A beautiful commentary on society. Everything in this movie is binary. There's no bisexuality, no half shoe sizes. Relationships are built on top of superficial commonalities like a limp or a nosebleed. If it doesn't work out, get some children. Men and women are useless when they're alone. Men will choke to death while eating, women are getting raped. You might as well be an animal at that point.
To me the repetitiveness and monotony that spanned everything from camera work over score to dialogues was just a perfect way to underline the movie's message.
Pretty good movie which started brilliantly but unfortunately failed to deliver a convincing end.
So obviously, I had to see Lady Bird being the RT/MC snob that I am with a weakness for these independent films. Since it had a 100% RT fresh and 94% MC rating, I had to see what was all the fuss. I definitely enjoyed the film quite a bit and it definitely hit home with a lot of the emotional life situations the protagonist Lady Bird goes/stumbles through (even though I'm a guy). Saoirse Ronan has always been one of my favorite actresses and she kills it here. Her chemistry with Laurie Metcalf, who plays her tough loving and, at times, overly critical mother is fantastic and their relationship forms one of the major cruxes of the film.
The story is essentially about a girl learning (the hard way many times) what is truly important to her in this world (and, more specifically, in the town of Sacramento) and realizing to not take for granted what she has even though she is coming from an unideal situation. However, this theme is explored in a funny, witty and non-pretentious manner to the viewer that allows you to really relate and sympathize with the protagonist (while chuckling along as well). So many times, I was like "ohhhh man, that is just not a good decision, but I totally did the same stupid thing when I was younger..." moments that just really resonated with me throughout. It's a coming-of-age story that really progresses the protagonist but by using what seems like "common and mundane" life events that we've all undoubtedly experienced before at one point of our lives. They took a lot of cliche coming-of-age scenarios (gay boyfriend, going to a Catholic school, confronted by a nun, etc) but put a nice and realistic spin on them different from other movies. This relatability is what really sold the film for me.
In a short time, the viewer experiences a profound yet truly realistic and believable transformation of the protagonist, Lady Bird. I am reminded of another movie, The Edge of Seventeen, that I watched last year and didn't really enjoy or connect with, where the main female character undergoes a similar "journey", but I felt like I could connect (and, thus, sympathize) far more with Saoirse Ronan's complicated and stumbling character than Hailee Steinfeld's edgey for-the-sake-of-being-edgey interpretation of her protagonist.
Anyway, I really enjoyed this movie, and highly recommend giving it a shot. I think that it will really resonate with viewers who have experienced some financial and social difficulties at some point in life, and have gone through the embarrassing pains and those seemingly obvious and avoidable mistakes when trying to "grow up".
This is flat out one of my favorite films. Everything in this is so good that I was blown away the first time I saw it in college. I immediately went to amazon and ordered the blu ray for my own collection. If you've never seen it, do it now.
The plot in this is great because we jump from sequence to sequence in a very logical, perfectly timed way. No, the whole movie does not take place on the front line. Instead we go through the whole process for what happens early on to see how it fully effects the soldiers. I get so furious every time I watch this at the dickhole characters.
Seriously, go watch this.
It's fun. Some good turn your mind off entertainment. I still like Wonder Woman more but it a lot better than Suicide Squad. All the characters have their own moments to shine. I wish we would of gotten a little more backstory on all the new characters but with the shorter run time I understand why it feels a little rushed and we get enough to get an idea. Paper thin villain. Simple and cliche story. Some of the jokes land while some don't. The pacing is a little off. The third act is basically all CGI. Not so great CGI but I've seen worse.
The worse thing about this movie is not enough J.K. Simmons. He got ripped so he could wear a trench coat and be in two scenes. I hope he is in future movies with a bigger role but who knows what the DCEU is going to do.
I wonder if we will get an ultimate edition? I think a longer version of this movie could be interesting. I would definitely watch it. Also I wonder what it would look like if it was all Zack Synder?
An amazing western!
I really loved the real time aspect here, a pacing intertwined with the great soundtrack by Dimitri Tiomkin. Talking about that, what a great theme song led by Tex Ritter's powerful voice!
The cinematography is great, the acting too... everything put together just makes a damn good movie.
A lot of people talk about the final clash, as anticlimax and all,
But I guess the the main message remains on one of the last shots.
