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RobertCraig67
Reviews
Basic (2003)
Fun movie, but culturally idiotic
Short, pointed review. This is an engaging, if frequently, baffling thriller. Caught this movie late one night in 2011. I had seen it years before and was struck by its lack of research on national cultures at the time.
The movie takes place in Panama. Two comments. "The Day of the Dead" is not a celebrated holiday in Panama. In short, not all Latin American countries are Mexico. Second, hurricanes typically don't hit Panama. The screenwriter (maybe the director took some "artistic license") was sloppy and that's the reason for my poor rating, aside from the lack of story tightness.
Just to reiterate, not all Latin Americans are Mexicans.
W. (2008)
Horrendous Cliché
Truthfully, this movie's not worth reviewing, but since it's eclipsed the 50% mark on this esteemed (uhh) Website, I feel compelled to add my rating.
If you're looking for an honest, critical examination of Bush, you might check out the cast of the movie first...we're not exactly talking about centrists...but then how could you get ahead in Hollywood being so? Brolin, Dreyfuss, Cromwell, Hanks...you get the point.
The movie's a straightforward regurgitation of clichés...I'm surprised the Daily Khost isn't credited in the titles.
In short, another missed opportunity from Stone. I guess it's easier to finance farce.
Down in the Valley (2005)
Terrible Script
Aside from the acting and the cinematography, this movie is horrible. The writing, direction and editing are simply abysmal. If the movie has a premise, it's unclear. But worse, the structure of the plot and time-arc of the screenplay are inscrutable and try the viewer's patience beyond reason.
If you've ever watched a film and had a difficult time putting your finger on why an otherwise good effort failed miserably, Down in the Valley is another trip down that road. It's the plot structure...and unfortunately the dialogue flows and suffers as a result. Keep it to three simple acts. The formula was good enough for Shakespeare...it's good enough for Hollywood.
Twenty minutes into the film, everyone in the room (five viewers) had already had enough of the relationship development and were wondering when the story would develop. This isn't meant to be condescending or sarcastic, but the essence of drama is conflict, or tension at least. To wait until the middle of the movie to introduce drama is inexcusable.
If you want to watch the clock counter on your DVD player, rent this film.
The Curse of El Charro (2005)
Pathetic Attempt
Had the filmmakers not tried to introduce a bit of artistic license into the film, I'd simply write it off as a sub-par slasher flick. But the lame effort put forward by this crew gives dilettantes a good name.
The only positive thing one could say about this film is that the production values aren't horrid. That script though...my lord. Would it have hurt the filmmakers (as much as I was by viewing this junk) to invest even an hour thinking of something mildly original. Renting a film like this, I really don't expect much, but I did expect something.
If you're thinking of watching this tripe, do yourself a favor - attack your brain with a fifth of tequila or something similar before settling into this garbage. Must pass...
The Panama Deception (1992)
Mindless Propaganda
If you enjoy writing your congressman to complain about black helicopters, you'll love the Panama Deception.
Though this movie did a masterful job of deceiving the Motion Picture Academy and many of those who viewed the film, the film is nothing more than an anti-American propaganda piece. The claims of mass civilian killings have crumbled under the slightest scrutiny, and the premise of the film is widely rejected not only by Americans familiar with the decision making process involved in choosing to invade the country, but by every Panamanian national I've ever met - regardless of socioeconomic status.
I travel regularly to Panama and have had the fortune to develop strong relationships with Panamanian nationals. After hundreds of conversations and interaction in virtually every facet of daily life with Panamanians, I've yet to encounter a hint of regret for the U.S. invasion. The truth is that Panama labored under a dictator whose thirst for power and disregard for political dissent grew to an unacceptably dangerous point.
But even if your politics won't permit you to agree with my comments above, you would acquit yourself well to ask why the U.S. honored the Panama Canal Treaties and handed over full control of the Canal in 1999. The central premise of The Panama Deception is that the U.S. sought to destroy the Panama Defense Forces in order to thwart handover of the Canal to Panama in accordance with the treaties signed by President Carter in the late 1970s. And yet, the U.S. closed its military bases, and today Panama is one of the most robust democracies in the Western Hemisphere and operates the Canal in sovereign fashion.