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Reviews
The Patriot (2000)
An OK, but highly flawed story of the American Revolution
Now despite the inaccuracies thrown throughout the film, the sets, battles, and the acting is very well done in comparison to other films of this same genre. However these does not erase the wrong message from this film. I am an American, and I also know a thing or two about history, and The Patriot is not a piece of history. All British characters in this film are portrayed as evil. And all Continentals are portrayed as something just under being saints. First of all the British never did ANYTHING remotely close to what was shown in this film. They never burned towns, or killed women and children on the levels shown here. They are not some evil race hell-bent on our destruction. The Continentals on the other hand did do many of those things throughout the war against many British citizens. In fact Sam Adams, a "patriot," did many things to Loyalist settlements that the British in this film did to Americans. What is worse though is the fact that this movie portrays these misconceptions as facts worthy of a textbook. All this movie does is alienate the British, and become good propaganda for militaristic right-wing groups. So I would not recommend this movie for anything other than being an action film, other than that it is offensive, inaccurate, and militaristic.
Der Untergang (2004)
finally a good film on the war in Europes final days
Alright first and foremost Hitler was a horrible man. He was a murderer, and a war-monger. But Hitler was a person as much as I hate to admit it. As a society we cannot always see things one way, we must make revisions and reexaminations of the past and Downfall does that. For 60 years 99% of all World War II movies have been shown from point of view, the Allies. And they always portray Hitler as one type of person without explanation. This movie gave it's best shot and it did it. Hitler needs to be shown for what he really was and how he really acted, and he is in this movie. He isn't the same dictator that is shown in all the other war movies as the bumbling, psychotic, egotistical maniac. This film he is still mentally unbalanced and egotistical, and a maniac when he states that it is best for the German people to be thrown back into the middle ages since they have failed in his plan to win the war. And when he invents divisions to defend Berlin from the Soviets. No movie has done that before and this for changing the way Hitler is looked upon is in my minds eye a masterpiece.
All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
beautiful
This is a great movie. Plain and simple. Sure the sound isn't great but it's 1930, and besides the sound is like a documentary. This captures World War 1 far better than any film about the war. Probably because the director was a veteran, and the film extras were all real German soldiers. Because of those two respects it gives the viewer a greater sense of the anti-war feelings associated with World War 1. You watch as Paul Baumer's friends slowly die off one by one until he's the last one. And when he reaches out for the butterfly at the end and is felled by sniper fire, we are sorry that he is dead. But also relieved that he met a quick and painless death unlike many of his friends. And when he returns home on leave and talks to the old men who know nothing of war or of the situation who practically scold Baumer for correcting them, almost makes the viewer want to shout at the screen to set them straight. But the most heart wrenching sequence was when the camera focused on the boots as he went from taking them from his dead friend, on the march, through combat in the trenches and finally his death. That was beautifully shot. Overall I'd recommend this movie to anyone who can overlook the films age, but I say this to everyone: the age doesn't matter! The message is still fresh and useful.
M*A*S*H (1972)
The Best thing to come out of Korea
A group of courageous surgeons battle injuries, gung ho army officers and sometimes each other while at the same time tell jokes, pull pranks just to keep themselves sane, or insane? First of all Alan Alda is one of my hero's and this is his finest role. His comedic genius is what kept this show going so long. But not just Alan Alda, he had an exceptional bunch of supporting actors and their talents are too numerous to mention here. This show had it all comedy, adventure, superb story telling, romance, heroism, and the ability to show how war effects people, not lifeless statistics that many army officers would like us to believe. From the opening instrumental sequence of "Suicide is Painless" which in itself is an unforgettable song to the closing credits we are in Korea. And these doctors are our friends and teachers. Current TV could learn a thing or two from this show. It is powerful and unflinching in it's representation of war, and those who criticize this show obviously have neither intelligence, or a sense of humor. Often most criticisms I hear are relating to the special effects and jokes, to them I say this: it is not an action show dumb ass, it was not meant to show you war in it's direct form, if you want a direct form of war fine. Watch "Pork Chop Hill," or "Tae Guk Gi," don't criticize this for something it wasn't meant to have. Second this is loosely based off real occurrences of the Korean War, the humor is dark and it's corny, it's meant to keep their minds off the carnage. It's humor that was made for the moment to get their minds off carving up kids 7 days a week, if you don't like it alright. Watch a movie that describes your intelligence, possibly "Dumb and Dumberer." All in all you can't beat this show. Even after 30 years it still creates laughs and more importantly teaches valuable lessons.
