Special Interest
The true story of an Apartheid scandal
Imagine yourself in the height of apartheid, standing at a wire fence looking at the face of another on the other side. One white, one black. But not a single other difference.
This is how the main character in the 1987 movie Cry Freedom, Donald Woods, felt when he was looking into the injustices of the South African government.
Richard Attenborough’s historical thriller, based on a true story, is a film one should watch for a bit of enlightenment about this era. The entrancing story is the tale of journalist Donald Woods (Kevin Kline) who feels the need to learn the real truth about black settlements around his nation. During his journey, he meets black-activist Steve Biko (Denzel Washington), and soon befriends him, accepting him as one of his own. Biko has banned for his outspoken ideas, and thus when caught sneaking out of his settlement by an Afrikaner officer, he is bludgeoned to death. This incident was covered up by the police, and it was written that Biko had perished of a self-inflicted hunger strike. Woods, a rational and intelligent man, immediately suspects this is a lie, and springs into action.
The struggle for truth and justice is the theme of the movie, and it is well portrayed through the eyes of the character. While the beginning of the movie is a tad slow, it is still worth watching for the well-written dialogue and interesting information about the apartheid.
Rated PG for violence and brief language.
The motion picture “Lars and the real girl” is a rather interesting film. Some might even call it experimental because of its weird concept. Well with all its weird and awkward scenes this might actually interest a lot of movie viewers to see it and enjoy it. When Lars brings in this sex doll from the internet into his brother (GUS) dinner table things get very weird. His brother finding it hard to grasp thinks his brother Lars is plain crazy. Shortly after that they discover he has a delusional problem. If you get into the depth of Lars character with the history of his birth you can tell that everything he makes Bianca (sex doll) say is what he thinks. It all reflects the problem with how his mother died when he was born.
The characters in the film did a wonderful job. The character of Lars and Gus are very important to the film. Also showed major development between each other. Gus once finding it hard to cope with his brother showing love to a doll is now more supportive of the situation. Lars and Gus are very round characters sometimes you didn’t know what to expect. You would also think that Gus’s wife would be a flat character but she isn’t. In most movies that type of character would just say yes to take Lars to an asylum or some psychiatric facility but she doesn’t and can actually cope with the situation better then even Gus did. Not mentioned much but the other characters in the movie being the town people they were very supportive of the situation. At first very immature about the whole thing but then everyone sort of chips in and helps out with all that was happening to Lars and Gus family. The mood was very mellow and calm almost getting sanding at some point. It also has a comedic touch to it when you see Lars doing the things he does.
The movie gets a great review on my behalf it was weird to watch at first. Then again these are one of those movies that you have to dig into it for it to make sense to you and you can fully grasp what it is offering. The dialogue is not all too great though which could be improved. The characters wouldn’t say much heck some might even say Bianca talked a lot. It was a monotone kind of movie but not too quite it was just enough to keep you hooked. The director also did very well with the directing. The angles he shot it in the clues he gave out during the scenes where perfect. If you are looking for a sad movie with a great message on it then go ahead and spend those twelve dollars. Now if you are looking for some slapstick humor this is definitely out of the question. It’s a slow moving film with a lot of meaning and you have to think to find the funny in it. But it is overall a great movie so from my part go ahead please enjoy “Lars and the Real Girl”.
Stories from the immigrants point of view , not a documentary
Tells a few poignant,immigrant stories and also on the other side a very caring immigration officer wonderfully portrayed by Harrison Ford. All round a good cast,
so a bit too much Australian body but she has a good body to show.I think all
immigrants and Americans who sympathise with the immigrant cause should see this movie. The audience is glued to their seats throughout the screening and don't get up from their seats even at the end when the credits are rolling. Well done Wayne Kramer!
Nintendo's Ultimate Commercial
No, no, no. Not the Wizard of Oz. The Wizard. Nintendo's way of saying, You know you love us.Well here's the problem, this movie is a commercial!!!
Back in the late 80's, Nintendo ruled the world. Games, accessories, MOVIES!? As I have said before, this movie was nintendo's very own commercial to attract non-nintendo lovers. That was a pretty low audiance. So that made it subliinal and made it an actual movie. Now, this movie wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't a commercial. If it wasn't it would've actually have been good. Back on subject, so how would nintendo guarentee that this movie would make money? By making it a commercial not only for itself but it's new products. The Power Glove (a piece of ****) was one. A glove controller. Intersesting but never worked... or caught on. Universal Studios Florida, which rocks, but the scene sucked. And finally, the almighty Super Mario Brothers 3 for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Good scene, good game. I'm not going to go to into detail, because well, there's not much to say. Jimmy and his brother run away from a mental institution (okay), meet up with another run away (coincidental, I guess), meet the "master of Nintendo" Lucas (Bad ***) go to a game tournament (familiar) win (duh) and beat Lucas (double duh) go to California to put pictures in Dinny the Dinosaur (from Peewee's big Adventure... ugh)
and live happily ever after. Again, not much to say.
ugh, I'm the CinemaCriticI review it so YOU don't have to
The movie that started Troma Entertainment, a cult classic for B grade horror films.
