Reviews

This film fancies itself as being a Canadian's answer to the infamous blockbuster. And, at that, it achieves what it strives for, which is to entertain without having depth, or groundbreaking features to it...

It's a funny hoot of a movie. Mainly laughing at the difference of social classes found in the french speaking province of Quebec. The tale is a simple one; a greedy, compulsively well-spoken, upper-class finance mogul is inadvertently caught up witnessing to a hit-n-run by a known and very dangerous gangster. This man is then relocated to a very kitshy Camping ground. There, he must be as inconspicuous as possible, in order not to arouse any doubts, or attract any suspicious men there.

Although a predictable premise, this movie is well constructed, with rhythmic editing, one that compares to Snatch in its crazy unexpected twists. It also has a series of references which, for the ones like myself who know of them, are interesting to pin-point.

It keeps the average story engaging enough to be enjoyable.

The main aspect making this picture a more than typical summer sweet treat is the very lively acting by all the cast. Their range is not very far and apart, and the characters they display are mostly tiresome clichés, but they are well done nonetheless, showing no pretensions or bore, and they manage cool chuckles, they also stay in character, which is unexpected.

The most fun this movie has to offer, in my opinion, is the perfect soundtrack recorded by Indo-Canadian techno genius Ramachandra Borcar, better known in Quebec as Ramasutra, or D.J. Ram. His soundtrack is, as all of his compositions are, bold, eclectic, reminiscent of older film themes. Here, he uses much more ambiance and lesser harsh tones, as opposed to his own independent work. All music being similar, they wonderfully work the actions on screen, and as I see it, they stand perfectly on their own very strong merit.

A fresh and fun Saturday night movie...

This is probably the best television show in contemporary times. It centers around five urban citizens, all of whom are trying desperately to make it in an all too indifferent and valueless world. The tie that binds them together is a profoundly human relationship.

The show is one of the very few ones playing which has a content that isn't presumptuous nor pompous. Indeed, its sincere depiction of young adults living hardships is very far from the obvious fictitious elements of the show which showed its viewers a rather idealistic portrayal of urban life, one view actually so far from truth it is very much starting to become a mockery, i.e. Friends.

The aesthetical look of the french Canadian program is one other aspect this reviewer found especially appealing. The editing, vibrant and lively, is a true pleasure to experience, instead of the stale and rather frigid look of the American sitcoms with only one or two visual perspectives.

The script is yet another refreshing aspect of the show that differentiate it from all others. Its frank and very intelligent dialogue has serious moments, but is also very funny at times. And it doesn't aspire to be deliberately funny either.

The most enjoyable part of this superb show is, unlike practically every show that came before it, and very few that will after it, is that truly brilliant non-chalance to be politically correct.

Thank god for that !

I expected to be shocked...

I was, but to a point so much more than I expected actually !!!

All these segments, except perhaps on a much lesser scale Sean Penn's more abstract view of how the world was, still is, and will remain, which was a bit out of focus, are sublime and disturbing.

To make such a dramatic collage of all these nations, all these people and all these lives, you truly see, taste and hear how this awful event touched so many lives.

You feel a sense of urgency for the current lack of compassion, love and respect we all miss for each one another.

One will look at this film in fifty years and say:

Man, they REALLY went wrong, or didn't understand anything about anything in those days.

This picture, brilliantly edited, in-your-face honest and at times, overbearing, is perhaps the greatest tribute to our screwed up world as a whole...

I feel that, in respects with another film that attempted to strike a chord with a post 9-11 world and failed along the way (The 25th Hour), this picture is much more complete, far more passionate and intense...

I was shocked to see such animosity in earlier comments to this film, specially since it presents the world wholly and completely honestly without exclusively focusing on the misery of the people within the geographical boundaries of the United States after 9-11.

Maybe now it's time to focus on the world outside north America, and surely, now it's time to get over this awful day, and focus on other more urgent issues once and for all.

I wasn't expecting anything new or spectacular. I wasn' blown away by the tv-film itself, but more so by the potentiality of the program to be a series. I agree with a previous post that with the mind-numbing so-called 'reality tv' horse crap playing, a show like the example here could've been a refreshing change of pace.

