

As a 24-year-old back in '68, I thought Liz and Dick were gauche, but time has mellowed my judgments (particularly after seeing "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolfe" for a 2nd time and really appreciating it this time around.) So, given the chance to see "Boom" for the 1st time, I said "Sure!" Well, Boom got ole Granny all shook up! I LOVED it! If someone disparagingly says "Camp!" to describe this movie, it isn't me. I watched the movie with complete seriousness, took the story and characters literally, and came away from the experience very moved! Liz Taylor is at her luminous, beautiful best. So she's a little chunky. I was mesmerized by her famous deep purple eyes and thick black eyelashes. But it was her acting in this film that really knocked me out. Yes, her accents vary - but that is Liz being true to the character. Sissy Goforth is a grand lady now, but her lapses into vulgarity suggest humbler beginnings.I think Liz' acting is superb throughout. After all, this character IS over-the-top. Liz goes from grandiose viciousness to moving pathos and I found her believable at all times.As for Burton, that sexy devil/angel - who cares if he was a little old for the part. To this 62-year-old, he looked delicious, and that mellifluous voice really m-o-v-e-d me.The spectacularly beautiful scenery of Sardinia and the magnificent mansion provided an awesome setting - and Liz' costumes and jewelry were to drool over.What a treat to see Noel Coward. Who cares if this movie was beneath him. He looked like he was having fun! Of course there's a "message" to the movie, but to me it was secondary to all the glorious glamour and glitz (Oh. Did I just describe "camp?")

I have an awful pan-and-scan videotape of "Boom!", and I want to see it in all its widescreen glory. So I voted "1" and hope you will too. Together, we can pull this movie down into the pits of cinematic dross, and hope that someone will see an opportunity for BIG MONEY in releasing "Boom!" in its Director's Cut Extended Version. The movie is one of my howling favorites…you just look at the people involved, the director, the actors, the cameraman, and you say to yourself, "Yep, I guess you can fool some of the people for a lot of time." Producers considering the DVD release of "Boom!" should note that, everywhere it's been shown, there have been sellout crowds in the theaters. But it hasn't been up to Frostbite Falls yet.