Sympathetic and relatable characters are the hook that makes you care. In this story, it is hard to find any. When the Nazi threatened to kill the whole French village because the resistance leader had escaped. The Canadian commander of the project was willing to let the Nazi go ahead to galvanize the resistance. Then he didn't bat an eyelash to send a nervous wreck, who had been promised a desk job, to the front line. Not only did he never worried about the safety risk to the other team members, he also gave instruction to never let the nervous wreck be captured alive. When a woman in the team failed in her attempt to blow up the Nazi HQ in the village, she had no problem letting her friend take her place and be killed. When the team was to blow up the bridge to stop the German soldiers coming, a little girl ran onto the bridge and spoiled the timing. After the little girl was whisked away and the team leader jumped in to start shooting and yelling at the boy to detonate the dynamite, the same woman gave the signal to stop because the leader on the bridge shooting at German soldiers was her lover. Instead of obeying the direct order from the leader, the confused boy didn't know what to do. She only gave the signal to blow up the bridge after the leader was fatally shot. After she was made the leader of a new mission, she immediately got herself captured and had to be rescued. Then she wanted the farmers who captured her killed in cold blood by ordering their barn burned. That's just too much. I can't stomach any more of these awful people.
Reviews
17 Reviews
X Company
(2015–2017)
Can't Stomach the Characters Who are Supposed to be Good Guys
22 March 2018
Warning: Spoilers
The Statement
(2003)
One of Michael Caine's Best
11 November 2017
One of the best "Nazi collaborator hunting" movies. It's not about catching a big name for news. It's about every collaborator and every murderer must pay. It's about seeking justice 50 years after the murder. It's about manifesting justice in this world as long as any collaborator is still alive.
Instead of simple right and wrong, the script showed different aspects of the collaborator's personality and different faces of the Church. And it explained only with lots of highly placed and powerful confidential help can any war crime criminal get away and hide in plain sight for such a long time.
Michael Caine has always been one of my favorite actors. And he turned in one of his best performance here. Even though you want him to get caught, but you can't help feel sorry for him.
Instead of simple right and wrong, the script showed different aspects of the collaborator's personality and different faces of the Church. And it explained only with lots of highly placed and powerful confidential help can any war crime criminal get away and hide in plain sight for such a long time.
Michael Caine has always been one of my favorite actors. And he turned in one of his best performance here. Even though you want him to get caught, but you can't help feel sorry for him.
Loving
(2016)
What a Waste of a Good Story!
24 August 2017
There are so many problems with this movie. What a waste of a good story!
They must have loved each other very deeply for them to risk everything and defy society. Yet, in this movie, there is no chemistry between the two leads. It's so miscast, it's hard to imagine they even like each other.
I understand the focus on this movie is the couple and not the case. Yet, they made an impact at all precisely because of the landmark case. By barely skimming the Supreme Court case, it lost the point of the story.
And the pacing is so slow, one could take naps between changing scenes without missing anything. It made the dramatic story very boring. What a shame! What a waste of a good story!
They must have loved each other very deeply for them to risk everything and defy society. Yet, in this movie, there is no chemistry between the two leads. It's so miscast, it's hard to imagine they even like each other.
I understand the focus on this movie is the couple and not the case. Yet, they made an impact at all precisely because of the landmark case. By barely skimming the Supreme Court case, it lost the point of the story.
And the pacing is so slow, one could take naps between changing scenes without missing anything. It made the dramatic story very boring. What a shame! What a waste of a good story!
Shot Through the Heart
(1998 TV Movie)
A True Heartbreaker!
3 October 2016
This is one of the best movies I've ever seen. I think about it all the time whenever I hear or read about civil wars, religious wars, and innocent victims. That's why I have to write this review after all these years.
This is a personal story in an impersonal civil war. A family story in a country torn apart. A story of friendship in a religious fight. The bigger events outside beyond your control spill into your private world. There can be no winners as everyone is a victim. That's what tears your heart apart.
The director and actors have a lot to work with because the script is outstanding. And they all did a great and sensitive job. They did not try to moralize, only to tell the story in small frames to give you the close up feelings so you can sense the tension. The progression explains how and why a close friendship and family bond are shattered. In the end, everyone must do what the circumstance dictates.