Jeff Goldblum's portrayal of Ben, an experienced foreign correspondent thrown into the lawless and chaotic world of war torn countries in search for the truth, was quite fascinating. Although it isn't quite new as far as composition is concerned, for tv it works quite impressively.

I can't really imagine any other actor capable of such restrain from being overtly expressive. His reserve seems very accurate and is reminiscent of Dan Rather and Nic Robertson (CNN).

Had this film been directed by Steven Soderbergh, a probability very slim for tv productions, it would have been very fascinating. I see a very interesting neo-realism treatment to the direction, something à la Traffic.

Unfortunately, this show just isn't what it could've been. I believe, aside from the obvious plot holes, the useless subplot which for the shortness of the film's length seem to leave too many questions unanswered. A doubtful supporting cast, which appear only to count on Jeff to support them in such a way it seems forced, the show aimed at greatness, but fell short.

I believe, a reason for such a miss perhaps was using a theme that is a bit too actual. Utilizing al Qaeda as an actual reference, the 9-11 slaughter and Usamah bin Laden himself appears only a bit too disrespectful for the memory of the very unfortunate victims of terrorism. Specially so soon after the events themselves.

Basically, this feature seems more or less like an extended pilot of a terrific show with great prospects, but falls short as far as a film is concerned.

First of all, Clint, I want my hour and a half back !

I can't believe this film went to production, much less into post-production and completion...

The script looks and sounds like a bad episode of The Dukes of Hazards sponsored by The CMA and Steve Erwin (the Alligator guy)...

The stupid race between the 'Bad guys' and the 'good guys' is so utterly embarrassing I actually wished they both failed. In many respects, they did.

Clint, oh Clint...?! What went wrong...???

I respected this prolific actor since seeing Dirty Harry, but I find myself a bit confused as to his real talent as an actor. It appears that he really needs to be writing and directing in order to provide brilliance. It appears he is limited in this such way as an actor if he cannot deliver.

It's truly frightening when you see that the best supporting performance in this film goes to the monkey. He gives a natural, breath taking performance of how intense he is as a monkey...

Digvijay Singh's tragic observation of life in secluded India is both invigorating, in the sense that life, and its people seem to care only for the simple things that make them happy, and it is above all savagely tragic, in ways that certain rites and traditions are not or should not exist in the first place.

The tragedy is amplified quite masterfully by the approach of the little girl's life. The film centers around her innocent childly activities and her simple (yet perhaps quite harsh) life in a poor under developped area of India. Unfortunately, fate would have it that the child must grow and become aware of certain aspects of life which simply can't be understood nor accepted.

This film is a prime example of how I see tragedy. To fully implement a strong sense of tragic, one needs to build it around simple minded genuine calmness. I found the film perfect in this aspect.

I used to loathe Carson... Thank goodness I don't have MTV....!!

I had seen his mind-numbingly boring show Total Request Live when on Vacation to the states, and actually felt physically ill...

I watched the first night show he presented, which incidently had Alicia Keys, a truly mesmerizing artist with so much charisma and sexiness....

I was quite surprised at his energy and presence on screen, not over-the-top like that nausiating TRL, not dull to death. The way he and her were hooking up... My opinion changed from then on.

His guest are usually quite interesting. It may happen that he receives some people just for the public's liking and whenever that happens, I go to bed or do something else. Since his show is mainly for hip young kids (something I try not to be), I had doubts. But he grew on me.

I hope people will see that he isn't that babblin' idiot we knew from TRL...!!!

I won't go into details about the plot, I assume with all other reviews of this film, you got the gist of it...

I will however attempt to go through details which make this film one of the most fearsomely authentic and majestic experiences captured by a single man's uncanny vision.

Using the camera as a window into the human experience, Stanley Kubrick was among the (very) few directors to truly capture the human psyche as a rich and complex whole...

As some of you may know, Kubrick began his extraordinary odyssey as a director by first being a freelance photographer for Look magazine, a path which transpires on this film...

In this feature, he amazingly captured the loss of innocence, as a singular part of men, but also as a much grander totality of society...

I just want to mention one striking scene to justify my phrase, the hair cut sequence.

These men arrive at a barber and get shaven, you clearly see their curiosity, fear and quest for adventure in their faces, unknowing what kind of hell they've embarked upon. It is a very powerful message as to how, as much as a singular part of -these- men, but as well as the Americans in foreign settings, how innocent and inexperienced they truly are... They send men to die in conflicts that don't affect or concern them.

