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Reviews
Margrete den første (2021)
Very disappointing historical fiction and waste of potential
Unfortunately, it is not historically accurate. And then this story about a mother murdering (via burning) her innocent son to save the kingdom: what a morally corrupt and repugnant conclusion to the film. Also the pacing is usually slow and the story is not really well executed as well as poor understanding of the history of the Kalmar Union and its neighbours. Especially constructing all Germans as enemies and enemy country (there was no unified Germany then), although in reality she also had German allies and the Teutonic Order and the Hanse cities were enemies. And the story mixes up Hanse and Teutonic Order. I also wonder how French soldiers ended up in Scandinavia according to this story. But maybe it is too much to ask for more historical accuracy. I do not understand why they changed the real history. Where did this anti-German bias come from? Instead, we have basically a theatre play abundant with historical fabrications and derailments, e.g. Fictional story about the Teutonic Order which is accused of trying to conquer the whole of Scandinavia, although this Order was busy somewhere else at the time (fighting against Poland; interestingly Poland was one of the producers of this movie). Besides, the Kalmar Union itself was not accepted everywhere in Scandinavia. And according to her biographers, Margret was a very different person as portrayed in the movie. It could have been a better story. The life of Margret was full of interesting stuff. Why change it at all? I have seen better Scandinavian movies about the middle ages made and generally better Danish movies. Too.
The Three Investigators and the Secret of Terror Castle (2009)
The story of this movie has little to do with the original story, but is entertaining and funny to some extent
This story has little to do with the original story and shares only some commonalities with the main characters of the original book series), but is entertaining and funny in some ways. Maybe a bit more pace, investigation and action would have been good, but at least this movie seems to be at least more down to earth than The Secret of Skeleton Island (especially in terms of action). It is a German production. However, many German viewers were also disappointed, not just Americans. It is also not the view Germans have of America and Americans and French (villains). IMHO -compared with other movies for kids - this movie is at least as entertaining as the Goonies, if not even better. I would give it a 6 out of 10. As a child I might have given this a higher number, possibly a 7 out of 10 (especially without knowing they are supposed to be the 3 Investigators and Terror Castle). I would rate both the original book and the story on audio tape 9 or 9.5 out of 10. So that shows the vast gap of quality between book and audio cassette vs. This movie.
I would recommend the movie for older kids who do not know the original story in the book and the tape. For those who know the book it might be a disappointment. I was not disappointed, because I didn't have really high expectations in the first place, because I have watched the first movie and even before that my expectations were not that high.
The Deerslayer (1957)
Racist? Yes and No! (with some spoilers)
Native American Indians were only partly shown as savages (especially their the cliched shouting). But the main character, the Deerslayer (Lex Barker), also showed empathy and understanding for the actions of the Native American Indians. Actually he rather condemned the attitude and business of the white scalp hunters when he was attacked by the Native Indians. Also, the hatred for Native Indians is criticized in this movie.
Even the white daughter of the scalp hunter scolded her admirer and future husband for murdering
Native Indians and destroying their lives.
Furthermore, the Deerslayer also condemned the judgment of foster daughter of the white scalp hunter (that she is stupid), the Native Indian woman (Rita Moreno). She is portrayed as rather brave when she - like the white daughter - goes to the Hurons armed with a rifle. They are not much more helpless than any of the white men, even if they fight less (hence not only the female leads get captured!). Because almost every white person and those non-whites who have a loyal relationship with them have been caught by the Hurons, except one white man who is also portrayed in this movie as racist (as the buyer of Native Indian scalps) and flaws in his character (traitor, scrupulous etc).
The blood brother of the Deerslayer, Chingachgook, is also shown as loyal and reasonable (like Rita Morena's character) and not as a savage.
Actually, the more I think of it, those two sculp hunters and traders were actually portrayed as worse than any Native Indians.
And to show that Native Indians have a particular 6th sense might be a generalization, but is absolutely nothing negative at all. I would like to have a sixth sense and many other people, too.
So in other words, in this movie stereotypes and racism are being shown, yes. However, racism and hatred against Native Indians (of ONE character in the movie! ....who also regarded the young Native Indian woman as his daughter and as equal to his white daughter) are condemned in this movie. Surely, it can and should be criticized that she was kidnapped and her family was killed.
However, we need to differentiate this movie more. It is not that simple to condemn the whole movie as racist, and in most movies (e.g. With John Wayne) Native Indians were actually much more portrayed as savages.
Besides, as already mentioned, movies are products of its time and were not being regarded as racist, sexist or Politically inCorrect then. How many people knew or cared about these words back then? And let's not forget that our hero, the Deerslayer, has a Mohican blood brother...a partner whom he regards as an equal partner and family member in his movie and not as a bad or stupid or in any other way inferior partner.
I would not say watching the movie was a waste of time, although there are better movies generally and also about this age.
And this movie is also not a Western movie. The territory of the Hurons in the 18th century was north of Lake Ontario (nowadays Canada, then a colony of France). Even the Midwest was not then in British possession. The British colonies then were only on the East Coast. In other words, this movie was actually more a Colonial and/or Eastern than a Western.
I also do not see any evidence that even the studio was ashamed of this one movie. Furthermore, it does not make any sense that this Deerslayer is more racist than the old guy and that Rita Moreno was both degraded and exploited...at least not anymore than any other actress or actor who played roles where they could not shine.
The movie was predictable, but the acting - though not the best - was okay, some action, some morals, some truth being shown (that scalp-hunting was not just done by Native Americans, but also White people) and beautiful scenery.
Somewhere between 6 and 6.4 out of 10.