The "King of Scotland", a reference to the Scots who like the Ugandans were struggling to end British dominion, was a title that Idi Amin (Uganda’s ruler from 1971-79) gave himself. The film is about the young Scottish doctor Dr. Nicholas Garrigan(James McAvoy) who after graduating from university went as a volunteer to Uganda and ended up being Idi Amin’s personal doctor as well as adviser and confidant. Dr. Carrigan incarnates in a certain way the naïve young European who sees in Idi Amin (Forest Whitaker) a proud African leader who is driven by an egalitarian vision and a prosperous future for his nation. Although at the beginning we have the impression that a friendship develops between both men towards the end of the film the situation worsens between him and Uganda’s leader since the doctor finally understands what kind of person Idi Amin really is, a despotic ruler crashing the opposition and going as far as to assassinate one of his three wife’s due to a sexual relation with the doctor. Dr. Carrigan finally decides to avenge the death of his love, the president’s wife, but Idi Amin’s people reveal his plot to poison the leader. The decisive event is the reference to the real Entebbe Hijacking, which reveals as the unique and last opportunity for the doctor to leave the country. This film is undoubtedly worth seeing due to the great shoots and Forest Whitaker’s depiction of Idi Amin. Lastly the film “the last king of Scotland” is reflecting the fear and tension Ugandan’s were confronted during Idi Amin’s harsh rule marked by violence, lawlessness, gross violations of human rights and the dictators decadent life-style.
Brooklyn's Finest Review
Ok... This movie was great. There's been alot of mixed reviews for this movie but im going to give you my review. First the actors were outstanding! But my favorite that I thought stood out was Ethan Hawke. Everytime he makes a movie he just keeps getting better and better. I remeber when I first saw him in Gattaca, I knew then he was going to be big. Then we have Don Cheadle. I will honestly say I really never followed Cheadle but I promise after seeing this movie I entend on following him especially with him being in Iron Man 2. Then there's Richard Gere with a shockingly performance that I never expected I honestly thouht he'd be the fall of the film, but I ate my words. I never follwed this man either because he mostly did chick flicks so he surprised me. Then There's Wesley Snipes man haha. I remeber watching this guy as a little kid in White Men Can't Jump and New Jack City and Demolition Man and The Blade Movies, But all of a sudden he dropped for the longest time doing direct to dvd movies and doing horrible then he gets put in this movie I'll addmit I wondered. But the part he was given he did great! Antoine Fuqua is a amazin director he makes movies that are great and movies that people need to see. He delievers tension greatly and the story is believeable and everything just falls in place.
1832 as if you were there...
Le Hussard sur le toit is based on a novel written by Jean Giono in 1951.
The storyline describes the travel of a young married woman and a colonel of Italian hussars all over France while the cholera epidemic is spreading.
Directed by Jean-Paul Rappeneau, and realised in 1995, the film presents a prestigious cast : famous French actors like Juliette Binoche and Olivier Martinez as the main characters, but also François Cluzet, Isabelle Carré, Pierre Arditi or Gérard Depardieu.
The script is really attractive even if it is quite romantic : a young Italian colonel who is called Antonio, is fleeing his country because he is preparing the revolution. He meets Pauline de Théus, a beautiful woman in the South of France. He decides to help her to join her castle. In fact he cannot bear leaving a woman alone in a country where danger and illness are everywhere. However the unimaginative part of the story is when we understand that, of course, Antonio is in love with Pauline whereas she is a married woman. But I guess it is that detail that made the film more attractive. Nevertheless, the film seems to be endless ... and it is quite disappointing.
Moreover, the landscape and the set are amazing except that the images of cholera crisis are really impressive and awful. Nevertheless, those of historical contains seem interesting because they let the spectator soaking up in the climate of the 1832 epidemic.
Furthermore Juliette Binoche and Olivier Martinez are really charming and they truly express the nature of their characters : Juliette Binoche as the cold and proud Pauline, and Olivier Martinez as the callow and bull-headed Antonio.
To sum up, this is a great historical pageant, that I strongly recommend to everyone who is interested in the nineteenth century and also to romance lovers.
It was the first time I had seen a movie directed by Guy Ritchie, and I think it won't be the last.
Actually his adaptation of famous Conan Doyle's books is really engrossing.
And it is all the more entertaining as the film is served by a remarkable duet of actors (Jude Law as Dr Watson and Robert Downey Jr playing the famous detective, seen as a careless and lazy guy, unlike his assisstant, which make their collaboration funny).
Morever, I found the music amazing, in a thriller where you don't have any respite. Actually, no sooner had the movie begun than I've had a great time.
As we could imagine before seeing it, the film tells a Sherlock Holmes's investigation about an odd story of satanic murders. But, an other inquiry is interlinked with this first one. Nevertheless, Holmes doesn't resolve this second and we'll have to wait until the release of number 2.
What I liked the most in this movie, despite the absorbing detective story, is the atmosphere, remarkably given by the director. Actually, the scene takes place in the London of the XIXth century's end, beetween modernity (there is this awsome scene on Tower Bridge which is still in construction)and traditionnalism.
Guy Ritchie carrie his camera from the shallows of the town to the wealthy neighboorhoods, showing the duality of this town.
To summarize I'll say that the Scottish director has found here the good cocktail : an engrossing story served by good actors, funny characters who don't fall into heavy humour, a good music and a setting, and last but not least a end which makes us want to see what happens next in a second movie.
