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liguan2000
Reviews
300 (2006)
The movie should be placed in outer space or some fantasy land
This is a monstrous, racist, propagandistic, jingoistic, semi pornographic (sexual as well as violent), war mongering cartoon of a movie equivalent to pro wrestling permeated with sadism and the grotesque. It is pure trash for the mind and the soul as well as an insult to everyone that lived during that historic battle. Those were real human beings who deserve to be represented with some degree of fidelity. 300 is an advanced "Triumph of the Will" with special effects to dazzle the audience into a frenzy of hatred. I think that if any ethnic group in the United States were misrepresented as the Persians are in this movie it would be grounds for defamation if not labeled a hate crime. History and truth do matter.
The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980)
A profound movie presented in an original and humorous manner
This is a very entertaining movie presenting the primitive culture of the Bushman in the Kalahari dessert and contrasting it to modern civilization in much of Africa during the 1980s. It also has implications on the origination of evil and crime in society and relates it to increasing technology and inequality.
The performances are excellent and the movie moves along at good pace. Although the subject matter is quite serious it is always presented in a humorous fashion. I think everyone will find it interesting, especially the beginning that focuses on the bushman culture and the Kalahari environment. For example they describe the bushman culture as having no laws, no penalties, no punishment, and no concept of personal ownership.
The introduction of a Coca Cola bottle, which was thrown from a small plane, creates problems and social chaos in their society. It causes nothing but misery and the tribe determines that the Gods must have been crazy to give it to them. First they try to bury the bottle, but through a strange set of coincidences it is found again. Next they determine that the only way to solve the problem is to walk to the end of the world and throw the bottle off the Earth. Thus begins the adventure of one of the Bushmen into communities in Africa touched by modern society. This is in contrast to the character Miss Kate Thompson who is fleeing a large city of the modern world and desires the peace of a less advanced society. But the chaos of surrounding political upheavals provides the setting whereby the solution to their problems comes not from advanced civilization but from the bushman.
In the end the bushman returns to his world of peace and tranquility which might provide a metaphor for our civilization without sustainable technology and resource use.
King Arthur (2004)
Knights brag of penis size, adultery, and other vulgarities
The review below does not contain the actual dialogue because of the censorship involved in submitting a review.
Unlike previous King Arthur movies this version attempts to uncover the historical Arthur. The most widely known stories about King Arthur were written over seven hundred years after the death of the historical Arthur. Many legends had sprung up regarding King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. The stories were written to depict the ideals of the times. Europe had been in the so-called Dark Ages and now at the dawn of the Renascence writers used the existing legends as a base for creating tales that illustrated the newly embraced concept of chivalry. Previous movies were based on these chivalrous tales instead of historical research.
In this movie King Arthur is a Roman. Although there are various theories and the actual history will never be known conclusively, recent research suggests that King Arthur was a Roman nobleman in a position of power in the Roman province of Britannia, now modern England. When the Roman Empire was crumbling in the fifth century AD, Arthur was forced to defend Britannia from Saxon invasions.
This movie also traces the origin of the knights. The Roman army used mercenaries from around the empire. The Sarmatian mercenaries of the movie might have been the actual knights that were employed by Arthur. Other research suggests that they might have been from Scythia which bordered Sarmatia.
The movie "King Arthur", written by D.H. Franzoni, is based on the historical Arthur and this is a refreshing approach. However where the movie completely fails is in the depiction of the culture and society of the times. The characters are mercilessly vulgarized for no apparent reason. It adds nothing to the story or to the dimension of the characters.
An example of this demeaning vulgarization is Sir Bors discussing his huge organ size. He claims that he "can't urinate straight. I could never urinate straight. Too much of myself to handle down there." His fellow knights describe his organ as "A baby's arm holding an apple".
Later Sir Bors talks about his illegitimate children and that he only named one of his them because naming the rest "was too much trouble, so we gave the rest of them numbers".
Sir Lancelot brags that he will commit adultery with Sir Gawain's wife and that he is also the father of one of the illegitimate children of Sir Bors.
D.H. Franzoni states, in an earlier Amazon.com review, that "A great deal of research went into the preparation of this script, as much if not more than I spent on Gladiator". I doubt that the sources of this vulgarization of the characters are historical documents.
Later ages selected Sir Bors as one of the three knights that earned the right to find the Grail Castle based on his purity of heart. Although this is mythology, I can not see the point in now depicting Sir Bors as an organ egomaniac. The movie could have been an excellent historical drama without the vulgar portrayal of the characters involved. This review is a warning to viewers who find such vulgarities, when used for no apparent reason, repulsive and without merit.
