A sincere and touching film that elegantly portrays the coming-of-age challenges of a talented but shy high school senior while at the same time masterfully illustrating how a deaf family relates with each other and their world.
Reviews
16 Reviews
Infidel
(2019)
This movie makes the world a worse place
3 October 2020
The filmmakers claim that Infidel is about cultures, not faiths, and aims to show only that people of different backgrounds should try to get along. That sounded great, so I went into the theater with that expectation and while watching the film, my mouth hung open time and time again in bewilderment at how misled I was. Even now, it seems unbelievable that the filmmakers could lie so blatantly.
The truly saddening part in all of this is the fact that real journalists are far too often imprisoned and killed for their investigative reporting which attempts to bring the dark side of humanity into the light of day. There are also valid, substantial and worthy criticisms that should be made of both modern Christianity and modern Islam. I would deeply appreciate a film that authentically and unbiasedly explores these topics. Unfortunately Infidel doesn't even come close. What Infidel does accomplish, is to repeatedly portray Christians positively and Muslims negatively. It's pure and utter religious propaganda that should be labeled as hate speech. Therefore I highly recommend avoiding this movie. Infidel will only intensify righteousness and deepen hatreds and that is exactly what the world needs less of.
The truly saddening part in all of this is the fact that real journalists are far too often imprisoned and killed for their investigative reporting which attempts to bring the dark side of humanity into the light of day. There are also valid, substantial and worthy criticisms that should be made of both modern Christianity and modern Islam. I would deeply appreciate a film that authentically and unbiasedly explores these topics. Unfortunately Infidel doesn't even come close. What Infidel does accomplish, is to repeatedly portray Christians positively and Muslims negatively. It's pure and utter religious propaganda that should be labeled as hate speech. Therefore I highly recommend avoiding this movie. Infidel will only intensify righteousness and deepen hatreds and that is exactly what the world needs less of.
Emo: The Musical
(2016)
Faith-based or not?
4 May 2020
When I ran across this movie, I was concerned that it might be faith-based, but I decided to give it a chance anyway. Now that I've watched it, I regret giving it that chance. It turns out that Emo The Musical is faith-based, just not in a traditional way. So I recommend passing on this title unless faith-based movies are your thing.
Down with Love
(2003)
Romantic comedy done right
13 February 2020
Down With Love is a fun and over-the-top, feel-good movie that pays homage to a number of 60's sex comedies that starred Rock Hudson and Doris Day. The romantic chemistry between Ewan and Renée is enchanting and balances well with the plethora of hilarious innuendos and double entendres. Also noteworthy are the stylish sets and costuming that truly make this movie a visual pleasure to behold. Highly recommended!
About Cherry
(2012)
A movie without value or substance
26 January 2020
I was hoping for a story about the challenges of someone doing their best to get by. Something along the lines of how to make hard decisions and then living with the consequences. It could either have been positive and uplifting or a downward spiral into darkness - both are typically interesting to watch. Unfortunately, this movie goes in neither of those directions.
Instead, it's about a girl named Angelina, who admittedly doesn't have an easy home life, but rather than having that bother her or drive her to change her circumstance, she's fairly unphased by it all. On top of that, Angelina is extremely self-centered and completely lacking in anything but the shallowest version of empathy. She appears to be young, naive and innocent, but in reality she just innocently uses people. I had a hard time feeling any sympathy for her and what little I did have dwindled bit by bit as the movie played on.
In summary, 'About Cherry' has no strengths to speak of and more than anything else, seems to be an unnoteworthy account of how some people get by exploiting others in order to make their own life better. There's nothing interesting about the interpersonal relationships and the main character is highly unlikable. My recommendation is to pass on watching this movie and forget that you've ever heard of it.
Instead, it's about a girl named Angelina, who admittedly doesn't have an easy home life, but rather than having that bother her or drive her to change her circumstance, she's fairly unphased by it all. On top of that, Angelina is extremely self-centered and completely lacking in anything but the shallowest version of empathy. She appears to be young, naive and innocent, but in reality she just innocently uses people. I had a hard time feeling any sympathy for her and what little I did have dwindled bit by bit as the movie played on.
In summary, 'About Cherry' has no strengths to speak of and more than anything else, seems to be an unnoteworthy account of how some people get by exploiting others in order to make their own life better. There's nothing interesting about the interpersonal relationships and the main character is highly unlikable. My recommendation is to pass on watching this movie and forget that you've ever heard of it.
Another Life
(2019–2021)
Can it get worse than this?
