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hoss_jamison
Reviews
Saul: The Journey to Damascus (2014)
More like Biblical fiction, some parts are certainly in the Bible.
One can read a number of books in a genre called Biblical fiction. Some of those are quite good. This would be Biblical fiction for the movies. There are a few of those around already, "Barabbas", "Quo Vadis", "The Robe", perhaps "Ben Hur". Obviously, some of these are highly acclaimed movies. So, understanding, this is not a directly Biblical account of Saul/Paul, I find the subject matter wanting and coming up a bit short. There was a sincere attempt to tie things together in this ambitious work. Maybe this is too much of an action flick and a tad too fanciful in the plot.
"Paul, Apostle of Christ" with James Faulkner and Jim Caviezel or."The Apostle Peter: Redemption" seem to meet the challenge though, are far from perfect as well.
The Last Thing He Wanted (2020)
Like some say, you have to know the era it is from, it is still a work of fiction (?) I believe.
I definitely don't think this deserves to be scored low, I would almost give it 8 stars to make up for the negative reviews. Some of the early part of the movie is basically political commentary on the "dirty wars" in Central America, Nicaragua, in the early '80s but if I am able to get through that stumbling block for some, there's still plenty of movie left and this is based on a novel? I will have to read it.
I don't think this is disjointed at all. I admit there are letdowns but many movies have such. Those "letdowns" are not that dire. I would grade it a C, it's fascinating, it's fascinating too, if one has ever been to any of these places, Latin America on the proverbial $10 a day.
A historic context here as well. I don't agree with the Nick Nolte movie from the 1980s, "Underfire" but I still think it's entertaining. This is like "Underfire II" for me. Based on true events of the gun-running to the Contras.
Close (2019)
Shades of 'Midnight Express'
Yes, at least for me, this movie calls to mind the ''Chase" from 'Midnight Express' in one chase scene. So, for me alone, it's worthy of a watch but it is a bit more than that too. It is its own movie, its own plot with a good twist in the end. Largely acceptable.
Hyena Road (2015)
What a pleasant surprise!
Well made movie. Lacked Hollywood glitz, it was very believable and I did enjoy the character development. I felt a need to give a total "neutrals" review of this. This will be a movie I return to from time to time.
The plot was good; and in that forsaken land of Afghanistan, I really got to like the Afghanistan people as well, well, at least a lot of them, not the terrorists of course. That war is so brutal and it's been in the upswing the last few years, it certainly seems.
Nice third world vibe. I could easily name some much more well known war movies I think this is better than. What's the fuss?