Possibly the best western of all time. The final fight may be disappointing for some but it gets the message across well. It's really a satire on McCarthyism so it doesn't focus on action as much as a traditional Western would but the movie is genius. Fun Fact: the film is in real time, so if 5 minutes pass in the real world, then five minutes pass in the movie world as well.
Yeah, this is an awesome movie. Definitely one of the best of the nineties.
The story revolves around 8 groups of criminals that all are somehow connected to each other. All of them are all involved in either revenge, drugs, money or guns and they use a lot of violence to get to the point they wanna go.
This movie is also incredible funny, anyone remembered that scene where the gang that robbed the marijuana growers was about to ambush the gang that stole their money from them but instead of those guys showing up the gang the marijuana belonged to showed up? With that Greek music that was playing in the background? I couldn't stop laughing the first time i saw that scene.
With this movie Guy Ritchie showed that he had some real talent. And 2 years later he showed everyone that is wasn't a one-time fluke with Snatch.
This movie is also responsible for launching the career of some of the people who worked on it, namely Guy Ritchie, Vinnie Jones and off course Jason Statham.
By what we read on the synopsis, I was expecting something more dark and serious and not something so brilliantly funny and entertaining! Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is the perfect blend of crime and humour.
I think every single performance was great, the characters are extremely funny and despite the fact that they are all a bunch of criminals and swindlers they are all very likable.
Visually different, with a great camerawork. The dialogues are excellent, the plot is amazing and the ending is absolutely fantastic, it couldn't be a better end for this story!
Guy Ritchie did a terrific job directing this film! And it's a gangsters flick! How could I not like a good gangsters flick!?
If you are like me and you did not watch this until now, you don't know what you are missing. Please, watch this right now!
"It's too bad she won't live! But then again, who does?"
Do any of us really live? Does it really matter in the end? All that matters is what we leave behind because most of our memories are lost like tears in the rain.
I can't wait for 2049. Denis Villeneuve has been one of the best directors of the past decade and I have complete faith he will make another masterpiece.
As excited to rewatch this the night before the sequel drops as I am the sequel itself...this sci-fi Gold is a small piece of my childhood...and besides...my ol'lady loves this movie too which means I get to throw a couple C beams across her Tannhauser gate after haaaaa
"You have no idea what I'm talking about, i'm sure, but don't worry, you will someday."
There are very few films that have had so much impact on me and that have made me think about the true meaning of our life. American Beauty is one of them. I've seen this movie for some time, but after several months processing what I saw, I'm just writing about it now.
American Beauty, for me, it's about the search for our identity and what really matters in our lives. After all, we only live once. And we should enjoy every minute to the fullest.
We should take advantage of life to focus on the things that really matter, the people around us, not material goods.
The screenplay is very well written, the direction of Sam Mendes is magnificent and the performances are perfect. The characters are very well set up and all of them have a purpose, the soundtrack is beautiful and the cinematography, wonderful.
American Beauty is, without a doubt, in my top 10 favorite movies of all time and it might very well be my number 1.
Dunkirk gets top marks all around. An outstanding 10/10 are the only numbers I've calculated.
Christopher Nolan has now solidified his name forever when it comes to naming who had the Midas touch in film making for the last decade+.
Behold the assault on your senses...all of them.
Dunkirk, from the very start straps you in, forces you to take a deep breath and then grabs those senses and never let them go for the better part of an hour and 35 mins.
The sense of urgency you get begins immediately. The visuals are breathtaking. The audio effects immensely impressive. It chases you left and right, from the bottom and from above. You'll tilt your head during some of the flying scenes. That's a rather a neat trick without 3D/VR. 65mm really shines here, filming at its finest I'd say (the whole movie is shot entirely in 65mm and boy does it look fantastic, a true work of art). To get that feeling and the 'I was in awe' cinematography and sound experience you should...no, need to watch this film in a 4K/Dolby Atmos equipped theater or if available in your area, IMAX 70mm. Nothing else will cut it and nothing else will immerse your senses, nothing. Dunkirk will for sure be the showcase Demo Disc for home theater retailers and those wanting to test their Atmos or DTS:X setups. It needs to be said again, this film has some of the most incredible sounds and cinematography ever captured thus far. Making it a sure contender for an Oscar win or 2. Best Picture of the year so far for me. It could very well sweep the Academy Awards in 2018 in at least 3 categories.
Hans Zimmer, make way for another Oscar on that shelf. With the masterful crescendo scoring, no one else in the business could have brought my senses to the climax that I experienced. Take a bow and know your legacy and film contributions can never be questioned and hardly replicated today by others, period.