A true tragedy that's repeated millions of time all over the world for thousands of years. Yet, we have not learned. That's the real tragedy!
This is a personal story in an impersonal civil war. A family story in a country torn apart. A story of friendship in a religious fight. The bigger events outside beyond your control spill into your private world. There can be no winners as everyone is a victim. That's what tears your heart apart.
The director and actors have a lot to work with because the script is outstanding. And they all did a great and sensitive job. They did not try to moralize, only to tell the story in small frames to give you the close up feelings so you can sense the tension. The progression explains how and why a close friendship and family bond are shattered. In the end, everyone must do what the circumstance dictates.
A true tragedy that's repeated millions of time all over the world for thousands of years. Yet, we have not learned. That's the real tragedy!
Lady of the Tropics
(1939)
Silly Hollywood Mixed Up Fantasy Nonsense
11 August 2016
It is not only nonsense, it's very silly nonsense. But rather pretty visually mainly because of Heddy Lamar and Robert Taylor.
It's a typical Hollywood fantasy of the "Orient". The city was supposed to be Saigon but the background, the temple, and the dancers were of Bangkok. And her clothes were not even Asian, they were Moroccan and some outlandish Hollywood creation. But, for Hollywood, anything beyond the white world are interchangeable and we frequently see Vietnamese play Chinese and Chinese play Japanese and vice versa or white people play Asian. Even Marlon Brando couldn't escape such ridiculousness. Time has not changed Hollywood much. Now it's black people popping up everywhere no matter what the story, the genre, or the time and place to continue the silly ridiculous nonsense.
Nominated for 1 "Oscar"? The standard must be very low back then.
It's a typical Hollywood fantasy of the "Orient". The city was supposed to be Saigon but the background, the temple, and the dancers were of Bangkok. And her clothes were not even Asian, they were Moroccan and some outlandish Hollywood creation. But, for Hollywood, anything beyond the white world are interchangeable and we frequently see Vietnamese play Chinese and Chinese play Japanese and vice versa or white people play Asian. Even Marlon Brando couldn't escape such ridiculousness. Time has not changed Hollywood much. Now it's black people popping up everywhere no matter what the story, the genre, or the time and place to continue the silly ridiculous nonsense.
Nominated for 1 "Oscar"? The standard must be very low back then.
Devil is in the Details
26 July 2016
Who is this "historian" Mary-Ann Ochota? According to her, "Hiya Sophia" means Devin Wisdom in "Turkish". Turkish? What kind of historian is she if she does not know that Justinian's Orthodox Christian Church was build long before the Turks showed up near that area? What kind of historian is she if she does not know that the language of the Byzantine Empire was "Greek" and Hiya Sophia means "Holy Wisdom" in Greek.
I also object to the claim by Mike Loades that only Ra-Moses has chariot factories. How do you think the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and the Hittites made their chariots by the thousands?
And Chinese used assembly line factories to make those thousands of terracotta soldiers for the tomb of the First Emperor in the 3rd century BC.
But I still give the show a rating of 7 stars because, besides these mistakes, most of the contents see accurate.
I also object to the claim by Mike Loades that only Ra-Moses has chariot factories. How do you think the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and the Hittites made their chariots by the thousands?
And Chinese used assembly line factories to make those thousands of terracotta soldiers for the tomb of the First Emperor in the 3rd century BC.
But I still give the show a rating of 7 stars because, besides these mistakes, most of the contents see accurate.
Confession
(1937)
Skewed Morale View and Strange Justice
14 January 2016
Great casting and acting. But what a plot! It was supposed to be based on a true legal case in Europe in 1930. It revealed the skewed morale view and strange scale of justice of that time. Thank God the world has changed for the better!
She was a superb singer who wants to quit to get married. The composer wants her to stay on stage and keep working with him. She was blinded by what she believed to be love and got married and had a child. Her husband went to WWI. The composer invited her to a party. She had a great time and got drunk. He continued his efforts to try to get her back on the stage but she rebuffed him. Her husband returned from the war injured and suffering from post-traumatic-disorder. Without listening to any explanation, the selfish intolerant self-righteous husband divorced her and took the child from her. Years later, when she found her child happy, she went away without revealing herself. In the meantime, the composer had met the young girl at her conservatory and pursued her. When the mother saw the composer kissing her daughter at a restaurant, without any questions asked, she shot him dead.
