Change Your Image
jabez
Reviews
Gods and Generals (2003)
Three Unusual Positive Surprises
I gave the movie a "9". [I rarely give any movie a "10"] I also did NOT see "Gettysburg". The first positive surprise was the level of the English language used. From a little reading of diaries, letters and reports I knew that educated people of the Civil War Era used a much richer and more nuanced English than one can find in 2003. That the makers of the movie chose to reflect this astonded me. I am so used to the sixth grade level of English used in all departments of the media that I never thought it was POSSIBLE to make a movie that rises above it. The second positive surprise was the willingness of the makers to forgo our current values and political sensibilities and try to represent some of the actual motivating values of individuals and groups of that time. The third surprise is related to the second. The representation of the beliefs of Stonewall Jackson was, to my limited knowledge, accurate. And devoid of editorial criticism. The viewer was left to make up his own mind on whether they would be personally repugnant. All in all, and considering budget, a surprisingly different movie. The makers are especially to be congratulated for transcending temporal bias and presenting some people and actions the way they were.
Suna no onna (1964)
Very positive, An all time great movie
An excellent and gripping depiction of the human condition trapped in roles. Even sexually explicit roles serve to define us closer into the various greater and lesser societal roles that keep us from ever having a clear definition of ourselves in the universe. The best that the hero can come up with is a buddistic resignation that he is on a round trip ticket that he can cancel at any time;this is a better piece of make believe than what is usually served up to dull us to the total lack of meaning in our existence outside of God. The photography, music and drama accentuate the message. Anyone familiar with Earnest Becker's "The Denial of Death", will see that the writer and director came to the same insights as Becker. Most deeply thoughtful movie I've seen in the last two years.