Chairman of the Board (1997)
lesson to an "actor"
First and foremost this movie has the stupidest plot of any movie I have ever seen, and unfortunately I had to see this one. I was flipping through channels one day and stumbled upon this lousy excuse for a movie, and it confirmed what I have been saying for a long time. Carrot Top is not an actor, and IS NOT funny in the slightest sense. He acts like he's a great comedian and thinks he commands the audiences attention. Frankly he has the acting ability of a 10 year old class clown, scratch that less than a 10 year old's ability to compare them to Carrot Top would be a grave insult upon their good name. This movie tries to be funny using dull one liners which all seem to have been lifted from 50's cartoons. By the end I would have done anything to erase my memory of this movie, but sadly the memories stay with me. The only thing I can do is to warn others to never to watch this movie. However it proves the rumors true Carrot Top can't act worth a damn.
The War of the Worlds (2005)
who knew a wonderful book can be adapted so bad
When I first heard about this movie I was certainly excited at the prospect of a faithful retelling of the H.G. Wells classic novel. So I hunted for the movie, and finally picked up a copy at a used movie store. God what a waste of money. First and foremost the acting was awful, no one in that movie did well in their roles. Secondly and the worst, the special effects. The special effects look like crayon 2-D drawings made by a 4 year old. There are no eye popping special effects. As if that isn't bad enough, it's slower than a grizzled old women using a walker. The first hour is just the characters walking and staring into a hole. I heard some of the few positive reviews of this crime on silver screen, and they stated it was a very depressing movie that is well shot, well made that gives the viewer a sense of hopelessness and fear. This movie after the first 30 minutes gave me a sense of hopelessness that it would never end. Sadly it lasted 2 and a half hours longer. Overall I'd like to say this about the movie: 3 hours of pain, anguish, suffering, dread and depression all felt by the audience over the crappy dialog, Godawful special effects, and 45 minutes of walking.
The Four Feathers (2002)
a missed chance
I have read the book The Four Feathers by A.E.W. Mason, and it is a timeless classic. I have heard the 1939 version of this book is a classic as well. So when I first saw this movie I was anticipating a well made movie. Sadly I was disappointed. While the films overall cinematography is well done, and it's musical score that is about it. Besides being inaccurate in several major historical instances most notably all references made to Charles Gordon, for instance Durrance goes back to Britain to lobby the government to send a relief expedition to rescue Gordon, however the battle shown in the film is Abu Klea which was fought during Wolseley's expedition to relieve Gordon. Overall the acting is poor to marginal at best, specifically Kate Hudson's role as Ethne Eustace was not well acted. And it is confusing at times who the characters are. The Abu Fatma character in and of itself seems clichéd. And on top of all that the whole message that the director was trying to make of anti-colonialism was not exhibited at all. Abu Fatma, a native from the Sudan who was educated in Britain helps Feversham save his friends, the only main characters all helped the colonizer, and Feversham redeems his honor helping the Empire. Overall this movie is marginal at best and lacks structure overall.
Patton (1970)
General Patton fights World War 2
This movie is the very epitome of all war films made. It combines action, good dialog, excellent actors, possibly the greatest and most recognizable soundtrack in the history of movies and a subject matter everyone is familiar with. It brings to life a man who had many faults and characteristics that no one other than George C. Scott could play and make it convincing. Not only is it a film about a man fighting Germans, but also of himself fighting his own personality that is his only undefeated enemy. The supporting cast particularly Karl Malden while not looking at all like Omar Bradley makes you believe that he is Omar Bradley. This movie done in 1970 has everything that most movies done now with special effects does not and on top of that it is a very patriotic movie, a man wishing to promote his country as a tool of good here to free the oppressed and destroy the oppressor. Without a single doubt in my mind I would label this film as a national treasure and a film that has no equals in it's genre.