The problem I have with the plot is that, at the end of the movie, the judge excused her for the killing and blamed the composer. No one said a word about the stupid husband who was the true cause of all her sufferings and the real cause of the tragedy. Such was the skewed moral views and strange justice of that time. Thank God we have gone a long way from such idiocy.
She was a superb singer who wants to quit to get married. The composer wants her to stay on stage and keep working with him. She was blinded by what she believed to be love and got married and had a child. Her husband went to WWI. The composer invited her to a party. She had a great time and got drunk. He continued his efforts to try to get her back on the stage but she rebuffed him. Her husband returned from the war injured and suffering from post-traumatic-disorder. Without listening to any explanation, the selfish intolerant self-righteous husband divorced her and took the child from her. Years later, when she found her child happy, she went away without revealing herself. In the meantime, the composer had met the young girl at her conservatory and pursued her. When the mother saw the composer kissing her daughter at a restaurant, without any questions asked, she shot him dead.
The problem I have with the plot is that, at the end of the movie, the judge excused her for the killing and blamed the composer. No one said a word about the stupid husband who was the true cause of all her sufferings and the real cause of the tragedy. Such was the skewed moral views and strange justice of that time. Thank God we have gone a long way from such idiocy.
The Return of the Native
(1994 TV Movie)
Formulaic Tragedy Done Well
29 September 2015
It seems that all western literature have the same theme. All tragedies are due to the stupidity of men and all comedies are due to the cleverness of women.
As this movie is based on a Thomas Hardy story, it is naturally a tragedy. True to form, the stupidity of men, was the primary cause of the tragedy. Of course, a woman must be blamed especially if the woman is not content to be an obedient and docile wife to a selfish and blind husband.
Clym, as a spoiled only son, only ever thought of himself. What he wants was all he cared. It never mattered what his mother wanted or what his wife wanted. He must have his way. When his wish was challenged, he blamed his mother. When his dream was shattered, he blamed his wife. Yet, he was considered the good son, the good man, the good husband, and the hero. That's the real tragedy.
Eustasia, as a girl with a dream beyond the small backwards village in a harsh landscape, only dreamed of a better life in the shinny world. But the ignorant villagers shunned her as a witch. No matter what she does, she was the evil one. Her stupid selfish husband never understood because he only thought of himself and what he wants. In the end, she could only escape from her jail was to die. That's the real tragedy.
That was the bleak rural life of Thomas Hardy's England. I gave the movie 7 stars because it was well staged, well acted, and focused.
As this movie is based on a Thomas Hardy story, it is naturally a tragedy. True to form, the stupidity of men, was the primary cause of the tragedy. Of course, a woman must be blamed especially if the woman is not content to be an obedient and docile wife to a selfish and blind husband.
Clym, as a spoiled only son, only ever thought of himself. What he wants was all he cared. It never mattered what his mother wanted or what his wife wanted. He must have his way. When his wish was challenged, he blamed his mother. When his dream was shattered, he blamed his wife. Yet, he was considered the good son, the good man, the good husband, and the hero. That's the real tragedy.
Eustasia, as a girl with a dream beyond the small backwards village in a harsh landscape, only dreamed of a better life in the shinny world. But the ignorant villagers shunned her as a witch. No matter what she does, she was the evil one. Her stupid selfish husband never understood because he only thought of himself and what he wants. In the end, she could only escape from her jail was to die. That's the real tragedy.
That was the bleak rural life of Thomas Hardy's England. I gave the movie 7 stars because it was well staged, well acted, and focused.
Raiders of the Lost Ark
(1981)
Western Version of Chinese Web of Death
26 July 2015
So much hype about how Spielberg learned his craft of suspense from RKO's matinée movies and series. Not a word about him being influenced by Chinese kungfu movies.