The Toxic Avenger released in 1985 is an American cult classic of hollywood 'B' grade movies. If you ever look up tasteless horror you will find The Toxic Avenger to be at the top of the list, Why? Well Toxic Avenger was the movie that started Troma Entertainment, a breeding ground for movies of different taste. Troma Entertainment is well known for its overly graphic violence, sex scenes and generally crude humour. They produce horror movies that are distgustingly hillarious, with all kinds of stupid ideas for the plot. Some of their movies include, 'Surf Nazis must die' and 'Nuke em High.'
(I have seen Surf Nazis by the way and it's very good.)
Toxic Avenger follows the story of poor mistreated Melvin, the mop boy at the local gym, who just doesn't fit in with the beautiful cool people of Tromaville. His nerdy traits make even the best of nerds, blush.
One day a prank on Melvin goes horribly wrong and Melvin ends up covered in toxic waste. From here Melvin transforms into a super strong toxic waste green monster, and with it his alter ego. Soon Melvin is known as something of a toxic avenger, dealing out justice to the bad citizens of Tromaville.
The Toxic Avenger is the icon movie for Troma entertainment. There have been a numer of sequels but I've heard that fans of Troma entertainment weren't impressed with the follow ups. New Line Cinema also had a deal to make a live action film based on the cartoon series 'Toxic Crusaders' where there's a whole gang of crime fighting mutants and Toxie being the leader. But the deal was ultimately cancelled.
Toxic Avenger was also made into a comic series with Marvel comics and a novelization by the director Lloyd Kaufman, Toxic Avenger: The Novel.
Then again from this spawned two musicals, and another book about Toxie and other Troma characters called, Lloyd Kaufman presents: The Toxic Avenger an other Tromatic Tales released last year.
I definitely agree that Toxic Avenger and other Troma movies aren't for everyone. But I really enjoyed this, and other Troma movies I have seen. One aspect that works well is that Toxic Avenger and other movies of Troma are filmed in the 80s, with its crazy big hair and fashion sense that screams tacky. You can't help but laugh harder.
Telling, provocative and direct to the point with a sense of passion which differentiates it from a cold documentary film, add to that three lead stars with academy awards and nominations, you certainly you got yourself a hit.
Production wise, the movie is very simple. There’s no CG animation found in Beowulf, meccha like in the Transformers, or webtingley action found in Spiderman, but nonetheless it would keep you on your toes. The story focuses on three scenarios happening all at the same time. Meryll Streep plays the role of a hard line reporter named Janine Roth, who interviews Senator John Irving (Tom Cruise), who graduated at the top of class at West Point while Robert Redford plays the role of the professor who is trying a last ditch attempt to shepherd his would be adult students. The movie concludes with a presentation of the outcomes of the decision each individual made.
Meryll Streep being the method actress that she is absorbed her character so well that it is so hard to recognize her as the same person who played the total biatch from the movie The Devil Wears Prada. Robert Redford certainly lived up to his fame for he fit the role of a professor who is frank and concerned with his students behind the I couldn’t care less attitude. I first saw him on the movie The Hunt for Red October wherein he played the role as a military commander. As for Tom Cruise, well he was great playing as Tom Cruise himself, not the senator role he was supposed to play. He failed to show the maturity, dignity or "presence" of a person seating in a seat of power.
The characters in the story may be the leaders of their fields but they are limited by the circumstances they are placed in. Sen. John Irving promotes military operations, one after another, in line with the Republican stance of doing whatever it takes to win despite the costs and the consequences of doing so. The reporter is at a loss on how to deliver the news of these operations for she no longer exists to inform but to tell people what they would like to hear. Meanwhile, the academician takes it all in and shows his task of shaping young minds to fit into the system and do something progressive is problematic as the system did not try to develop itself with the changing of the times. What the young people are left with is dissatisfaction, disillusionment and apathy, and they are forced to forge ahead despite such circumstances.
I must admit that when I watched this movie, I almost did not realize it was a Saturday as the movie house was empty enough to make you think that you’ve entered a private cinema viewing session. Aside from me and my mother, there were less than 300 other near geriatric persons there. Does this mean that the bad viewer turn out contradicted with my initial impression of the movie? No. Lions for Lambs is not a movie for everyone. It is not for those people who would not even watch the news program if it weren’t placed before the airing of his/her favorite drama series at night. I’m pretty sure it would bore them to death. It is not for people who would just watch the movie because they would like to stare at the “handsome” yet short form of Tom Cruise. And lastly it is not for people who would like to avoid the problem that’s staring them at the face until the last possible minute.
If you did not fit into the categories I just said, then maybe you should head to the theater and watch it too.
