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6/10
If you're a sucker for post-apocalypse and camp...
7 November 2015
Warning: Spoilers
So, I'll get it out of the way and say it right now: Scientology is at the very least "problematic," and at its worst downright dangerous. So, please take this as a review of the *film,* and not the backers.

So, here's the thing. This film? It's hilarious. It's often unintentionally so, but come on, folks.

* 9 foot tall alien John Travolta, with dreadlocks * 1000 year old jets (which failed to stop the alien invasion when brand new) used by mostly untrained humans to kill all the aliens * Aliens with a "learning machine" voiced by a depressed "all my other fellow aliens are extinct, sigh" character * Purple everywhere * Ruins!

It's actually kinda great. Most of the premise is ridiculous, but the costumes and set-pieces are great, and a lot of the acting is actually dead on, at least for the film this IS (and not the one it meant to be).

And say what you want about John Travolta, but he's actually totally great in this film, as an absolute #^%@head arrogant alien, and his lackey is equally well played.

So yeah, conceptually? Totally ridiculous. And the lead "human" actor? Not fantastic. But this is actually a totally enjoyable post-apocalyptic, campy-as-hell film.

Now, I'm a huge sucker for post-apocalyptic settings, and when I tell people *how* much of a sucker I am for them, I use this film as an example. "I like post apocalyptic films so much that I like BATTLEFIELD EARTH!"

If you go into this film looking for a compelling, serious science fiction film addressing deep philosophical issues, you're going to come away very disappointed.

But if you're looking for drinking-game fuel, or a lovely combination of post-apocalypse and unintentional hilarity? Yeah, this is a great film for you.
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After Tiller (2013)
10/10
The best documentary I've ever seen.
9 December 2013
First and foremost: Don't confuse a review of this film with a review of the practices involved. (I've seen at least one negative review of this film that was clearly by someone who had not seen the film, but wished only to voice an opinion about the general subject matter).

See this film. Pro-choice, pro-life, undecided? Doesn't matter. See this film. It will only help you to better the subject.

This film is the best documentary I've seen. I don't mean just because the content is amazing, of course, but the quality of the portrayal is also almost shockingly good. A number of the filming techniques did an *extremely* effective job of letting us see insides the minds and hearts of both doctors *and* patients.

In a topic as emotionally charged as what this film covers, it's easy to get caught up in the subject as "abstract." This film helps us to see the real impact and effects these people - and practices - have. It's not always pretty, and it can be very difficult to watch, but I feel significantly more connected to the whole subject now.

Yes, the film leans in some ways toward "pro-choice," but it in fact makes some very clear points about just how difficult that choice is. I won't spoil it, but the most intense moment of the film for me happened right there. And the film doesn't vilify the pro-life people - they're ever-present, as in real life, but they are portrayed honestly as well. It's clear they are as passionate as the doctors.

This is just, overall, a very brutally honest film.

I had the good fortune to see this in a small theater, and one of the directors did a video-chat with the theater as a Q & A. That was a nice touch, but my 10/10 review was cinched the moment the film ended.
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