And Kubrick uses a very strong metaphor to imply that idea, the hair itself represents innocence... One becomes comfortable with his hair, it is his identity, a way to differentiate himself from his fellow man.

Kubrick takes that away as a symbolic image in the way the system (militarily speaking) takes off your image, your true self, by shaving off the seemingly only way to truly distinct yourself from others...

From there, the cleansing begins...

In the following time period, a sort of routine sets in. Stanley is able to create a sense of relative normalcy in the first part of the picture, the men are together, at home, in America. As unpleasant and awkward as it seems, they get in a feeling of acceptance that this is what they came for, an adventure.

But something goes wrong in the plan…

It is interesting to see the wide depth of knowledge or understanding the film's director had on human beings. As in 2001 and throughout all his career, Kubrick drew a picture to see humans as a mechanical tool of some greater force… (A theme completely and brilliantly achieved in the haunting masterpiece, Eyes Wide Shut..)

This film is no exception to the quest. Man is an ultimate machine and is on a continuous journey to the ultimate truth, but as it goes, some flaws occur. As the characters come and go, the one being who appears as the most out of place is perhaps the most honest portrayal of man. With a mind blowing zoom-in on the face of Gomer Pyle, we see the absolute control of the situation, both within the plot and cinematically, and a complete loss of inner power all at once...

And this brings up to the next and somewhat lesser appreciated chapter of this film. The linear effect of the days in training is a way to amplify the chaotic mess that was the Vietnam war fiasco. It seems that few appreciates the second part of the film. To me it shows the true genius of the man who captured it, Stanley.

I would like to paraphrase a quote from a lesser impressive film, but with an interesting phrase nonetheless. From Vanilla Sky; 'without the bitter, the sweet isn't as sweet...'

Notice the stability of Parris, and the stark contrast it has with Vietnam.

Instead of the camera on wheels, he practically always uses a steadicam. In the process, it works as both extreme realism technically speaking, and another brilliant metaphorical aspect. One which clearly displays the instability of the geographical, political, social and more importantly, the psychological setting these young boys are in.

It is a much more impressive part of the film to me, because it shows the truly devastating aspects of war on its combatants at large, the pattern of instability which soon has total control over the men. I can see that the phrase, bitter/sweet, is seen here. I meant to say that one important aspect of the way we see Vietnam in the film is a much broader and lesser defined whole than America. But it is clearly as important in the picture he tried to take of the history.

We made a definable observation in the training, we understand the way things go, much like a prison, it has a tendency. Whereas in Vietnam, or any war theater for that matter, they're is no tendency. And that is ultimately how this film succeeds in showing. The unpredictability and challenges of combat. I worship films such as Apocalypse Now, The Thin Red Line, or The Longest Day for showing a wide range of how one can capture war, but it seems no film comes nearly as close to capturing the factual thing. It was fascinating to see how, in Apocalypse, war is seen with a breathtaking lyrical sense. But not here… The Longest day, a masterpiece, showed war with an acute sense of patriotism, which is good for the way it was presented in history, but FMJ makes none of that, quite the opposite in fact...

There is no concessions here, what you see is what you get. The brutal honesty is what blows me apart in this film. No big explosions, no dramatic music at key moments, no heroism, just war.

I love this part more as well for the following, it allows an opportunity to see Kubrick, the photographer, the artist, in action. Granted, the entire film wraps like a documentary, but in the way he captured Vietnam, it is much more so… The bleak light, the austere empty city, the long pauses of dreadful silences, it is an example of how Stanley Kubrick went against the stream of Hollywood as a director, never allowing any chance for relief or entertainment, he presents his view of what went wrong, why did the Americans lose the war, why they're so disliked abroad, the structure of the film goes against conformity. No one in history ever had the guts to do that, and that itself is a huge mark of honor !

Director Micheal Cimino takes the sickness of the Viet Nam war and presents the horrors with images we can't shake away....

In the same nature as Apocalypse Now, we are cordially invited to live out the days of madness of three workers who were sent to Viet Nam and inadvertently brought back together in this horrific turns of events....

Filming the sequences all most in a documentary format, this film, in my humble opinion, exceeds Apocalypse Now, for the realism of the Vietnam war has had on the soldiers. We see a rough and extremely intense first part, but then the movie takes a radical turn, and becomes a sad melodramatic story.... But, well brought of course..