From the start, I felt as if I was being pursued by Jaws! I felt like I was drowning at one point. I felt like I was flying and in an aerial dogfight the next. Incredible combination all around, gentlemen. Incredible.
The acting is certainly beyond reproach, no question. Skilled directing and producing are a must, but the efforts Nolan and Co put into this film could have been lost if the actors didn't bring their full potential, to convey the desperate situation these men and women found themselves in, waiting to be rescued, all hope just about lost, spirits broken and home yearning. The assembled cast must share in any and all accolades bestowed upon Dunkirk.
This my friends, is film making at its Pinnacle!
Dunkirk by Christopher Nolan was just a fabulous experience. I definitely enjoyed the movie quite a bit from start to finish, and usually war movies aren't really my cup of tea (at least not anymore). However, cinematically, the entire movie is just a masterpiece. As a big movie buff, I could appreciate how meticulously crafted the whole movie was. It's so hard to create a movie like this within this genre while trying to remain "minimal", but Christopher Nolan accomplishes it in every sense of the word.
He seamlessly interweaves 3-4 different plot narratives/timelines, while using minimal amounts of exposition. He gives the viewer such a sense of a looming and foreboding threat, while never even having a Nazi soldier on screen at any time. He tells us "so much with so little" and allows the viewer to take in the conflict of each situation (and there are a lot of them) rather than point it all out to us. In that sense, you really feel like you're getting into the mind of each one of the soldiers/main characters when they are contemplating some very crucial decisions that literally determine life and death, for not just them, but many other men as well.
Nolan gives us continued development, closure and solid endings in each one of the tiny subplots that he sets off from the beginning. It's definitely a joy seeing how all the different plotlines intermingle with each other at the end especially with the civilian aspect added in. And, most importantly, he accomplishes all this in less than 2 hours (and by a damn good margin as well).
If you appreciate amazing direction, cinematography, and vision within a movie, this will be an absolute joy. It could definitely get Christopher Nolan that elusive Best Director Oscar come Academy Award season. I watched Dunkirk in 70mm, but, honestly, I couldn't really tell the difference, especially without being able to do a side-by-side comparison to a regular version. Overall, it didn't seem too different from the usual XD or IMAX type presentation at my local big theater. Still, the movie is a visual treat lending heavily to more practical effects that gives a nice sense of realism to it all.
Anyways, this gets a solid 9/10 from me, coming from a war movie curmudgeon. Watch it, and you won't regret it.
This movie is a form of art I haven't seen in quite a while. I was on the edge of my seat with a pumping heart from the beginning of the movie till the very end. Christopher Nolan and his whole entire team did nothing but an absolutely amazing job on Dunkirk. It was impressive and it was powerful.
I haven't watched many "war movies", mainly because I usually don't really enjoy them. But this one is worth the watch. It's not only amazing cinematography, directing and acting, this movie is a whole experience on its own. I don't think I've ever felt more a part of a movie as I did with Dunkirk. (I watched it in IMAX so there's a lot of screen. It might have something to do with that, but still.) The camera work was exquisite, it brought drama as well as stability when there needed to be. Hans Zimmer has truly outdone himself. My pumping heart was mainly because of his amazing music. Don't get me started on the actors. Showing us all that you don't need a script filled with many lines to make a brilliant movie or to show how good an actor can act. Heck, I think if you can play a movie like this one, you for sure are a great actor. I know people are giving Harry Styles a lot of praise for this movie (seeing that it's his first proper role) and I with them, he was amazing. But I don't want to forget about all the other actors. Fionn Whitehead, Jack Lowden, Cillian Murphy, Kenneth Branagh all artists in what they do, no doubt. Mark Rylance was a rock in the ocean for everyone, giving us all hope and showing that not all people are as bad. His character was a beautiful person. Aneurin Barnard and Tom Glynn-Carney really stood out for me as well. They were both strong individuals with their own minds who did what they could for survival, not only for themselves but for the people around them as well. Before I stop my (once again) too long actor praise I just want to say: Tom Hardy. What a legend.
I'd like to end this review with the same words I started it. This movie is a piece of art, something you truly experience and not just watch, something you're a part of. I really, really recommend you to go watch it. It will be worth your while.
