laratringem Reviews

Beyond Borders (2003)

The Point

[10/10 · 2 April 2005]

Most people are missing the point. This movie has power, from the first scene of the camp in Ethiopia. Maybe the acting wasn't spectacular, no, and neither was the plot. And yes it was strange to see a piano in the desert. But that is not the point. The point is this is really happening, and has been happening for far too long. That people everyday really do risk life and limb to help other humans who have no choice but to go through life living that risk as a reality. The point of this movie is to connect to the viewer, to ask the viewer to recognize that more needs to be done, that more can be done.

Reading an interview with Angelina Jolie inspired me when I was 17 years old to go into a life of service. I will be joining the Peace Corps when I graduate college in 2006. Hopefully, I will be deployed to Senegal to help in small business development. Now, after reading about the genocide in Rwanda in a book entitled "Shake Hands with the Devil" by Lt. Gen. Romeo Dallaire, I am convinced that I can do something, anything, at least on some level. I hope the film, rather than being perceived as good or bad, will inspire others all the same.

So what if the movie wasn't Oscar caliber? At least the refugee and continuing conflict situations have been brought to light in another way, brought to more people's attention. Instead of debating the film's merits we should be out there doing something right now. Whether it's calling the attention a local politician, learning on our own, writing an opinion piece for a newspaper, teaching our children tolerance and understanding, or donating money to a worthy cause. More can be done so easily.

BBC Interview with Angelina Jolie: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/3808501.stm

The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

Equals if not surpasses it's predecessor...

[10/10 · 15 May 2003]

To the gentleman complaining about "To be continued...": First of all, it said "To be concluded." And if you think there is a better way to spend your time and money than going to see this movie then you probably should not have bothered in the first place. Obviously you weren't paying attention and don't understand the philosophy of "The Matrix." How else would you fail to grasp the simple concept of the directors to split the final chapter of "The Matrix" into two segments? Perhaps you would have rather had them take shortcuts with the concept of the movie and push the story into one movie that would have devolved into nothing more than a 2 hour fight scene. "The Matrix" is about more than special effects, it is about what drives the human mind. If you cannot see the real meaning and philosophy behind the movie then I'm sorry you wasted your $8. Next time, give it to me, and I'll see the movie again.

This movie ranks up there with the greatest films of all time. Like "The Matrix," it will change the way movies are made and what is expected in it's genre. Other movies out this summer do not even compare. I saw X-2 two days before Reloaded and thought the special effects were great (where was the plot?)... then I saw Reloaded and everything changed. I plan to see Reloaded as many times as possible before it goes out of the theaters. Casting was great and the acting was perfect, the characters had more depth and you could feel what they felt.

I have to give this movie a 10. It's nothing less than that.

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)

Angelina Jolie is wonderful!

[7/10 · 4 June 2002]

What a great actress she is! I love world culture so this movie lived up to that, unfortunately the dialog/plot was sticky and predictable- Angie is capable of so much more. She carried this movie on her back and pulled the stunts off with gusto and grace(I want a bungee exercise room!). She is a great heroine. I am inspired to raid tombs myself now, or perhaps help refugees as Angelina does in real life. I hope for a sequel. This movie made me a Jolie fan and I'll see her future films and rent her past ones. Overall, a beautiful film to look at, but doesnt allow the watcher to get completely immersed into Lara's world. I give it a 7...

The Matrix (1999)

perfect

[10/10 · 4 June 2002]

I have seen this movie dozens of times (you must have the DVD) and each time I come away entranced and wanting to be Keanu Reeve's girlfriend. (I know kung-fu too, ha) Anyways... Carrie-Anne Moss is gorgeous and Trinity is very strong, yet feminine character- she plays her beautifully. Morpheus played by Lawrence Fishburne provides a solid character, I think he is only character who does not undergo a change throughout the movie. At points, he seemed a bit odd, but after watching the movie several times you can decipher his strange way of expressing his thoughts and how he delivers his speeches, and see that it holds a greater meaning to the story- when he says he knows something, he really knows it. The guy who played Cypher did a great job of turning himself into a little weasel that everyone wanted to slap and spit on- you can tell he's nasty the first time he appears on screen because of the look he gives Neo. And even before that in the conversation with Trinity "We're going to kill him..."

Along the lines of "Hollywood"- the special effects, kung-fu scenes, and dialog work together perfectly- there is no wasted energy in this film. Beautiful dialog lends to rememberable quotes from virtually every scene in the movie.

I cannot say much anything bad about this film, except the concept may be a bit hard to grasp for some people the first time around- most people will have to give it another go in order to figure out what's going on in the plot. For first time viewers a bit of advice: don't ask questions when you watch the first time, you're liable to miss something important!!! Just take it all in. Also, I would have liked to see the characters of Switch and Apoc developed more before they were knocked off. Oh well.

The ending of the first movie is actually perfect. According to the plot of the next movie, The Matrix: Reloaded, Neo and Morpheus have already commenced releasing people from The Matrix at the start of the movie- and The Matrix leaves us with a scene of Neo contacting the next person to be released and shows us how well he has mastered the workings of the Matrix (he flies). I cannot wait for the next installment, and as of today there are only 345 days left until May 16, 2003. My only regret is that I never saw the first one in the theater.

Overall= 10 stars. Buy the DVD.

12 Angry Men (1957)

watched this gem in school

[9/10 · 4 June 2002]

What a gem of a film. Never would have thought to rent this in a million years... luckily my law class teachers thought it would provide a viable look into jury duty and what it really means. The dialog, though a bit stodgy old-manish at times, really provides insights into the socio-political background of the era. Unfortunately, it's only a movie, and what happened in the jury room, with one man really standing up for what he believes is rarely documented anywhere in the real world. We need some more juror #8's in this life, or the juror #8's need more recognition. Cheers.