Wow...seems like we have a bunch of people all too eager to show their knowledge of martial arts history by heaping scorn on the title. It's a franchise name folks, get over it already. Nobody really cares how many books you've read or how often you watch Ultimate Fighter. That aside, the film's setting in China seemed awkward to me as well in the beginning, but obviously the Chineese Chan being cast as the mentor makes China a better setting. Also, as the story progresses and the philosophy of Kung-Fu is explored a little more deeply, the Chineese setting becomes an integral part of the film. It was very nice seeing Chan play a dramatic role, rather than his usual slapstick (pardon the pun there) comedy roles. Smith obviously was using his father for a model for much of his bearing and demeanor, and I can't say that this is necessarily a bad thing. Chan's "break down" scene mirroring Pat Morita's Miyagi drunken mourning if his wife in the internment camps is particularly touching. Overall, an entertaining film that is not animated, yet safe for children - something that is all too rare in Hollywood these days. My 11 year-old daughter thought it was the best movie she'd seen all year. Even better than Hannah Montana! ;-)
Reviews
7 Reviews
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
(2009)
Enjoyable Action Flick
6 December 2009
Warning: Spoilers
This is a movie that is based on a cartoon. Go into it with that in mind and you'll know what to expect. Be that as it may, as a fan of the James Bond franchise, I really enjoyed G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, as the Joes are essentially a team of combat-oriented Bond-type characters all working together, with COBRA as the S.P.E.C.T.R.E that makes G.I. Joe necessary. Thoroughly enjoyable popcorn flick. The cast works well in the roles they are chosen for, particularly Dennis Quaid as General Hawk and Rachel Nichols as Scarlet on the side of the Joes. Cobra's standouts are Christopher Eccelston as Destro and Sienna Miller as the Baroness. The masterstroke however, in my opinion, was casting Ray Park (a.k.a. "Darth Maul" of the Star Wars saga) as the martial arts master Snake Eyes. I disagree with the reviewers here that state the script was poorly written. This is written as the beginning to a saga, and does an admirable job of introducing the characters and the world to us. I look forward to the planned sequels.
Glory
(1989)
Excellent film
5 August 2008
Warning: Spoilers
If you are politically opposed to war of any kind, you won't like this film. Deal with it. If you feel that the title "Glory" implies that the filmmakers feel that you should be standing up and cheering as you see people get shot, then you need to grow up. This is an excellent interpretation of the story of the 54th Massachusetts. There are technical mistakes that the anal-retentive could point out to you regarding certain dates and other silly details (when Shaw was killed he fell into Fort Wagner, not outside of it), but all of these things are acceptable given creative license. The acting is superb, let none of the other posters here tell you differently. The common knock you may read is regarding Matthew Broderick in the role of Robert Gould Shaw. This film came out 3 years after "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", and people seem to feel that Broderick should have stayed in the role of a high-school senior forever, despite the fact that he was 24 when he played Ferris. Shaw was only 25 years old when he was killed. Broderick was 26-27 during filming. To all of those who seem to feel that he was "too young" for the role, you may want to read up on your history a bit.