Before Anthony and Joe Russo were directing superhero movies, they worked on a little show called Community. The series, oddly enough, had some common ground with The Avengers. Both were about seven people from different backgrounds who came in with their own damage, bounced off one another in interesting ways, but would, now and then, come together to do amazing things.
But one of the most remarkable things about the was its mastery of tone. The series was pitched as a comedy, and true to that billing, it was a damn funny show. And yet it could just as easily shift into something quiet and personal, something unremittingly dark, or something complex and difficult without the easy answers that are seemingly required on a network sitcom.
So when watching Captain America: Civil War, I couldn’t help but see how the Russos had brought that amazing ability to balance different characters and tones and translated it onto a much bigger stage without missing a beat.
Because Civil War is hilarious. It is action-packed and all kinds of fun. It’s full of impressive moments and inventive sequences and fights big and small that are filled with feeling and imagination. And at the same time it is, in its own way, a very dark film. It touches on big ideas like moral responsibility and guilt and the dangers of unchained power, but grounds them in characters, and individual moment, and personal relationships. It is a smorgasbord of moods and stories that makes you laugh, makes you gasp, and make you feel the tragedy of a given moment, without letting it clash. And that is one hell of an achievement.
That achievement is all the more impressive given how many moving parts there were to this clockwork behemoth of a film. Civil War features no fewer than twelve heroes, three major villains, and a bevy of supporting characters, and nearly all them get a moment in the sun. Nevermind the fact that on top of all of this, the film had to introduce two new characters slated to get their own films -- one of whom was under the radar for most non-comic book fans, and another who was laden with the expectations that come from being a household name with two prior uneven franchises under his belt.
But Black Panther was far from a third wheel amid the super-powered clash at the top of the card, and his motivations and outsider status with The Avengers gave him a unique role to play in the narrative, an important arc in the film. Spider-Man, for his part, had the kind of chummy-if-overwhelmed vibe with Tony Stark that you’d hope for, and proved himself an enjoyably free spirit in the big battle. And everyone else in the film, from Ant-Man’s show-stealing humor, to Vision and Scarlet Witch’s endearing connection, to Rhodey’s loss, had an important part to play, without anyone getting lost in the shuffle.
That balance is made all the more difficult by how much oxygen Captain America and Iron Man take up at the top of the card. There is a history between the two characters. They have never seen eye-to-eye, and the films in the MCU have never shied away from that, even as they’ve brought the two of them together for their shared struggles. And again, Civil War does well by using the disagreements and difference between these two men as symbols for a larger debate, for bigger issues between them, while never detracting from the personal side of their beef.
To be frank, it took some work to convince me that Tony Stark would be in favor of the Sokovia Accords, which put The Avengers under the supervision of a U.N. Committee. And yet, the film shows Tony’s interaction with a woman whose son perished in the rubble of Sokovia. He’s seen the collateral damage of their actions and he’s feeling the guilt of it. The film does well to couch Stark’s position in terms of his weapons dealing -- he made his living in an industry where his seemingly harmless actions were leading to innocent people being hurt and killed, and he realized he had to do something. For Tony, this is no different. He’s worried about the collateral damage from their actions.
Steve Rogers, for his part, is understandably much less trusting of government supervision. He’s the one who blanched at the discovery that Shield was using Hydra technology to create weapons; he’s the one who saw Hydra take over the organization he worked for from the inside, and use good people to ill-ends, and he’s the one who’s seen his best friend brainwashed and used as a weapon for geopolitical conflict when the higher ups felt it necessary.
At the same time, he’s also concerned about there being a need that he can’t respond to because of red tape. He’s worried that innocent people will suffer, that people who need saving won’t be saved, because the people who try to do right will be too hamstrung by procedure and approval while the good people suffer. He’s worried about the collateral damage from their inaction.
But these are not simply grand philosophical difference between the two of them. Civil War ties it into their unique psychological baggage, which comes to a head in a confrontation between the two of them in the second act of the film. Tony has lost the people in his life that matter to him -- Pepper and his parents, and their absence casts a major shadow over his part of the film. This fight, this struggle, has kept him from the parts of his life that made it all worth it for him, that gave him his Batman-like need to protect them, to create a world where no one would have to suffer that kind of loss.
But Steve, despite his status as a man out of town, found his family. The Avengers, new and old, gave him a place where he felt like he belonged, people who had fought alongside him like the Howling Commandos once had, and became his brothers and sisters in arms. Steve is this close to signing the accords until he finds out that because of them, Tony has Wanda Maximoff under what amounts to house arrest. That’s a bridge too far for Captain America. He isn’t worried about getting people back; he’s worried about outside forces taking them away.
