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captainblarg
Reviews
The Transfiguration (2016)
Horror, yes. Vampires, no.
OK yeah, this isn't a vampire movie. I just wanna clarify that one can, and should, ignore the title graphics showing the main character casting a Nosferatu shadow.
With that out of the way, this isn't a bad film by any means. There's pathos, and some humor here and there. It calls strongly upon the reality-sucks school, which isn't among the styles of filmmaking that I enjoy a lot, but if you're into that then do see this. The actors have done a great job, and I think this movie is every bit as deserving as certain other "cult" classics, if not more so. I gave this one -1 for the reason that I probably wouldn't watch it again, however I'd recommend it to anybody who likes a slightly more intellectual film experience. I watched it around the same time I was re-visiting the series Dracula from 1991, and I mean... sun and moon, night and day. If your brain needs a rest real bad, check out the Final Destination franchise, for example, and skip Transfiguration.
Listening (2014)
Entertaining, not thought provoking
I would say this movie sits somewhere between 6 and 7 - it's a good job of entertainment, but a finicky viewer will find much to object to. I had to brace myself for the down-on-their-luck scenes, but those were balanced with the "meat" part of the tale well enough, for me. What was lackluster was their treatment of the ethical side of this matter, so look elsewhere if that's what interests you most.
I couldn't decide whether or not the movie was an attack on Buddhism. I felt an ironic tone to that entire side of the film, and that the credulous viewer is being taken on a not-so-genuine carnival ride, although if deliberate it's done in a subtle enough fashion to be innocuous. It's the filmmaker's business if he wanted to portray that kind of view. Although maybe they were just going with the whole mystique of eastern religion as a contrast to a decidedly western perspective, which could add to the effect of making the plot feel more wholly fleshed out.
Birth of the Dragon (2016)
Maybe too real, maybe not real enough?
I won't add to the film synopses already present because I like to let others watch it for themselves and form their own opinion. I do have something to say though about the other reviewers here and their beef w this film:
First off let me say I'm very comfortable with the idea that Bruce Lee was a perfect jackass at least at one time in his life. You can be both great and a jackass, in fact the two coincide rather often. But people change, obviously.
As for Hollywood's trying to make a buck, welcome to reality everyone. it's been here all along! Just that some of you have refused to live in it. (I think that what probably gets ppl confused is events like the Oscars where the movie industry pats itself on the back a great deal and announces how it holds the hopes and dreams of humanity in its angelically feathered hands.) I'll grant you it's a confusing situation, but the gist of it is, as long as historical accuracy is the firmest path to big ticket sales, you can expect to get it, otherwise please expect poetic license and dramatic liberties.
Speaking of which, I really hope some of the agitators who've been slamming this can hear themselves one day... building an anti-racist case by booing down a particular interracial romance. Just what did you WANT to see? The non Bruce Lee character be Asian, such that you could sigh contentedly then and remark how cute he looks together with his also Asian chick? Would that have induced you to throw this film another star or maybe two? COULD you be more neanderthal? Shocker: I think white people make adequate companions and lovers - why shouldn't an Asian heroine be into them? You keep saying they shouldn't. Is it that Asian females must be written superior, e.g. unlike whites, who would foolishly stray into white arms, they would hold out for Asian ones? Do you see the problem with your logic now? There isn't any, and that's the problem. :)
I believe the writers had viewed any variant of interracial coupling as in fact being progressive and forward-looking.
This is separate from glorifying and iconizing a figure mind you. It isn't that I reject what ppl have said so far, but you've approached it completely from the wrong side. Yes, Bruce Lee gets the short end in this story and yes it's rather awkward to have McKee right there to contrast that, and him being white, but that's only a weakness, not a crime. No reason to start burning copies of the film, over that.
In the end if you think the film detracts from the legacy of Bruce lee, go ahead and let that be known but let's stick to reasons that COULD make sense please, okay?