Starship Troopers
(1997)
Potential never realized
3 January 2008
Warning: Spoilers
This film had fantastic potential. Anybody can tell you that this was based on a book written by Robert Heinlein. In truth, however, all Verhoeven got right was that the main character was named Juan "Johnnie" Rico, and the enemy was the Bugs. To give this more context, let me add that the book was originally published in 1959. Keep this in mind. The story was written before Vietnam, only six years after the Korean Conflict had drawn to a close...only four years after the publishing of "The Return of the King". Remember that when you read all the commentary here about how this movie is a "Social Commentary". That is all Verhoeven, not Heinlien. According to the DVD commentary, Paul Verhoeven never finished reading the novel, claiming he read through the first few chapters and became both 'bored and depressed', the movie's message is "War makes fascists of us all", and that he sees the movie as a satire of American militarism. Great background research there Paul... The overall theme of the book is that social responsibility requires individual sacrifice. It is the only science fiction novel on the reading list at three of the four United States military academies. The novel was filled with life lessons and examples of the importance of civic duty. More importantly though, it had a REALLY cool element that would have translated very well on film. POWER ARMOR!!!! The book spends loads of time explaining the power armor that made the "infantry" the "Mobile Infantry". Soldiers didn't ride down in boats, they were shot from tubes in capsules (hence the term "cap trooper"), and their suits looked like a kind of giant mechanical gorilla. Rather than utilize one of the best ideas in the history of science-fiction warfare, Verhoven decided to create "Space 90210" and add in his own sophomoric commentary on soldiering and society. Pretty boys and girls in shower scenes might bring in the high-school money, but it certainly doesn't make a good movie. If you enjoyed this, I strongly recommend that you read the book. You'll know immediately why those of us who did were very disappointed. Fantastic potential, never even close to becoming realized.
Saving Private Ryan
(1998)
4 stars for realism
5 March 2007
I have read several critiques of this movie claiming that the opening sequence and continuing doctrine are "unrealistic". These "Experts" claim that the opening scene is far too bloody and doesn't accurately describe what the fighting would have been like, and that the standard operating procedures of the squad are "Hollywood".
I challenge these "experts" to put aside their ideology and bias and look at how a military operation actually works and what is involved.
The Normandy invasion was the largest movement of troops and personal in the history of the world, and that mere accomplishment stands with the building of the Pyramids or the Hanging Gardens. It was a classic case of "being willing to pay the butcher's bill" for a victory. Saying that there were only 10% casualties is accurate, but it is an insult to the bravery of the 34,250 men that landed on the most heavily fortified real estate in the world. And especially to those going in the first wave, where casualties were known to be the highest (in some cases over 80%). 34,250 men don't all step off onto the beach at the same time.
"Saving Private Ryan" opens with the first wave of troop carriers going on to Omaha Beach. The defenders are there waiting for them, and therefore the casualty rates among these units will be high. The opening scene accurately describes this. My grandfather was part of the second wave onto Omaha and his eyewitness testimony confirms this.
The breakdown of US casualties was 1465 dead, 3184 wounded, 1928 missing (presumed dead) and 26 captured. In the Annals of American History, only Antietam ranks higher in American casualties suffered in a single day.
Several Airborne Rangers I've interviewed (including my father & grandfather) remark on the realism of the squad's interaction. These were not people sneaking through a jungle afraid of being ambushed, these were men that knew that surrounding territory was largely abandoned or populated by French that are hoping to be liberated. Virtually any patrol they encounter would be mechanized and be audible miles away.
As for being able to "pick up a radio and contact Ryan's unit to get him out", units in World War II were often out of radio contact for days, occasionally weeks, at a time and had to operate autonomously. There were no GPS satellites and no cell phones. Many soldiers didn't understand French or German. Getting lost was common and a wrong turn would mean hours of delay and confusion. While I can't say the mission made a lot of sense to me from a military point of view, once the mission was ordered this was about the only way it could have been carried out.
And yes, rank insignia was displayed (in muted color) on helmets of officers, just as it is today.
I challenge these "experts" to put aside their ideology and bias and look at how a military operation actually works and what is involved.
The Normandy invasion was the largest movement of troops and personal in the history of the world, and that mere accomplishment stands with the building of the Pyramids or the Hanging Gardens. It was a classic case of "being willing to pay the butcher's bill" for a victory. Saying that there were only 10% casualties is accurate, but it is an insult to the bravery of the 34,250 men that landed on the most heavily fortified real estate in the world. And especially to those going in the first wave, where casualties were known to be the highest (in some cases over 80%). 34,250 men don't all step off onto the beach at the same time.
"Saving Private Ryan" opens with the first wave of troop carriers going on to Omaha Beach. The defenders are there waiting for them, and therefore the casualty rates among these units will be high. The opening scene accurately describes this. My grandfather was part of the second wave onto Omaha and his eyewitness testimony confirms this.