So there is a schism, caused by Secretary (nee General) Ross from above, and Zemo from below. The former is the liaison of the Sokovia accords, who attempts to maneuver his way into corralling more superheroes after his run-ins Hulk, and the latter is a man who lost his family thanks to The Avengers, and is determined to use any means necessary to tear them apart, to have their empire crumble from within. And in the middle of that schism is Black Widow, who’s pragmatic enough to know that Tony’s right in the logistics of it all--that they’ll get a better deal agreeing to conditions than having them forced on the group, but sympathetic enough to understand why Steve can’t get on board, what his connection to her and this group means, and the threat posed by anything with the ability to forcibly sever it.
And then there’s Bucky. While Black Widow is a tie that brings Captain America and Iron Man together, The Winter Soldier is a wedge that drives them apart. When Steve sees Bucky, he sees his childhood friend, the one who knows his mother’s name and, with the death of Peggy Carter, is his last real tie to the life he used to live and the man he used to be. He sees family, and connection.
But when Stark sees him, he sees, by dint of Zemo’s machinations, the man who killed his parents, who took away his last chance to tell his father that he loved him, who, brainwashing or no brainwashing, snuffed out a light that Tony needed desperately in times like these. He sees the end of family, and the severing of a connection he will never be able to get back.
That’s what makes Civil War so powerful. In a genre of escalating bombast, it brings the conflict back to the small and personal. The film’s opening action scene gives a moment in the spotlight to each of the new Avengers; the subsequent chases and rumbles featuring The Winter Soldier are a visual treat, and it all culminates in an internecine conflict among the heroes that stands as one of the most creative, entertaining, and thrilling action set pieces since the Battle of New York in the first Avengers film.
But instead of that continued escalation, the film narrows its focus after that. The climax of the film comes from a personal reveal -- not only that Bucky was the Starks’ assassin, but that Steve knew and had the gist of it, if not the specifics, but never said a word. A film with so many characters and themes and stories comes down to a conflict between three people. That is the heart of the film -- a dispute, a wedge, that is as personal as it is philosophical, that is as meaningful because of the characters as we’ve watched them grow and develop as because of the fact that it’s two icons locked in combat with one another.
And that too, was one of Community’s strengths. For as outrageous and absurd and cartoony as the show could get, at its best, it drew all that weirdness and humor and conflict back down to the simple, emotional, and human. Tony Stark is still quick with a witty, sarcastic remark. Steve Rogers can still take a beating and deliver one in return. And their conflict is the culmination of more than that, of difference of opinion, of lifestyle, of their place in life and their place in relation to one another, with their team and their family.
As grandiose and ambitious and multi-faceted a film and narrative as Civil War presents, at its core, it’s a story about two people who care about each other breaking away, about the elements of their relationships and their histories and psyches that drives them to do it, and the extraordinarily human reasons that both pull them back together and tear them apart. These are the kinds of themes the Russos brought with them from their old gig, and they make Civil War more than just the flash and excitement of the good guys coming to blows; it’s a film that crystallizes from the connections between its characters, between the emotions and experiences that drive them, between the humanity, humor, and heart that drives the Marvel Cinematic Universe and produced what may be its greatest film to date.
really excited for this :D
This movie has been in my library for a long time. Unwatched.
I prejudiced this movie too much.
Why? Because I thought, it is a movie about a boy who's getting in trouble, and finds himself on a small rescue boat on the ocean with a tiger. And the tiger. is getting his very best friend, they r gonna survive and: HAPPY END.
A Boy.
A Tiger.
On a boat.
Before watching this movie I thought, okay, this might get REALLY boring. Well I did not got bored at all! There was so much happing all the time.
I do not want to spoiler, but I loved the ending as well. Not the real big Hollywood - Ending where everyone is happy.
Stupid plot. Well, it wasn't.
When you watch this movie, you will get funny scenes (especially in the beginning), and really good actors.
You get stunning pictures and I do not mean the tiger by that. Sure the tiger / animals were GREAT, but I loved the pictures around the boat really much.
Life of Pi was one of the best movies I have seen this year... and it is October right now ;)
8/10
Life of Pi is simply magnificent, a truly masterpiece and is now part of my all-time favorite movies.