Eventually I definitely had a ball!
paranormal activity is supposed to be a real look at true scary events inside a haunted house.
Everyone keeps saying that paranormal activity was not scary at all and it was cheesy, fake, had bad acting, etc. However I completely disagree. I was scared during the entire movie and I was clinging to my couch in terror with each new scene, or each time the characters embarked on a new part of their journey. I know that Katie and Michah aren't the best actors, but if the film is supposed to be real, why would they need to have amazing talent like Denzel, or Gweneth? Overall, i think the movie was very suspenseful, and completely horrifying. I could not stop thinking about it when I went to bed at night. It was pretty neat that the movie made imagining things scarier than actually seeing them on screen. INTENSE! I was scared to death, but loved it.
Taking of Pelham 123, staring, Denzel Washington and john Travolta Directed by Tony Scott is a action movie that will have you wondering what is going to happen next. Denze Washington is a transit operator that just has to be operating the subway that is high jacked by John Travolta and his team. The story line stays on track and lets you know what is going on you are never lost in the movie. The music from jay z 99 problems in the opening scene of the movie , the music goes right along with what is happening in the. John Travolta part as being a sub way hijacks the acting is good but i don't agree with the story line behind the hijacker that is not how hijacker would act. in some suspenseful scenes of the movie the acting was well played and did not get out of character.
Six female soldiers are drafted to fight in a civil war against clones in the New America.
It is rare that I take all female war movies, or TV shows, seriously. Not because I think women aren't supposed to be soldiers, quite the opposite. It's due to the fact I've seen a few made for TV movies, which portray women as catty, or using sexual prowess to influence the commander in charge. Or, being absent-minded, like in the feature film, "Private Benjamin."
I attended the Treasure Coast International Film Festival in Port St. Lucie, Fla., U.S.A. Feb. 20, 2010. The festival showcases independent short films and feature length films. One short film, which won Best Screenplay at the festival, I'm still thinking about is "War is a Bitch," by Ronald K. Armstrong, director/producer/writer.
The main characters are all female soldiers. As a female, at first I paused when seeing the title, which can have a dual meaning. But, I decided to put my semantic thoughts aside and explore the film.
Based in the future, six female soldiers, Alpha-Team, have been drafted to fight in a civil war against clones in New America. The main character of the Alpha Team is named, Hope. In the beginning her character displays uncertainty. She does not seem comfortable as a soldier, sort of trying to find her way, which we witness throughout the film. Hope has an interesting relationship with her commander. Sort of like the title, in the beginning of the film Armstrong leaves it up to you to decide its meaning. It is apparent he likes to test the social ideologies of his audience. It isn't until the final scenes you know the truth, and you either think, "I knew it!," or "Wow. I didn't guess that."
As our world becomes more technologically advanced, cloning is a reality with animals. How would we be able to tell the difference between a human, and a human clone? I thought that as I watched the cast of strong females interact with each other. Similar to Mary Shelley's book, "Frankenstein," and films like James Cameron's "Terminator," Armstrong wants his audience to ponder what makes us human. Along with that, he intertwines 21st century social themes. It was hard to believe it is a short film. He said he's completing a feature length script.
The movie "Sherlock Holmes," which characters originally come from the famous books about Sherlock Holmes and his friend Watson, is an 128 minutes thrilling experience. Without having read the books it's still possible to enjoy the film, since the producers have used their artistic licence to spice the characters up a bit.
Robert Downey Jr. alias "Sherlock Holmes" and Jude Law alias "Dr. Watson" do a great performance as the maincharacters and they are capable of lifting the movie in times when the movie gets a little long-winded.
It all ends with the classic the-dectetive-reveals-it-all, but since it's difficult to figure out what has really happened you will still find yourself a little bit suprised at the end. The only lack this film has is its missing twist since it's pretty much possible to predict how the plot will unfold itself the last hour. But all in all it's a very good movie definitely worth watching especially if you are into the detective-genre.
I really enjoyed this film! I think Tarantino did a great job with Inglorious Bastards. The story is about a cople of guys who want to kill as much Nazi's as possible. You got to love it! You will follow these guys during their mission. A lot of humor is involved in these parts. But on the other hand you will follow a young jewish girl in France and a SS man who's nickname is the "jew hunter". In these parts Tarantino shows how difficult life was for the jewish people during the war.(serious side of the film)
The end could not be better. I will not tell you how the film ends, but I can assure you it's fabulous! And I prefer to see a film with a good ending instead of a bad ending.
So I recommend everyone to see this movie! You definitely will be amused.
Scott Stewart's "Legion" starring Tyrese Gibson and Kate Walsh, is about a war between fallen angels during Earth's endtimes.
The only hope for humanity's survival lies inside the womb of a woman named Charlie (Adrianne Palicki), who, along with many others, has taken shelter in a small New Mexico diner.
Great graphics and action scenes make this film a good way to spend an hour and forty minutes. See it for yourself to decide if you are for or against the nature of humanity.
This is, undoubtedly, a film that can change the minds of believers and nonbelievers alike in Armageddon, and the realistic graphics and intense scenes either make the viewer REALLY prepare for Earth's pending endtimes or just leave them with a slight nightmarish vision, but, in an intelligent way, of course!