The breakdown of US casualties was 1465 dead, 3184 wounded, 1928 missing (presumed dead) and 26 captured. In the Annals of American History, only Antietam ranks higher in American casualties suffered in a single day.
Several Airborne Rangers I've interviewed (including my father & grandfather) remark on the realism of the squad's interaction. These were not people sneaking through a jungle afraid of being ambushed, these were men that knew that surrounding territory was largely abandoned or populated by French that are hoping to be liberated. Virtually any patrol they encounter would be mechanized and be audible miles away.
As for being able to "pick up a radio and contact Ryan's unit to get him out", units in World War II were often out of radio contact for days, occasionally weeks, at a time and had to operate autonomously. There were no GPS satellites and no cell phones. Many soldiers didn't understand French or German. Getting lost was common and a wrong turn would mean hours of delay and confusion. While I can't say the mission made a lot of sense to me from a military point of view, once the mission was ordered this was about the only way it could have been carried out.
And yes, rank insignia was displayed (in muted color) on helmets of officers, just as it is today.
Dune
(2000)
An Excellent adaptation
5 March 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Okay, first off, "Dune", by Frank Herbert, is a Hugo Award-winning novel published in 1965. This mini-series is based on that book, not on the 1984 adaptation of that book, or the many computer games based on that book.
Second, to any fan of the Lynch film in 1984, I have two words for you about it being "true to the book": Wierding Module. Go away and don't talk to me.
Finally, and most impressively, this mini-series nails many of the complex issues of Bene Gesserit mental, physical, and combat training that are so much a part of Paul and Jessica's eventual acceptance and rise to power within the Freman community.
Acting was okay, casting was pretty good. Yeah, I miss Franssica Annis' beauty as well, but Saskia Reeves did a good job, as did all the others. Julie Cox was perfect as Irulan. The only problem I had was in the casting of Chani. Barbora Kodetová is lovely and talented, but there is no way her body frame grew up on the water-starved planet of Arrakis.
One final gripe, the poetry of Baron Harkonnen was very annoying and completely unnecessary.
This was an excellent adaptation of the novel, and while it did leave out some details that may have helped the story, and did add a few minor plot elements that didn't occur in the novel, in general it followed the book very well.
Second, to any fan of the Lynch film in 1984, I have two words for you about it being "true to the book": Wierding Module. Go away and don't talk to me.
Finally, and most impressively, this mini-series nails many of the complex issues of Bene Gesserit mental, physical, and combat training that are so much a part of Paul and Jessica's eventual acceptance and rise to power within the Freman community.
Acting was okay, casting was pretty good. Yeah, I miss Franssica Annis' beauty as well, but Saskia Reeves did a good job, as did all the others. Julie Cox was perfect as Irulan. The only problem I had was in the casting of Chani. Barbora Kodetová is lovely and talented, but there is no way her body frame grew up on the water-starved planet of Arrakis.
One final gripe, the poetry of Baron Harkonnen was very annoying and completely unnecessary.
This was an excellent adaptation of the novel, and while it did leave out some details that may have helped the story, and did add a few minor plot elements that didn't occur in the novel, in general it followed the book very well.
Red Dawn
(1984)
Great for it's day
15 January 2007
I was 14 when this movie came out. I had just started hunting with my father (A Vietnam-vet Army LRRP), here in Minnesota, and seeing this made me and all of my friends wonder what we would do if this were to happen. That says it all I think. In 1984, it was not terribly far-fetched to a 14 year-old that this could happen, because we really were that concerned about the Soviet Union back then. Nobody could have convinced me that the Soviets wouldn't exist by the time I started college. For that matter, nobody in the world could have been convinced of that. The collapse of the Soviet Union caught the entire world by surprise, and that is the one fact that people overlook when watching this film now. Add in the "reality factor" and it suddenly becomes a lot more scary.
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