From the technical point of view, it is astonishing, the colors dance with the forms to create landscapes to take your breath away, it is amazing to see how realistic a CGI can be nowadays, even if they have filmed 4 different tigers, Suraj Sharma (Pi) was never even near a real tiger.
Life of Pi is not just a survival story of a castaway in challenging conditions. While all this is present, it is a simple fixture for a table of allegorical representations of several life happenings, survival instinct, faith and affection. Interconnected, the film makes no judgments about the authority in relation to each other, leaving the choice to the viewer, who will decide according to his own disposition on life, faith and relationships.
The history is just perfect, it is full with symbolic meanings that you only realize at the end of the movie, both the introducing and the ending wrap the main history giving it even more meaning.
Ang Lee performs probably the most significant film of his career with the adaptation of the book bythe canadian Yann Martel. The reflection of Taiwanese filmmaker is noticeable in the way each image with meaning grabs and transforms simple scenarios as a boat on the water to subliminal images full of spiritualism.
Life of Pi is a technical marvel and a treasure film destined to become a modern classic. In my personal opinion, this is a movie you must see, and ofc among the best of the year.
This movie was amazing!! loved it, havent seen a great movie like this in a while! No wonder why there was a bidding war to remake this. Studio Gaumont finally won the bidding war, hopefully they do the remake justice.
Just brilliant and absolutely terrifying. Korea doesn't have many works featuring zombies, but it still outshines many other Hollywood zombie flicks I've seen.
One of the best zombies flim in sometime. There is so much to learn in the movie. Humor, sad, happy and sorrow. No one would expect the movie to be so great. The fun dramatically increase as the movie goes.
Who would guess someone would be so scary as one finally turned in to into zombies. Humans are scary creatures. Selfishness among the same species. No good, no bad. Finally, the one who survives and live on are those who suffered the most.
100% agree with other comments, this is a cracking zombie film, Korea gives its own twist to the zombie genre, and works so well. The pace of the film, and outbreak is similar to the bullet train, it whips along. And the performances from the actors are outstanding, especially after that change!
Highly recommended, best zombie film in years!
"If my best friend hides his farts from me then what else is he hiding from me, and why does that make me feel so alone?"
Honestly, I am just glad a movie like Swiss Army Man exists.
Coming from the directors of the "Turn Down for What" music video comes one of the weirdest films I have ever seen in my entire life. The film opens with Hank (Dano), attempting to hang himself on a stranded island, but instead ens up finding Manny's (Radcliffe) deceased corpse wash ashore. After this, Hank discovers Manny is not only just alive, but he has an array of unexplained supernatural abilities, including an "erection compass" (I shit you not), extreme flatulence, super human strength, and even more.
The film's premise is so bizarre, but it constantly manages to be relatable, no matter how crazy the movie continues to get. The film feels rewarding as you watch it, and not just based on a gimmick to show a bunch of dumb stuff happen on screen for 90 minutes. The film has an apparent purpose, and thats what makes it stand out; Beneath all the insanity, it has a lot of heart.
The cinematography is beautiful, and coupled with the score, there are many scenes in this movie which are absolutely serene
Its well acted, its genuinely hilarious, and it really will make you think at times - which was a pleasant surprise, to be honest. My only gripe with the film is that the third act (the last twenty minutes to be specific) drags on too long and the momentum is somewhat lost by the time the credits roll by.
All in all, Swiss Army Man is an extremely enjoyable film, and one that truly is memorable, especially in a time when we're constantly being plagued by sequels and unnecessary reboots.
Logan (2017)
Pros:
- The performances of the three leads are great.
- Excellent writing for the three main characters, including an intriguing set-up and pay-off for each of them.
- The funny moments between Logan and Charles.
- Flawless first act.
- Different tone compared to the other films in this franchise, that will remind a lot of us of Hell or Highwater .
- Gory and intense action scenes (loved the car chase in the first act in particular).
Cons:
- 2 major moments that felt forced and out of place (Spoiler: talking about X-23 who, out of nowhere, starts talking, and the unexplained introduction of X-24 )
- The villains become forgettable and uninteresting, especially after not appearing for a big portion of the second and third acts.
- Some minor pacing issues in the second and the beginning of the third act.
