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Jeremy Ribakove
Reviews
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Fun for fun's sake
Summer movies are supposed to be fun but often just substitute explosions and star faces for movie entertainment. However, Pirates of the Caribbean is fun because it has all the elements working that a good blockbuster movie should have: engaging characters, entertaining dialogue, exciting plot, and good direction.
The standout performances are by Johnny Depp, who plays a pirate by adopting Keith Richards's speaking style and mannerisms, and by Lee Arenberg and Mackenzie Crook who play pirates with a combination of swagger and comedy.
There are some illogical things going on in the movie but it's easy to ignore them when the movie is entertaining.
Human Remains (1998)
A powerful look at the banality behind evil
This short psuedodocumentary is worth the search. It takes 5 of the major dictators of the 20th century (Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Franco, Mao) and shows us glimpses of their daily personal lives. It captures the averageness in the lives of dictators, but is never boring. With a first-person narration, the subjects take on a familiar feel, which becomes even creepier when you realize how their everyday habits, gripes, and superstitions could lead to genocide.
A first-rate effort, from the research to the footage to the narration.