I was surprised to discover that so much of this 1981 Raiders of the Lost Ark movie is almost a copy of a 1976 Chinese kungfu movie from Hong Kong. The English title of the Chinese movie is "Web of Death". It's about a spider with deadly supernatural power which was hidden by the spider clan to keep its power contained, just like the ark. Bad guys of course tried to find it and did, just like the Nazis in the Spielberg movie. The traps in this and later Spielberg movies are so similar to the traps in this Chinese movie. And the special effects in the final fight between good and evil are almost identical.
Except the hero in the Chinese movie is an awesome girl. Unlike the Spielberg movie which had to keep Indiana Jones alive for sequels, the Chinese girl sacrificed herself and died to save the good guys even though everyone tried to kill her just a few moments ago.
Indiana Jones movies are hits because it's easy to like the sassy professor and the Nazis are the perfect foil. But we should at least acknowledge the influence of this movie from Hong Kong on this film from Hollywood.
I was surprised to discover that so much of this 1981 Raiders of the Lost Ark movie is almost a copy of a 1976 Chinese kungfu movie from Hong Kong. The English title of the Chinese movie is "Web of Death". It's about a spider with deadly supernatural power which was hidden by the spider clan to keep its power contained, just like the ark. Bad guys of course tried to find it and did, just like the Nazis in the Spielberg movie. The traps in this and later Spielberg movies are so similar to the traps in this Chinese movie. And the special effects in the final fight between good and evil are almost identical.
Except the hero in the Chinese movie is an awesome girl. Unlike the Spielberg movie which had to keep Indiana Jones alive for sequels, the Chinese girl sacrificed herself and died to save the good guys even though everyone tried to kill her just a few moments ago.
Indiana Jones movies are hits because it's easy to like the sassy professor and the Nazis are the perfect foil. But we should at least acknowledge the influence of this movie from Hong Kong on this film from Hollywood.
The Appalachians
(2005– )
What Goes Around, Comes Around
17 July 2015
This documentary is well done and tries to be balanced. That's why I give it 7 stars. It gave the history of the Appalachia from the American perspective, from the original European immigrants to the modern times.
But, as I watch the trials and tribulations of the Appalachians in the 20th century, I can't help thinking of the original Native Americans who had been there for thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans who took over their land and destroyed their culture. To protect the new comers, the US government forcibly evicted the Native Americans so the Europeans can have a free hand and complete possession of the Appalachia. Do they now regret what they did? No, of course not. Will they give the land back to the Native Americans? No, of course not.
When I hear the modern Appalachians bemoan the hardship, I can't help wondering if they have forgotten that their great-great-grandparents had faced much worse hardship in Europe and had to travel to the other end of the world to find a better life and future for their children? If the modern Appalachians choose to stay put, then they should be ready to face and accept the hardship as their chosen way of life. If not, they too are free to migrate elsewhere.
And the complaints about industrialization and progress of the 20th century! Do they really expect time to stay still and everything remain the same? Everything has a price. Hard work and poverty or modernization and change. If they want to keep their primitive ways, they should join the Amish and refuse all modern conveniences. If not, something has to give. They don't get to have the best of both worlds at their choosing.
What goes around, comes around. And people everywhere throughout history have voted repeatedly with their feet where they want to go and how they want to live. Tough it out or seek better opportunity elsewhere. But people are adaptable. The Appalachians, if they want to stay and have a good life, they must adjust like everyone else. Change is the only constant in life and opportunity is as you create it.
But, as I watch the trials and tribulations of the Appalachians in the 20th century, I can't help thinking of the original Native Americans who had been there for thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans who took over their land and destroyed their culture. To protect the new comers, the US government forcibly evicted the Native Americans so the Europeans can have a free hand and complete possession of the Appalachia. Do they now regret what they did? No, of course not. Will they give the land back to the Native Americans? No, of course not.
When I hear the modern Appalachians bemoan the hardship, I can't help wondering if they have forgotten that their great-great-grandparents had faced much worse hardship in Europe and had to travel to the other end of the world to find a better life and future for their children? If the modern Appalachians choose to stay put, then they should be ready to face and accept the hardship as their chosen way of life. If not, they too are free to migrate elsewhere.
And the complaints about industrialization and progress of the 20th century! Do they really expect time to stay still and everything remain the same? Everything has a price. Hard work and poverty or modernization and change. If they want to keep their primitive ways, they should join the Amish and refuse all modern conveniences. If not, something has to give. They don't get to have the best of both worlds at their choosing.