Rating: 7.5/10
Spielberg's most personal film and probably his best. This has stood the test of time and remains a classic film. There are not as many of Spielberg's directorial flourishes here but the decision to shoot from the POV of the children is inspired and certain shots stay with you - the silhouette of the bike passing by the moon of course is now iconic. John Williams at this stage of his career was rolling out classic scores one after the other and here he creates a piece of music so good, Spielberg decided to edit the final sequence to the music. But it's the children and their performances that make or break this film and while the core trio are all very good, Henry Thomas delivers probably the greatest performance by a child actor to date, completely sells the relationship between Elliott and ET, and provides the emotional backbone to the film that makes it so appealing.
"Silence is the loudest cry for love". - SilentDawn
This was tough. Seriously, this was the hardest thing I've ever digest in terms of progressing my thoughts. It's so mesmerizing with so many things going on at once that it takes awhile to sink in. Gets you thinking on a subject that you wasn't originally interested in. A movie that leaves you completely paralyze of reacting or forming a sentence to describe what you just witness. But after four days of letting it sink in, it has been settled.
What I love about "Silence" is that it doesn't judge-the potential arrogance & imperialism of missionary work. It doesn't make you pick aside to root for, but understand where both sides are coming from. It's up to you - the audience, to decide if their actions are right or wrong.
"Silence" is easily one of best movies of 2016. A film in which you get so involved of whats going on that it stays with you long after it's over. It's one of Scorsese's finest achievement of his career.
For almost 30 years, Scorsese has been trying to get Shusaku Endo novel "Silence" made. You see, Scorsese grow up Catholic and had desire to become a priest at a young age. So the book deeply moved him in a personal way. But the reason why he couldn't get it made sooner is because he wasn't ready to take on anything like this. To him, this was something big and challenging. So all these years he tried to really think how a story like this could be cinematic.
Martin Scorsese is my favorite director and every movie he makes, I'm there. I haven't seen all of his movies yet, but those are for a special time. Now people have ask the question of who's the best living director working today - It's Scorsese all the way. While Steven Spielberg and Ridley Scott will always be legends, but Marty doesn't just make a movie to stay relevant or just do it for the sake of it. You can see the passion behind every film his done. "Silence" is no different. It's a deeply spiritual film and has multiple layers of meanings. Marty reminds us of that old cinema we love.
Andrew Garfield was absolutely fantastic in this movie. Garfield once again proves that he's a great actor. His performance was emotionally striking and he nailed the character down. It a real shame that he got nominated for "Hacksaw Ridge" and not this. I thought he was far better in "Silence". Because he starts off 100% dedicated to his own faith, but towards the end he's a complete wreck. The challenges he had to face was more compelling and soul crushing to watch.
Adam Driver and Liam Neeson were also great. Driver performance was natural and tremendous that you see the deep passion he's character had for faith. Neeson doesn't have a big role, but his presence on the story is immense and unique.
All the Japanese cast were all stellar. Especially Issei Ogata and Yôsuke Kubozuka. Those two were the stand outs for me. Ogata character can be best describe as Christoph Waltz from "Inglourious Basterds", as he's both comedic and menacing. Kubozuka broke my heart a couple of times, as the cowardly Christian who keeps letting others down many times. But when he begs for forgiveness, it's hard not to fall into that routine again.
The score for this movie is quite interesting. I say "interesting" because there's not much music, but sounds. Nature sounds you would here in the Forrest or a swamp. It's a score that creeps into my head and psychological effects you.
Rodrigo Prieto cinematography in this movie was just flawless. The look of Japan has this foggy, warmth, and damp look to it. Prieto captures the cruelty and the hidden beauty to it.
Unfortunately, this isn't going to be for everyone and I've already seen different sides. It ask questions more than answers. Quite honestly, I glad it dose. As it opens to discussions with others and gets you talking. You know, like a movie should.
And yes it may be frustrating for some, but I think that's the right reaction that a movie like this should have. A movie that puts you in the shoes of what the characters going through and their main struggles. If all that is perfectly captured on film, it's less than a negative, but more of an achievement. For a 2 hour and 41 minute movie, it never dragged for me.
Overall rating: "Silence" touches every rope of your mind and soul. This is one of those movies which may not be appreciated until many years later, for those who can grasp the true heart and meaning of this film, it's a transcendent experience. I was captivated from start to finish.
"In peace, sons bury their fathers. In war, fathers bury their sons".
Hacksaw Ridge may seem like another Oscar bait "true story" biopic that we get every couple of years. The trailers didn't help at all, as it made the film look corny and very award bait. But guys trust on this, it's nothing like that. There's nothing glamorous about this. When it was over, I left was speechless. This is such a great movie.