The Closer (1990)
Exceptionally brilliant performance by Aiello, Great Movie
The movie "The Closer" is about Chester Grant, a man driven to succeed at any cost. The movie opens with Chester giving a speech after receiving a business award. He opens with the question "What does it take to achieve this level of success?" Chester answers the rhetorical question with the word "Sacrifice". He urges his audience to dream and not to let anything stand in the way of their dreams. The movie then goes on to artistically lay bare the devastating effects of Chester's monomaniacal focus of closing sales on all those around him, especially his wife and children.
Chester, CEO and salesman extraordinaire, has wasted his body and his life in the pursuit of wealth and success and has reached the top. Now at the age of only 54 he must step down for health reasons. He decides that the man to replace him must be in his own image, a salesman, even though other members of the board are more qualified to run the corporation.
The evening is set where the final two candidates to replace him will have dinner with Chester at his mansion, with his family, on Thanksgiving night. At the end of the night one salesman will win the top job and the other will lose. The candidates are the two top salesmen of the company. One is a straight company man who says and does everything he can to please Chester. The other candidate is a smart, fast talking hustler type with street smarts who eventually sees through the whole charade.
Gradually another drama begins to unfold, a drama that exposes the flaws and emptiness of Chester's life and he descends upon a dangerous journey of self discovery.
The one precious image that Chester holds dear in his heart is that of his much beloved and recently deceased son, Billy (actually played by Danny Aiello's son in real life, Rick Aiello). These memories haunt him until his remaining son, Chet, finally exposes the terrible truth of even that destructive and fatal relationship. Chester loses is final comforting delusion and he is at last lost and alone. Chet leaves his father with one final question to ponder: 'was it worth it?'
In the end Chester is left to review the stark reality of his life. He instinctively goes to the top of corporate headquarters and he stands alone on the rooftop of his executive skyscraper in darkness. Here Chester gives an utterly fantastic and tragic monologue that should have received rave reviews for Aiello. Chester remembers his mother 'she never judged me, she just loved me'. He questions is happiness real 'nobody's really happy, are they? Are they?' In the end Chester answers Chet's last question 'Was it worth it?'
The movie closes with the penetrating question "What profit a man if he gain the whole world yet lose his own soul". Watch the movie and judge.
The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry (1945)
Great movie with a surprise ending
From Malton and earlier comments it seems that the ending was changed. I read that there were 5 separate endings filmed and shown to test audiences over at 10 day period. Being unfamiliar with the stage play ending I can only say that this ending is excellent and highly effective.
The performances are excellent. The minute facial expressions are superb. There is also quite a bit of black humor in the performances. It is truly a work of art. Initially I was not expecting such a fine movie. It had been selected by the Austin Film Society. But I was very pleasantly surprised.
The story centers around Harry Quincy, played by George Sanders. His younger sister, Lettie, is deeply in love with Harry and feels she knows what is best for him. The whole situation changes when a beautiful young lady from New York enters the small New England town where they live, and she and Harry fall in love and decide to marry. Lettie must act to maintain the status quo. Harry is torn between his family obligations and his new found love.
The ending lead down one path only to discover that all is not as it seems. It is an excellent film.
The Scoundrel (1935)
Excellent story of redemption
Noel Coward is perfectly cast as a suave, vain, selfish well educated, upper class publisher. The literary crowd that congregates at his office is equally lacking in depth and seems concerned only with their status and success. They constantly meet at Noel Coward's publishing office in the hope of gaining favor for their next book and to make sure they are not left out on the latest gossip in the artistic realm.
Cora is a young idealist and poet who believes her love can change Noel Coward and that they can establish a long lasting relationship. She ends her relationship with her fiancé to become Noel's lover. However Noel returns to his playboy ways after 6 months and ends the relationship. This breaks Cora's heart and she eventually returns to her fiancé who has since lost his job and self respect after losing Cora.
The story picks up when Noel Coward leaves New York City by plane chasing after a new lover, a concert pianist who is just as shallow as he is. However a storm is encountered and the plane crashes into the sea killing Noel. God takes pity on him and grants him one month on Earth to find someone who will cry for him, otherwise he is condemned to wander the Earth, never to find rest, for all eternity.
The climax takes place on a dim, rainy night and ends with a prayer and a miracle. A strange redemption occurs. The death experience teaches Noel the true values of life, although his former associate artists are incapable of understanding his message.
The film has beautiful music and the scenes are classic film noir. Unfortunately it is not on DVD or VHS. For those who enjoy this type of movie it is a classic masterpiece. Noel Coward's dialog is sharp and witty and no one could play the part better.