Geoffrey DeLeons Another "family get-together" movie. Just what we needed, right? I couldn't determine if this movie had a point to make, because if it did, I never got it.Who is Levi? Why are we supposed to feel empathy for him? We know nothing about him other than that he was a writer, his work possibly having had political over-tones. Okay. Great. Is he really "dying"? No one seems to know, and if the doctor knows, he's not telling.The doctor comes to the house after Levi falls out of a hammock onto the lawn. The doctor expresses jealousy and anger for Levi marrying the then-deceased woman he was presently involved with, many years prior. Aha. That sews the story up nicely. That explains the strawberry blonde hottie and the depressed stand-up comic.A very odd scene occurs where Levi describes the Viking (sea raider) funeral to the kids, and they all jump up and say they want that kind of funeral. Come on. I was waiting for one to say, "Yes, grandpa. I'd love to be set adrift and burned into nothingness!"After the extremely embarrassing "pee in the ocean" scene, nothing could have been worse than.., wait for it...The kids pretending to be in a rock band and we are forced to watch them play air guitar to a P.A. system that they set up? Rented? Concealed? I turned the movie off at that point.The strawberry blonde hottie should have jumped Levi's (her father's) bones one day (possibly in the very same hammock), and gave him the long-awaited heart attack, and then taken boughs in front of the rest of the family: At least that would have been funny.I gave Rocket Gibraltar six stars, anyway. I didn't hate it. It's just that I think everyone has a story to tell, and the movie would not allow Levi to tell his.

leftyguns2 Rocket Gibraltar was definitely a film in a class of it's own. It is the story of an aging patriarch brilliantly played by Burt Lancaster, a formerly blacklisted poet, and widower , his children, and grandchildren who gather to pay homage to him for a birthday. The interesting thing is how eccentric they all were. What I found most interesting was the way the characters were portrayed. This is one of the few films in which almost every character is portrayed in detail. Among them is the Suzi Amis character. She is portrayed as a bit of a libertine, a part that she plays with style and flair. The grandchildren however steal the film. The way those kids were able to dominate the film was a true work of genius on the part of the director/s. The ending to the film which I will not describe is truly a grand finale. The film is quite entertaining, leaning a bit towards a black comedy.

jotix100 Daniel Petrie's "Rocketship Gibraltar" was shown recently on cable. It is an elegiac tribute, in many ways, to the great Burt Lancaster, whose last movie this was. The film's message seems to be telling us how impressionable children are as they interpret facts told by a grandfatherly figure.When we first meet Levi Rockwell, he appears not to be well. His upcoming birthday is the occasion for a family reunion. We watch as the clan descends to the patriarch's home in Long Island. The adults are all self-absorbed in their own little dramas. The eight grandchildren take the occasion for reacquainting themselves with Levi. In turn, the grandfather tells them his views on dying and how he would love to be buried at sea, which he loves more than anything in the world. The film last sequence is amazing, as we see the children take charge of the situation.Burt Lancaster is fine. It seems he must have known his own end was near as we watch him looking mistily toward a family that love him, but are somehow distant. The children, especially a sweet Macauley Culkin, are delightful to watch because being so young, they still know of malice, and other evils they will learn later on.The film is sad and uplifting at the same time. We, in turn feel grateful Levi, the great writer has been given his last wishes.

Petruchio A family of many come together on one special day to celebrate Levi Rockwells (Burt Lancaster) 77th birthday. That's the main basis for the story, but the idea is so much more. I found the film to me very light hearted and touching at times. The cast did a wonderful job of portraying a family that were all very different from one an other, but still loved each other all the same. The storyline was very entertaining...not surprising... but entertaining none the less. The reason why I say that it wasn't surprising is because you can tell throughout what was going to happen. I don't really want to give any spoilers here, but you know (or I did anyway) what is going to happen once the movie is set. Overall, the movie was a wonderful family movie that is uplifting. I found the acting to be good... but some of the script to be to contrived. You'll know what I mean when you see it. Macully Culkin being psychic? Anyway... I suggest a family watch this movie.