Jon Monsarrat review: showing its age, skip it

Rating: 5/10 (31 March 2002)

I rented "Rear Window" because it was rated so highly. It wasn't bad, but definitely showing its age. Mystery / thrillers have become a lot more packed with suspense and action since then. I believe a movie rating should reflect a movie's current impact, and I'm guessing many of the reviewers are reaching back to their old memories. I've seen it recently.
Let's be frank. I'm an action movie buff. I like it when stuff blows up. So the niceties of Alfred Hitchcock's directing and editing are a little lost on me. Seen as a pure action / mystery movie, I suggest you skip it. It's also not as clever as some of Hitchcock's movies, although not as silly as the motivations in "The Birds".
Who should see this movie:
-- Action buffs with nothing better to do on a rainy day,
and who feel somewhat obligated because it's supposed to be
a classic
-- Drama / film lovers who need to flesh out their repertoire
-- Anyone curious to try out a 1950s film could do worse!
I does have Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly after all
Not many films from the 1950s survive in any way. "Rear Window" is still hanging on at 5 out of 10.