What goes around, comes around. And people everywhere throughout history have voted repeatedly with their feet where they want to go and how they want to live. Tough it out or seek better opportunity elsewhere. But people are adaptable. The Appalachians, if they want to stay and have a good life, they must adjust like everyone else. Change is the only constant in life and opportunity is as you create it.
The Dovekeepers
(2015)
Racist & Slutty
6 April 2015
I loved "The Red Tent" and really looked forward to the story of Masada from the women's point of view. But this show is so disappointing as it shows nothing but re-affirming the ancient Judaim prejudice of self- righteous myopic racism that only the Jews are the chosen people and everyone else is scum and not entitled to live much less any consideration.
This show made no concession that anyone else could possibly be right except those in the Masada and no other view is allowed because the freedom-fighters are exempt from any criticism. When they kill the Romans, it's justified. When the Romans kill them, it's atrocity. Unfortunately, one minority group's patriots are another people's terrorists. The only modern people who can still accept the premise of this show is the ultra-conservative-Zionists.
However, if this concept is allowed the Zionists, why not the Muslim Terrorists who are the latest incarnation of the most terrifying and revolting aspects of the bigoted Judeo/Christian/Islam religious tradition? Shouldn't they be allowed to use the same arguments and the same rules as the new "freedom-fighters"?
What about the Palestinians? The Jews went into Canaan when it was already occupied. The Palestinians were there long before the Jews and continued to be there before the "return" of the Jews. If the Romans were wrong for invading and conquering Judea, what about the Jews for invading and conquering Palestine and massacring everyone who were there before and for walling-off those there are there now?
And what's with those women? Can't wait to sleep with the first good- looking man they see? Just because they are "in love", they selfishly dived in with eyes closed. It doesn't matter who they hurt because love excuses everything? It doesn't matter who they use or betray because they are in love? Absolutely ridiculous!
And poison the water of the Roman camp? How did the Jews like it when the Christians used to accuse them of doing the same in Europe? Now it's "heroic" when a Jewish woman did it? Killing by any means should be permitted because it's done by a Jewish woman?
How shallow is the writer and the producer? They need to look in the mirror first before they accuse others for what they are doing and they should looking around twice before taking sides.
I give the show a rating of "3" because the costume is nice, the color scheme is pleasant, and the set seems authentic. But I don't think I can stomach watching the rest of the show.
This show made no concession that anyone else could possibly be right except those in the Masada and no other view is allowed because the freedom-fighters are exempt from any criticism. When they kill the Romans, it's justified. When the Romans kill them, it's atrocity. Unfortunately, one minority group's patriots are another people's terrorists. The only modern people who can still accept the premise of this show is the ultra-conservative-Zionists.
However, if this concept is allowed the Zionists, why not the Muslim Terrorists who are the latest incarnation of the most terrifying and revolting aspects of the bigoted Judeo/Christian/Islam religious tradition? Shouldn't they be allowed to use the same arguments and the same rules as the new "freedom-fighters"?
What about the Palestinians? The Jews went into Canaan when it was already occupied. The Palestinians were there long before the Jews and continued to be there before the "return" of the Jews. If the Romans were wrong for invading and conquering Judea, what about the Jews for invading and conquering Palestine and massacring everyone who were there before and for walling-off those there are there now?
And what's with those women? Can't wait to sleep with the first good- looking man they see? Just because they are "in love", they selfishly dived in with eyes closed. It doesn't matter who they hurt because love excuses everything? It doesn't matter who they use or betray because they are in love? Absolutely ridiculous!
And poison the water of the Roman camp? How did the Jews like it when the Christians used to accuse them of doing the same in Europe? Now it's "heroic" when a Jewish woman did it? Killing by any means should be permitted because it's done by a Jewish woman?
How shallow is the writer and the producer? They need to look in the mirror first before they accuse others for what they are doing and they should looking around twice before taking sides.
I give the show a rating of "3" because the costume is nice, the color scheme is pleasant, and the set seems authentic. But I don't think I can stomach watching the rest of the show.