28 July 2019
This series is more like a bad reality TV show than anything else. The spaceship's crew are as far from professional astronauts as is imaginable and in the worst way possible. They are truly gut-wrenchingly painful to watch. The Casting Director utterly failed at their job and the Director failed as well for not firing the Casting Director and for actually finishing this trash. Looking past the casting failures doesn't improve things at all. Many of the sets are just plain bad and there's an absolute lack of any scientific realism in the story. I can't imagine that they even thought about talking to a science advisor. I often appreciate a good b-movie, but I can't find anything redeeming about this series. My recommendation is to forget that you've ever heard of this title and save yourself a lot of pain and misery.
Aladdin
(2019)
Lots of style, but unfortunately no substance
26 May 2019
Warning: Spoilers
With all of Disney's storytelling experience, you'd think that they would be masters of film, but sadly Aladdin (2019) demonstrates that they have a lot left to learn. On the positive side of things, the musical performance scenes are both fun and exciting to watch with good performances from the cast. There's also an excellent storyline change from the 1992 animated version that has Jasmine in a stronger role as a woman as well as a head of state. Unfortunately the negative aspects of this production far outweigh the positive. The most glaring of these is the absolutely flat acting of Aladdin (Mena Massoud). He was jarringly painful to watch when speaking - especially in scenes with Jasmine (Naomi Scott) because there was just no chemistry between the two of them. Switching over to a more nuanced criticism, the script itself was highly disappointing. Disney had an immense opportunity to more deeply explore the Arabian folklore at the center of this story which would have more prominently pitted Aladdin's street smarts against Jafar's cunning. Instead, the writers (John August & Guy Ritchie) chose to downplay and trivialize this conflict which results in a very shallow, uninteresting story that must rely on its visual effects to get by when it could have been so much more.
First Man
(2018)
An outstanding biopic that reveals a person that can be easily related to
14 October 2018
This film is an intimate, unflinching, and at times, touching depiction of Neil Armstrong's life leading up to and including his stepping foot on the moon. The test pilot scenes have a visceral quality to them that makes it easy to feel like you're in the pilot seat yourself. This balances masterfully with the portayal of his personal life and you can't help but see him as a real person that is both excepional and flawed, all at the same time.
If it weren't for the offensive content, this might have been one of the best films of the year
9 March 2017
The creepy atmosphere was first rate and the performance by Anya Taylor Joy was outstanding, but unfortunately the script was utterly tasteless. There was certainly a mass hysteria promoted by Christian fanaticism in the colonial period and many innocent people were murdered because of it. I'm sickened by the direction that this film takes because rather than creating a horror film that explores how twisted and demented people of the time were and then gruesomely illustrating their terminal descent into madness, the film actually gives credence to their fanaticism by making their fears into reality. And to make the point, I'm not against supernatural elements in storytelling, in fact it's one of my favorite themes, but depicting women, animals and forests as wicked and depraved things to be scared of is completely unacceptable.
The Book of Eli
(2010)
Evangelical Christian To Its Core
12 September 2016
The story-line is 100% Christian propaganda and unless you are a Christian yourself, any enjoyment of this movie is eliminated by the constant, overbearing, and heavy-handed religious zealotry that pervades the script. One of the many things that frustrates me about this film is that it is not clearly marked as a religious work. If I had known the extent of the Christian propaganda before I started watching it, then I would never have pressed play. I am sick and tired of having someone else's religion pushed down my throat, when I already have a worldview that I am extremely happy with. It is my hope that this review can serve as a warning to anyone who has a similar perspective as I do.
Monsters: Dark Continent
(2014)
An excellent film that takes the viewer on a transformative journey
19 June 2015
I am writing this review for the simple reason that it is a superb film and almost every review posted so far is negative. All I can say for the negative reviews is that they are written by people who do not understand the depths of this film.
Both the original Monsters and Monsters: Dark Continent are speculative fiction. What that means is that the storyline and plot devices allow the viewer to step out of their perspective and look at something with new eyes. In this regard, the number of similarities between the first and second films is staggering.
Both films are centered around the transformative journey that the main characters take. Through a varying set of life threatening challenges offset by moments of wonder and amazement, the main characters find a new appreciation for not only their lives but also for the lives of the monsters who are also just trying to survive.
Both the original Monsters and Monsters: Dark Continent are speculative fiction. What that means is that the storyline and plot devices allow the viewer to step out of their perspective and look at something with new eyes. In this regard, the number of similarities between the first and second films is staggering.
Both films are centered around the transformative journey that the main characters take. Through a varying set of life threatening challenges offset by moments of wonder and amazement, the main characters find a new appreciation for not only their lives but also for the lives of the monsters who are also just trying to survive.