The events right after the war made the characters change their perspectives on life and the world around. And it is in this aspect which gives this movie the excellence Apocalypse doesn't have.

A personal view of post war trauma.......................

One detail was quite annoying, the music kept me really bugged.

As a musician myself, I tend to look for films that have a fabulous soundtrack, this one just really is poorly made and doesn't help the film.......

The Simpsons...... Needless to say this is one of most important and influencial creations in American entertainment history.

The strong social satyre, witty humor and wacky storylines have crossed the world and charmed the millions of people who watch it.

This is a wild and very "realistic" show in its own way. How many times do we see a big fat dumb guy with his kids doing big dumb things...?!!! Making fun at others very subtly and without offending nonetheless is a mark that has me still thinking of the pure genius Matt Groening, Sam Simon and James L. Brooks has-had and will have...

Being a huge film fanatic, Hitchcock especially, I've been addicted to the beautiful hommages they made of some of history's most extraordinary film moments. That "Rear Window" episode is a timeless classic, the babies playing "The Birds", Marge running in a field "North by Northwest", Maggie smashing Homer "Psycho", all these were very captivating and mesmerising.

With this show, I've discovered what laughter is.. What entertainment is, what absurdity is, what art is...

I believe that as long as there will be news, politics, films, music, The Simpsons will exist.

Who thinks that they should do an episode based on or with scenes of "Fight Club"......?!!! How weird and cool could that be....

This astonishing documentary is the quintessencial element of the most important artistic development of the twentieth century, films....

Presented with some remarkable interviews of history's most influencial artists that help this entertainment form to a powerful artistic means of communication, the film displays some of the most memorable, touching, inspiring, poetic, shocking moments of the seventh art.

Flawlessly edited with superb sequences that crafted the magic that is films, the documentary presents a striking step by step story of motion pictures. And this work also is important to understand the era of the golden age of entertainment. The strong social changes that happened to change the course of history, the deep rising of fame and fortune in the USA of the thirties to the present day...

This is films, the dream, the love, the passion, the emotional accention that made all us wish of worlds so heavenly and beautiful, if only we could be apart of them...

Here's our chance, all aboard...!!!

True, this film has a very low amount of dialogue. But does a film absolutely NEEDS dialogue to be comprehended ?

This timeless evolution proves that it obviously doesn't.

From the very first lights of the blinding sun, the birth of life, to the lashing last moments of man's quest for the truth regarding his presence on earth, this film spans through time and space in a visual, musical and existentialistic trip that astonished me to the core of my being...

The music, a pure example of the artistic evolution of man's quest for communication, is a quintessential element to the illustriousness of this motion picture. It affects the viewer and story by creating an awe for all who experience this majestic voyage, a rich metaphorical component to the eternal quest for human knowledge.

This is, aside from Tarkovsky's spellbinding film Solaris, one of the most powerful example of art versus science...

The impact the film has had on our modern society can be both unclear and quite obvious...

The pursuit for the unknown and to surpass our own past achievements trough a spector of light and exploration.

Creation of a space station, an expansion of our own world to correct our past mistakes...

Wow........

Pure genius, though a short, it sends out images of poetry and passion. Seeing an early stage of formation of majestic artistry will astonish all who sees this film. Rich and powerful, it is an element that sends emotions through all who experience this inspired film.

This film stands out in the french new wave of film making. Director Claude Lelouch creates a richly inventive, powerfully captivating action/western/thriller/gangster movie.

What truly stands out in this meticulously crafted film is the intense and amazing narrative structure it presents. Gradually showing the rise of a french hoodlum gang to the ranks of sadistic merciless killers and robbers, the film shows a wide range of emotions; humor, shame, amazement, fear and thrills...

Filmed in a very simplistic manner, (almost in a documentary format), this is a very surprising and complex picture....

The acting isn't as brilliant as the superb cinematography in which they (the actors) play. The lighting is pure and not too obvious.. The camera zooms and angles are magnificent and intricately performed..

A mesmerizing and strong film worth seeing again and again.........!!!!

I saw this film numerous times, I can't say its a memorable film, because it isn't. The film is poorly acted and the plot is very lame and predictable.