Say what you want about Mel Gibson controversial past and behavior, but I think we must judge the art, not the artist. This guy is an excellent director and a great actor. And you have no idea how glad I am seeing Mel back, as he is the most talented man in Hollywood right now. The most impressive part of Mel's directing in this movie (besides the battle scenes), is he's decision of an old version approach to the film making. The movie literally looks and feels like it was made around the 50's. Also how Gibson would let actors deliver the emotion of what their feeling and it could meant a lot of things that isn't just terrified. It could be happy, regret, or just thinking of home. And I got all of that.
Andrew Garfield is an actor that's been non-stop blowing me away recently. And he gives one hell of performance as Desmond Doss. I would say it's one of his best since "The Social Network". Even in the battle scenes I thought he was brilliant, as he had this scared, tired, but brave look to him. He's accent in the film I thought worked pretty well and wasn't distracting like I thought it would. The chemistry between Garfield and Teresa Palmer was so charming and sweet that it didn't came of too corny.
Hugo Weaving plays Desmond father in the movie and he was outstanding. Such a powerful and emotional heavy performance. Weaving is the type of actor that deserves so much respect. I mean, we all know him as Agent Smith, V, Megatron, Elrond, and Red Skull. But for him to give a small supporting performance as the alcoholic father who's dealing with conflicted within was quite moving.
Vince Vaughn was so good in this movie that I wish he would come back for dramatic roles, as I really did brought his performance in this. The comedic one lines were pure gold and it was very "Full Metal Jacket". But he isn't like that the whole movie. When he's serious in the movie, it actually works and doesn't feel out of place for the rest of the tone.
Now the battle scenes in the movie...wow, it's pretty rough and disturbing. It's right up there with "Saving Private Ryan" for graphic and shocking depictions. What I always love in these type of War films is the loud sound, actors, and the camera work, which this movie nails at. I've heard some people say that the movie glorify's it's violence despite the theme of the movie being against violence. I honestly think these people have really missed the point here. All the battle scenes are depicted more as this horrible event than a flawless victory.
After the movie was over, everyone in the cinema started clapping. The last time that happened was when in saw "Up" back in 2009. While I never saw the point of clapping or booing at a movie, but for this occasion, I'll let it Slide. The ending was a very nice touch and pretty heartfelt to honor the soldiers that fought in the war. It was deserved.
I haven't got a lot of issues with the movie. But if had to pick, I would probably say that Sam Worthington Australia accent kept slipping in and out in a few scenes. And don't get me wrong, Worthington isn't bad in the movie, but he was pretty good. The same can go to some of cast (as most of them are Australia), but I can easily look past it as the actual performances were all great.
Overall rating: "Hacksaw Ridge" is not perfect, but it positives really do weigh out it's flaws. It's the best War movie I've seen in awhile in terms of it's execution and pay off.
A biopic profiling Desmond Doss, a soldier in WWII who went into the front lines as a medic in Japan without a weapon, on religious grounds.
Hacksaw Ridge comprises of two excellently staged battle sequences showing the true horror of war. Comparisons to Saving Private Ryan are apt, at least in a technical sense.
The rest is all preachy Hollywood fluff and padding that inspires absolutely nothing in the audience. Garfield’s performance is solid but the script is so clunky and heavy-handed that he’s a wasted asset when he’s not saving lives. Gibson could have cut straight to the battle sequence; we’d have saved half an hour and lost nothing but meandering backstory.
I don’t want to end on a bum note because the tent-pole scenes that hold up the film definitely make it worth a watch, and there’s no denying that once the wheels get turning Hacksaw Ridge is absolutely gripping stuff.
PS: Being the flamethrower guy in a WWII film is the same as wearing the red shirt in Star Trek.
benoliver999.com/film/2017/04/21/hacksawridge/
The film is very much like many of Grisham's novels - intriguing setup, fun. yet forgettable middle act involving political/legal matters and a race to find the truth leading to a disappointing climax which usually just ends and rarely justifies the patient buildup and intrigue that had gone before. Pakula has done this before - indeed there are elements here that are very similar to the far better All the President's Men. It is still eminently watchable, especially once the film brings the two leads together to investigate, but with factual conspiracies far more shocking these days than what is shown here, the fiction is a little underwhelming in the end.