Snowpiercer
(2013)
Imperfect but Brilliant
19 July 2014
The premise of Snowpiercer is certainly ridiculous. A train, barreling through the wastelands of a frozen Earth with the last surviving members of the human race on board. A class system has evolved with the rich and powerful at the front of the train and the unfortunate masses at the rear.
Through the course of this film there were numerous inconsistencies and implausible scenarios, yet the director (Joon-ho Bong) was able to re-engage the viewer time and time again. Scattered amongst these reckless flaws were several scenes of surreal brilliance with a final message so impactful and poignant to today's world that it is arguably unequaled in the history of film.
Through the course of this film there were numerous inconsistencies and implausible scenarios, yet the director (Joon-ho Bong) was able to re-engage the viewer time and time again. Scattered amongst these reckless flaws were several scenes of surreal brilliance with a final message so impactful and poignant to today's world that it is arguably unequaled in the history of film.
Gattaca
(1997)
Tempering Technology with Wisdom
26 May 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Gattaca addresses an important topic for our times and it explores this topic masterfully, which makes it all the more unfortunate of the perspective that the film takes.
I have worked coaching athletes for my entire adult life. In my expert opinion, it is obvious to me, and I assume to the general population also, that there are 2 kinds of people: those who are genetically gifted but motivationally challenged and those who are genetically average but highly motivated. Either one has an equal chance for success and they both have challenges to overcome.
The storyline of Gattaca is a direct and clear-cut exploration of genetics versus motivation. The film skillfully illustrates the faulty thinking that genetics are everything. Genetics are important, but they are certainly not the only factor in deciding the worth of a person. The future society portrayed in Gattaca discarded this notion and we, as the audience, benefited from observing their failure.
This film would be a masterpiece if it had stayed with simply exploring genetics versus motivation, but sadly this was not the case. Gattaca also disparages the pursuit of genetic improvement. Reducing or eliminating hereditary diseases is not something to belittle. Genetic manipulation can certainly go to far, but using our technology wisely is the key. If only Gattaca focused on this, then we would all have been the wiser.
I have worked coaching athletes for my entire adult life. In my expert opinion, it is obvious to me, and I assume to the general population also, that there are 2 kinds of people: those who are genetically gifted but motivationally challenged and those who are genetically average but highly motivated. Either one has an equal chance for success and they both have challenges to overcome.
The storyline of Gattaca is a direct and clear-cut exploration of genetics versus motivation. The film skillfully illustrates the faulty thinking that genetics are everything. Genetics are important, but they are certainly not the only factor in deciding the worth of a person. The future society portrayed in Gattaca discarded this notion and we, as the audience, benefited from observing their failure.
This film would be a masterpiece if it had stayed with simply exploring genetics versus motivation, but sadly this was not the case. Gattaca also disparages the pursuit of genetic improvement. Reducing or eliminating hereditary diseases is not something to belittle. Genetic manipulation can certainly go to far, but using our technology wisely is the key. If only Gattaca focused on this, then we would all have been the wiser.
+1
(2013)
An Imperfect But Intriguing Piece of Speculative Fiction
1 February 2014
Warning: Spoilers
It seems that most people that watch this film misunderstand it. The duplicate characters are not aliens or doppelgangers, they are exact copies of the primary characters, only shifted in time. This plot tool allows the story to explore a couple of different and very interesting ideas. The broad exploration is a philosophical one which delves into the nature of humanity in regard to people's reactions in an unknown situation. These reactions range from fear-induced ultra-violence to harmonious contentment. The other idea that is explored is on a more personal note. What if we were given the opportunity to change a mistake that we made and that we regret with all of our being? Would we let our fear rule us or would we be able to seize that opportunity and forge the destiny that we desire for ourselves?
United 93
(2006)
Poorly chosen scene ruins the entire movie
6 March 2013
In general, "United 93" is a well-produced docudrama, but unfortunately the opening scene is rooted in a hate-based approach, which sets the tone of the movie to be inflammatory patriotic propaganda. The terrorists are shown as devout Muslims and since everyone knows how the story will end an immediate distaste for them and their beliefs is instilled in the viewer. And please don't get me wrong, I am not a believer of Islam (or any other major world religion for that matter), but the people who hijacked United Flight 93 were religious extremists. Not portraying them as such only incites cultural and religious hatred, rather than true understanding. A much better opening scene would have shown glimpses of their lives and what brought them to this tragic end. Show them as people who through a series of events are twisted and perverted into extremists who terrorize and murder in the name of their beliefs. So please do not watch this movie, it does not help make this world a better place.
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