Death Comes to Pemberley
(2013)
duck impersonating a swan
3 November 2014
This sequel to "Pride and Prejudice" is of the same caliber as the one that tried to follow up on "Gone With The Wind".
How did Lizzy become so ugly and so old? When did she lose all her charm? And there was absolutely no chemistry whatsoever between her and dear Darcy. It seemed they could hardly look at each other. What happened to that wonderful special love they had in the original?
If Darcy is so rich, why Lizzy and Georgiana only had 1 cheap dress each? Both girls wore the same frumpy dress every day for weeks on end. In fact, everyone in the show only had one outfit for the entire show. Even though aristocrats in that era strove to look sharp and spiffy, yet, the overcoats of all the men in this show were all crumpled. It made the whole show looked like a low budget production.
Of course, it had to be a "murder mystery" instead of a romance because murder is the vogue right now. What's next? Murder in Emma and Knightly's home?
Poor Jane Austen! She must be turning over in her grave!
How did Lizzy become so ugly and so old? When did she lose all her charm? And there was absolutely no chemistry whatsoever between her and dear Darcy. It seemed they could hardly look at each other. What happened to that wonderful special love they had in the original?
If Darcy is so rich, why Lizzy and Georgiana only had 1 cheap dress each? Both girls wore the same frumpy dress every day for weeks on end. In fact, everyone in the show only had one outfit for the entire show. Even though aristocrats in that era strove to look sharp and spiffy, yet, the overcoats of all the men in this show were all crumpled. It made the whole show looked like a low budget production.
Of course, it had to be a "murder mystery" instead of a romance because murder is the vogue right now. What's next? Murder in Emma and Knightly's home?
Poor Jane Austen! She must be turning over in her grave!
The World Wars
(2014)
Hitler was a Spaniard?
29 May 2014
An interesting take on some key players of the drama and pretty decent footages of the war.
Not as bad as the guy who blasted it. But, 8.1 stars? Really? Who were the people who gave it such high rating? 4th graders? My Main Problem with the show - Why was Hitler speaking with a Spanish accent? That is so glaring and extremely annoying. Can't find a competent actor? Can't find an actor who can do German accent? So ridiculous!!! After laugh at it for a while, I just fast forward all his scenes.
But I have learned to lower my expectations of the Histroy Channel from my experience with its programs. This show only confirmed my low opinion of the channel and the carelessness of its producers.
Not as bad as the guy who blasted it. But, 8.1 stars? Really? Who were the people who gave it such high rating? 4th graders? My Main Problem with the show - Why was Hitler speaking with a Spanish accent? That is so glaring and extremely annoying. Can't find a competent actor? Can't find an actor who can do German accent? So ridiculous!!! After laugh at it for a while, I just fast forward all his scenes.
But I have learned to lower my expectations of the Histroy Channel from my experience with its programs. This show only confirmed my low opinion of the channel and the carelessness of its producers.
Noah
(2014)
Typical Hollywood Hype and Bunk
24 March 2014
Of all the flood stories around the world from different cultures, Noah is the least believable. The problem with "Biblical" epics is that when faith kicks in, everyone involved shut down their brains.
The scale of the ark in the movie is absolutely ridiculous. 125,000,000 and they couldn't spend a bit on research on where Noah lived?
They lived in an arid region. Trees were rare and wood were expensive. There were not that much wood to build his huge ark even if he cut down all the trees and shrubs within 500 miles radius. That's why the people there built their houses with mud bricks and their temples with stones.
With so many rolling hills and deep wadis in the area, where could Noah have found such a huge vacant flat space to build his ark?
And as Bill Cosby asked God, "How am I to tell the difference between the male mosquito and the female mosquito?"
The scale of the ark in the movie is absolutely ridiculous. 125,000,000 and they couldn't spend a bit on research on where Noah lived?
They lived in an arid region. Trees were rare and wood were expensive. There were not that much wood to build his huge ark even if he cut down all the trees and shrubs within 500 miles radius. That's why the people there built their houses with mud bricks and their temples with stones.
With so many rolling hills and deep wadis in the area, where could Noah have found such a huge vacant flat space to build his ark?
And as Bill Cosby asked God, "How am I to tell the difference between the male mosquito and the female mosquito?"
