dylanmcarthur Reviews

The Tree of Life (2011)

Words can not express the beauty of this film

[10/10 · 20 October 2011]

I don't understand how anyone can see this film and not be astonished. Its magnitude, its fearlessness, the brilliance of the film-making itself, its respect of and love for the human ordeal, its sheer evocative power, all of it overwhelms. When I read reviews that condemn it as pretentious, I am reminded of the words of Christ(I'm no Christian, but the man has some great lines): "To those who have, more will be given". I think that if you have an original spark, a flare of wonder within, you will be set alight by this film. If not, you won't.

Brad Pitt says he chose to be a part of "Tree of Life" because it "has legs", meaning it will last. He's right. This movie will enchant, inspire and amaze people for many years to come.

The Great Raid (2005)

once we started laughing we couldn't stop

[1/10 · 6 December 2006]

Problems with this film:

1) Joseph Fiennes is supposed to be a great leader of men, the last bastion of American authority in a Japanese POW camp. But he's always sick, and the only guy he interacts with is his buddy. He writes his girlfriend that "my love for you is all that makes me strong, and that strength makes the men strong...", but he ignores everyone, and hardly ever gets out of bed!

2) The journey to the camp by the rescue team is drummed up as a glorious, seat-of-your-pants epic. And then suddenly they're just there, no problem. Actually, they set up a base half a mile from the camp and pore leisurely over maps, discussing their plan of attack.

3) The Japanese camp commandant becomes the Terminator at the end, darting out from underneath huts, smirking maniacally.

4) You keep hoping and praying you won't have to hear the letter Joseph Fiennes' girlfriend writes him. Then, at the end, the voice-over of the extraordinarily long, clichéd letter begins---and you realize that God doesn't exist.

5) Benjaminn Bratt as the hard-as-nails platoon leader. You wouldn't follow this man into a Baskin Robbins, let alone a Japanese POW camp.

6) Complete, entire lack of suspense.

Want a good war movie you may not have seen? Try Stanley Kubrick's "Paths of Glory". Leave this mulch-heap alone.

Idiocracy (2006)

oh god, so funny

[10/10 · 25 September 2006]

This is a laugh-till-you-cry hilarious movie which makes a serious point about modern America. My wife, an English teacher, was immediately asking herself whether she should urge her students to see it (pro: it is an anti-stupidity film, con: it's wonderfully profane and vulgar). She decided, despite the vulgarity, that she would. People are saying it's rough around the edges, and it is, but it really doesn't detract from the movie. This is one of those films that will divide the saints from the assholes---i.e., if you see it and enjoy it, your head's screwed on straight and you're alright, but if you want your money back or don't get it (or, God help you, you're a Fox executive and helped quash it), then you're hopeless and need to go catch the latest Jennifer Anniston crap-for-all. I have not enjoyed a movie this much since I was a kid and saw "The Blues Brothers" for the first time.