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jonlioncourt
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The Search for Michael Rockefeller (2011)
Very Interesting, But Not Conclusive
I'm not going to retell the story like some people do with reviews; IMDb has already provided that to you. My comment is more of the "open ending". It seems the consensus is that Rockefeller died either by drowning (although an excellent swimmer) or by being murdered by cannibals in retaliation for 4 of their villagers who were killed by white men 4 years prior. However, a less than 5 second clip of the found reels clearly show a nude white man in a canoe with tribal people and surrounded only by the black tribal people in other canoes. There were more than 50 and possibly 100 people in this clip (large canoes) and only one was white and Rockefeller was the only missing white man.
The narrator states that the footage wasn't clear enough to say for certain that the man was Rockefeller, but with his obvious complexion, hair color and style, on top of having a beard (as he did before he left) seems somewhat certain to me. No other white men were ever seen among the tribes, so who else could this be? Another question would be why would Rockefeller, a recent Ivy League graduate and heir to a fortune want to trade that for living in the stone age? Perhaps he was stranded with no way to contact anyone? And the people who looked for him perhaps were just not looking in the right place? After all, at that time the recently discovered film had not been seen and it wasn't until 2007 that it was viewed, so no one would have known he might have been assimilated into a tribe.
In that clip, one could have found the exact beach the canoes had launched from, had it been seen. By now, Rockefeller is most likely dead of old age. Contrary to this film's claim to this incident being the most mysterious of the century, it really isn't. I think Amelia Earhart probably was, just ahead of the Lindbergh kidnapping. The film clip showing the white man is proof enough for me to believe Rockefeller lived among the tribe after having been stranded. It appears obvious the film was made after he had adopted the tribe's nudity policy. You wouldn't just discover a tribe and strip down. He had to have been with them for enough time to adopt their customs. There is no other explanation in my opinion. The last question I have is who took that clip and did they notice the white man at the time it was filmed?
If you're not patient, you might become bored. I was, but I was also curious enough to stick it out. It isn't for everybody, but I do recommend it.
Hunter Prey (2010)
Outstanding For Budget - Great Director and Actors
This is a great film. It is slow and not for everyone, but it's supposed to be that way. I came across this director as the guy who make a short Batman film, but he sure did progress. That 9 minute short was good, but this production is no less than a big box version of anything. $900K made a great impact on the Sci-Fi industry with this thought provoking film and while it was a bit drawn out, it really delivered. The cinematography was great, the location was great and the editing was great. There's nothing not to like about this film unless you are expecting some kind of intergalactic war. Although that is taking place somewhere else, the two "aliens" in this film give you all you need for a fantastic film. In our day now, it is nearly unbelievable that someone can make a film on that budget and produce such a masterpiece.
Kajaki (2014)
Epic, Real, Impeccable Masterpiece!
I like war films. Not because I like war, but since it happens I'd like to know more about it. This film isn't like "Platoon", "Hamburger Hill", "Saving Private Ryan" or any other such "Movies". This film isn't like a movie at all. It is so real that it sucks you into every moment as though you were actually there. After the character development, I was literally on the edge of my seat, with my elbows on my knees with my hands holding my cheeks. I saw it at home, so thankfully I was able to pause it to make a cocktail; I needed one because it was that serious.
Other war films I have seen and liked; they seem like popcorn fodder compared to this one. I was so engrossed in the progression and actually became angry at war itself like I have never felt before. I wasn't aware it was a true story until the end credits and I cried then. I was emotional throughout the film, not even knowing this. It was so real that I talked not only to myself, but to the characters I was watching.
Thankfully, there were no "shaky cameras" like "Inglorious Bastards", making it easy to concentrate on what was really going on. What was going on was disturbing and humbling at the same time. Every scene and every incidence was relevant. I don't even call this film a "movie", because it is better than that. I have never given 10/10 to any film and rarely write reviews, but this one is deserving of a 15/10 if that were possible. If you have any reservations about watching this film, cast them aside and view it. Every aspect of what a perfect film would be about is included in this one. It's not a family film or for those who faint easily. It is gripping, extremely graphic, truthful and simply a masterpiece of cinema.
It is deserving of the Academy Award for "Best Picture", "Best Director", "Best Screenplay", "Best Actor", Best Supporting Actor", "Best Cinematography", "Best Editing", "Best Makeup", and of all the films I have ever seen, I put this one on the top of my list, and that isn't an easy feat. With my child love of the "Wizard Of Oz" and my insatiable lust for "Star Trek" and "Star Wars", this film has dethroned all of them. This is the best film I have ever seen in my life.
Everest (2015)
Lame at Best
I give it high ranks for cinematography, but it was boring and predictable. What do you think is going to happen when a group of nuts got out in the cold and heights for no reason at all? "Because it's there"? For real? Is that why people risk their lives just to stand on a mountain? While well filmed, this movie goes nowhere that you wouldn't expect. People get cold, run out of oxygen and freeze; wouldn't you expect that? I was an idiot for even giving this film a chance. I'm only giving it 2 stars, and that is being gracious, because of the cinematography. The actors are unbelievable, almost to a comic state and I would not recommend you wasting your time.
Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)
Top 5 Worst Endings Ever!
Reviews aren't about telling you what the movie is about, you already know. What you should know is this movie was terrible. It started out OK, but went down hill. Grey isn't that hot and neither is Ana. The worst part of the film was the end. It was like driving over a cliff. It ended abruptly giving you no clue how it really ended. I don't want to assume an ending, I want to see it. My movie partner and I looked at each other at the same time and said, "WTF"? The film would have been just OK if it had an ending, but since it didn't have one, I felt I wasted my time. Had I paid to see it, I would have been livid. Maybe they were setting up a sequel, but if that is the case, I won't be seeing the next one.