However, I can't say the film isn't well crafted. Sure, for a comparison with films like Citizen Kane or Vertigo, two films I love and worship as being the best motion pictures of all time, this film REALLY doesn't stand with them. But the fact it's filmed in Black and white gives the film a cool touch of art.

One fun filled fact to the film, the sexy lead actress, Danielle Ouimet.

She creates a good example of the "dumb blond" cliché created not long afterwards....

I loved the music, very precise on the music of the time.... A mix of classical and rock, very interesting.

And, not only is the music interesting. Though the story may be very simple and ordinary, it does present a very accurate look of sexuality in the sixties society and how the sexual revolution was heading on....

A very average film that will most likely be forgotten not long after seeing it, but a fun filled array of music and sexy images.

I saw this film on TV, and perhaps it wasn't the best medium to do so...

But, nonetheless, I was shocked and thrilled about this film...

The tone reminded me of Fritz Lang's opus, Metropolis.

The speeding music hits the viewers like a freight train... Rigorously brought on screen with the strong visual sequences..

This is truly what art stands for...

The motion picture is grim and lugubrious. The cheap visuals bring to mind the simplistic manner of directing Lucio Fulci had, specially in the film "The New York Ripper". Very "Dogme" like.

The slow pace in which we are sent is very chilling. With the omnipresent screams, the methodical movements by the camera and the physical acting of the players is quite nicely studied. And the ominous tranquility portrayed by the lead actor is one of intense madness.

The lack of music makes for much of the terror. And its orchestration is very powerful with this detail.

This film is and makes us see that a script is very important for the building of a motion picture. The lack of inner thoughts and psychological views of the film makes the making of the story very bleak and empty. It has a somewhat potential for a deep social study. But director Denis Heroux, desperately tries to make a link with the understanding of this lunatic actions and a strongly misogynic and fiercely sadistic society.

Unfortunately, this effect is poorly recreated.

I believe that the film is a mere display of deeply shocking, graphic, and realistic violence and more precisely, disturbing insanity. (which should be taken under consideration for sensitive viewers).

But with no continuity and no obvious sense.

Too bad...

Finally a horror movie worth seeing. Zemeckies is a real fine artist. To the pure Hitchcock style, he recreated the "smart" horror flick.

Even paying homage to the master himself, by recreating scenes obviously inspired by such classics as; Rear Window, Vertigo, Psycho and Marnie. Not only did the Forest Gump director only recreated scenes, he also took some clichés Alfred Hitchcock took in his films, for example; beautiful women, a staircase, alcool, and splendid car scenes...

This intense film, has a powerful and intense soundtrack as well. We can directly link this with the superb music Bernard Hermann composed for many of Hitchcock's classics.

Robert Zemeckis took a close attention to the visual details in this film. Making smart suspenseful camera movements. Taking the present special effect technology, without taking it to a level which would give it a overly done display of cinematographical stupidity, in occurrence Star Wars...!!

Pfeiffer is stunning in this drama. We are reminded of maybe Tippy Hedren or the beautiful Grace Kelly. Her portryal of a woman slowly going mad is perhaps one of the most charming aspects of this film. Ford delivers a powerhouse performance as always, I would even say, slightly more incredible in this one. We can't help but notice an interesting mixture of Norman Bates and Scotie Ferguson (Vertigo).

Not just Hitchcock has Zemeckis been inspired or influenced in this film, but numerous movies and directors. I saw a scene, which I thought was inspired by the "big" film, Titanic. I saw a direct link to last years block buster "The Sixth Sense" with visuals almost as good as that scary thriller. I did also detect a hint of the classic terror film, Cape Fear, with a deadly twist and mindbending conclusion.

For all of you who are sick of all that comercial dog crap, like Pokemon or X-men, and want to re-live the days when acting and film making was an art, please by all means, SEE this film........

Psycho , Alfred Hitchcock's classic about a guy and his mother is the movie that is at the origin of all horror movies ever made . It is truly an experience to live !!!!!!!!!!!!

The music has a great part in this movie .

Anthony Perkins is the ultimate psychopath ever !!! He and his "mother " are the best killer duo ever produced.

The new version is good but not quite as great as the original.

Still I urge all movie lovers to see it , whether it's the original or the new version , GO SEE THIS ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE!!!