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bernardobrown
Reviews
The Da Vinci Code (2006)
Pretty good story
I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the story. While it is a long movie, the pace kept moving so nicely that you don't even realize it takes 2.5 hours.
The movie does stay true to the book, although some may consider this a chance for the movie makers to bring more life to the characters and the dialogue. My personal feeling is that most (not all) people who didn't like this movie did so for reasons other than being entertained.
From this disenfranchised group comes a lot of discussion about the basic facts and premise of the movie that Jesus had a child. Well, logically speaking a Jewish man living at that time period of Jesus's age would have probably been married. But with all that aside, if you just go to be entertained for a brief period of time, this will do the trick. I certainly am not one to agree with critics, either movie or literary, so am glad that this has been getting the attention.
ABCD (1999)
This is a horrible movie
As an Indian American who grew up in this country this is by far the worst piece of story telling I have ever seen. Not only was I offended by this man's (Krutin Patel grew up in India and has the audacity to tackle a subject matter which he knows nothing about) movie but was actually angry that someone actually thought the Indian American experience resembled anything like the story on the screen.
In my opinion what this is can be categorized as the FOB's (Fresh off the boat) view of what the Indian American experience is all about. It is pretty clear that the writing was done without any perspective of growing up in a cross cultural environment. Actually the fact that two kids grow up in the same house and one has an accent like he just stepped off the boat and the other sounds like the girl next door is pretty far fetched.
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Forbidden Love...How many ways can you tell it.
First of all the acting in this is very good. Especially Heath Ledger. He did a fantastic job.
However the storyline is a bit trite. It is after all, a story about two people making a connection and then facing a situation where they cannot keep it going...i.e. "Forbidden Love." It's been told numerous times before and in my opinion the story is here does not present it any new or novel way. I think "Lost in Translation" was a more clever way of showing the same thing. The metaphor is not that complex and I think it is more a function of the writing and overall story rather than anything else.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
If you have seen the original...don't bother
I think most of the comments saying how fabulous this movie is are from those who never saw the original. The original and the songs really captured the innocence of the book. This version while contemporary does miss a lot of the original subtleties of both the book and movie. I thought the original Veruka Salt was much better. Although in all fairness this Agustus, Mike Teevee and Violet are better. Actually Violet in the original was pretty good so it is a toss up. The parents in the original were all much better. Now for Depp vs. Wilder, depends on your age. I will take Wilder although Depp did do a decent job with lots of originality to a very structured character.
The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara (2003)
Good movie but should McNamara be free and clear?
This period (Vietnam War) of American history has always been fascinating for me. I have studied it and feel that I have a good understanding.
The movie covers all aspects of McNamara's life and does a great job in bringing out the motivations which shaped his life as well as just how smart he was and still is at the age of 85. His mind is sharper than most at any age. His revelations of the tactical WWII decisions made by him and the military leadership, which could have been deemed as war crimes and the Cuban Missile Crisis are fascinating to say the least. However, the presentation of Vietnam as a whole leaves you thinking that he was a reluctant architect of the war and perhaps the label never really should have been his but on Johnson. That is a separate discussion, but I really liked the film and the style but at the end it felt like a last ditch marketing effort by McNamara to sort of ease his mind and clear his name....just maybe.