Anna Karenina
(I) (2012)
Artsy Fartsy Jumble
4 September 2013
Stars don't make movies. Movies make stars. A bad director can ruin everything for everyone.
The stilted transition, the artsy fartsy staging, the awkward mis en scene of this movie made it a farce of a masterpiece that was done so beautifully with Vivien Leigh and Fredreich March before.
The director's eagerness to show off his uniquely creative genius drained every ounce of the movie's possible connection with the audience. When the focus is on the making of the movie instead of the story of the movie, it made any emotional involvement with the characters impossible. Everyone in the movie became no more than walking paper cutouts in a shadow play.
What a waste of a lot of money and lavish costumes and the talents of many actors. What a shame!
The stilted transition, the artsy fartsy staging, the awkward mis en scene of this movie made it a farce of a masterpiece that was done so beautifully with Vivien Leigh and Fredreich March before.
The director's eagerness to show off his uniquely creative genius drained every ounce of the movie's possible connection with the audience. When the focus is on the making of the movie instead of the story of the movie, it made any emotional involvement with the characters impossible. Everyone in the movie became no more than walking paper cutouts in a shadow play.
What a waste of a lot of money and lavish costumes and the talents of many actors. What a shame!
Wuthering Heights
(2011)
This Is Not A Radio Show!
22 August 2013
There must be a new discovery that there were a large population of black people in England throughout history. Why else was there no mention of it in history books or any black characters in movies or TV shows that came out of England before 1980s? Why else would there be so many black characters in British shows of every genre in the last 30 years? Not only were there lots of black people but many of them occupied important posts, including royalties, courtiers, and attorneys, in historical costume dramas dating back a few hundred years. Oh, yeah, I forgot, Guinnevere was a black girl according to the TV series Merlin. How did everyone missed it for so many hundreds of years? But, apparently, everyone did. So I guess the British casting agent did not think it strange to cast a black person as Heathcliff.
But then, casting agents have become assembly line workers these days whose job is to fill the slots regardless if the actor fits the bill or looks the part at all. All they seem to do now is stuff warm bodies into a list of characters. Just because they are blind, they assume audience are blind also. Sadly, the production teams seem too lazy or too scared to care.
Hey, news for the production teams and casting agents: We are only supposed to accept everyone as equals regardless of race, gender, age, and sexual orientation, we are not required to be actually blind.
But then, casting agents have become assembly line workers these days whose job is to fill the slots regardless if the actor fits the bill or looks the part at all. All they seem to do now is stuff warm bodies into a list of characters. Just because they are blind, they assume audience are blind also. Sadly, the production teams seem too lazy or too scared to care.
Hey, news for the production teams and casting agents: We are only supposed to accept everyone as equals regardless of race, gender, age, and sexual orientation, we are not required to be actually blind.
Resistance
(2003)
Good Acting Cannot Overcome Bad Script
16 November 2012
I love Julia Ormand and was eager to see this movie on TV. She's as wonderful as ever. Unfortunately, the script was ridiculous.
An American pilot shot down in enemy territory. The villagers doing their best to save his life. Yet he pays no attention to their culture, their system, and their safety. He's only concerned about himself and what he wants. He takes over the house, goes outside, plays baseball, gave his dog tag to a kid, doing his best to expose himself to the Nazi while the villagers die to protect him. Even though he does not speak Frech, he goes out in public and refuses to hide so everyone can see there's a stranger in town. He only thinks about his own happiness, honor and others be damned. Unfortnately, the Germans were not as stupid as the American thought. Of course him and those who tried to help him all got caught.
With friend like this, who needs enemies? Who wrote this stupid script?
An American pilot shot down in enemy territory. The villagers doing their best to save his life. Yet he pays no attention to their culture, their system, and their safety. He's only concerned about himself and what he wants. He takes over the house, goes outside, plays baseball, gave his dog tag to a kid, doing his best to expose himself to the Nazi while the villagers die to protect him. Even though he does not speak Frech, he goes out in public and refuses to hide so everyone can see there's a stranger in town. He only thinks about his own happiness, honor and others be damned. Unfortnately, the Germans were not as stupid as the American thought. Of course him and those who tried to help him all got caught.
With friend like this, who needs enemies? Who wrote this stupid script?
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