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blwilmeth
Reviews
Fury (2014)
Genuinely Moving Film
The fact that the aggressively Christian character asks the new guy if he is "saved" reveals a lot about his (the Christian's) background. Mainline churches usually don't get much respect from groups that use such language. This is just a great film.
The Mountain Road (1960)
Long Time Gone
I watched this movie on commercial late-night TV when I was 17 (in 1969). I am sure I then missed most of what was there to be gleaned, however, the soundtrack was compelling.
The movie is something of a preview of coming events (not unlike "The Sand Pebbles") with respect to our involvement in Vietnam. I cannot understand how intelligent people could overlook the problems occasioned by fighting a war in a culture so different from our own.
The grist of the movie is how power impacts people and that it is not likely that the first time it is granted, the recipient will be ready. I thought Stewart did an excellent job of articulating his conflict, and regrets, over his use of power, and the female lead's character seemed a little unsympathetic to a man who was genuinely conflicted.
The movie leaves me with a trace of melancholy. In 1960, when it was released, there was still time to avoid the all but unfathomable foreign policy blunders of the late '60s. Vietnam impacted the thinking of much of the baby boom generation, and not for the better. It leaves me thinking that the war was fought mostly to satisfy the Joint Chiefs (after Cuba was off limits) and to generate huge amounts of cash for the defense industry.
The Mercenaries (1968)
No Good Guys (or Very Few)
I just watched a "sanitized" version of Dark of the Sun on TCM. It is still a COMPELLING movie that moves along just fast enough to keep me spellbound. Very good sound track, also.
Problems, however, include: Jim Brown's character and his seemingly naive devotion to the political outcome in the Congo; Curry is just a little bit bigger than life and the German is a little too Nazi; it all works out in the end, albeit with plenty of dead bodies and sadness.
In my opinion, this movie is well deserving of nine stars. In war, there are seldom any good guys (at least, none who want to talk about it). Notwithstanding the moral and ethical ambiguities throughout the film, this is the kind of stuff upon which I was raised. I would like to think that movies like this one taught me that there is almost always a less bad route, if not a clearly better route.
Left Behind (2014)
Difficult Subject Matter
In light of the unlikely and/or incredible scenario the movie attempts to set forth, I give them high marks. There are so many different understandings as to how God will wrap up history and humankind. From the same source material, people get wildly differing views. Still, it is worth consideration. The Book of Daniel predicts countries represented by a bear, a lion, and a pair of eagle's wings (which originate with the lion) as having something to do with the end of history. Either he knew something, or he is a pretty good guesser.
I admire Mr. Cage for taking a role that will obviously not endear him to the Hollywood set.
America: Imagine the World Without Her (2014)
Great Documnetary
My only concern is that we may have passed the time when free discussion, and the exchange of ideas, makes any difference. If we only recite talking points to one another, based on what we "know," then this wonderful film will accomplish very little. If people are still willing to set aside what they were taught or what their biases tell them MUST be true, then the movie can (and should) promote a wealth of discussion and interplay. It remains to be seen. Given the characters that occupy the chief positions of power in our government, one could be pessimistic. Those in power seldom achieved their positions of prominence by encouraging free speech.
Atlas Shrugged II: The Strike (2012)
The Absence of a Cello
This is a good show. It draws you in. It suffers, perhaps, from budgetary constraints; however, the message is fairly unmistakable, and it is the message that is important. I have noted that other reviewers have commented on the cast selection and the acting prowess of the players. To me, it seemed they did their best. It rang true. It was believable (all too believable). The only dimension missing was the Spiritual. Oddly, the Bible forecasts the disappearance of many trained and qualified people, and it will be happening someday soon. That was a blind spot for Rand. She believed people could dictate their fate. While it's true that God rewards effort and responsibility, it is God that sets the course of all people, everywhere. To imagine otherwise is futility.
The Big Country (1958)
One heck of a Western
This movie suffers only from having the color being a little washed out in some scenes, and from a slow and somewhat sweet (not quite syrupy) beginning. It is also a little slow and ponderous, but like a good play, it builds well and speaks volumes about the human condition. As I write this review in the late summer of 2012, I kind of wish it were possible to return to 1958. The issues of life were no more or less compelling back then; however, there was to them a certain sincerity, and even a hopefulness to life that makes the 21st Century seem like a complete fraud.
Strange how little changes over time. This movie was made before the '60s and '70s, and yet it speaks to me (dob 1951) in a soft and somber voice, and reminds me that what we do, we to for God and ourselves. If we imagine anyone else to be watching, we are wasting our time and energy. Some great actors. Mr. Ives deserved his Oscar. Almost a 9.
September Dawn (2007)
Sad but Accurate
The love story between the local Mormon boy and the pastor's daughter is not something upon which I can comment; however, virtually all the other facts surrounding this sad episode as set forth in the film are accurate. Here in Utah, there remains a grave sense of unease over just how much (if any) participation by authorities in Salt Lake City impacted the decisions made with respect to Mountain Meadows. There certainly is circumstantial evidence that implicates the highest levels of the church. Moreover, and what makes this event so hard to put to rest, since the highest levels of the Mormon Church have never admitted to any involvement in the massacre, they cannot really apologize for the outcome. The incident remains a never ending stain on the history of Utah, and it is not likely that the truth (in re: church officials in SLC and their involvement) will ever be known or admitted.