Reviews

It is not possible to watch such a true story without one has an emotional response. So if your emotions frighten you, don't watch. There is such enormous power in a true story like this that is a well made film with excellent actors and beautifully filmed.

When an individual overcomes such obstacles in life as So Wa Wai has done to not simply exist but to become a world champion in his field it is a startling reminder of the human potential and this is magnificently displayed in this film.

At no point in this film was I left bored or felt something was missing. At times it was almost like a fantasy film, or had the tensions associated with a mystery. It was thoroughly entertaining and a wonderful,wonderful true story. Many thanks for allowing us to share this.

In all senses this film was exceptional. More words are superfluous, but I have to write them in order for the review to be posted.

Acting? Remarkable. At no time did I not feel I was with the character portrayed. The 'war maturing' of Kawa is a studious observation almost akin to a 'boys coming of age' scenario.

Script? Punctilious and poignant.

Scenery? Appalling devastation realistically illustrated.

Photography? Superb nuances of lighting and 'atmosphere'. Action scenes were nerve-wrackingly filmed but without absurdities.

So I guess,by now, you have understood that I regard this film as one of the finest 'war' films I have ever seen. It is especially so since it lacks the usual tendencies to bravado that normally accompany this genre.

We take for granted so much in life,don't we? So much happens in corners of lives that have a profound effect on the lives of many of us.The dedication to a profession that drives so many to excellence and ripples in society for decades. Be it the actual writers of laws, the actual surgeons who operate, the actual....hmmm webmasters that organise websites...or those who use the pen as a sword with which to fight lies and deceptions. What I got from this fascinating and endearing glimpse into the life and times of this man, was simply that....his dedication to his profession. A dedication that was tempered and forged by levels of integrity that seem to be so grieviously infected by ratings viruses nowadays. I am also struck by a paradox I see here: it could be expected that someone from a privileged background would continue to 'play the game'.It's almost to me as though he rose above the game and was not restricted by the so called 'privileged background' in much the same way that someone from a 'poor background' rises beyond that. An excellent biography,spots and all,that is in itself a historical archive. This was a good experience waching this.

Some things in life transcend words.A diamond of dreams shown in a glance.A kompendium of caring in an expression. This film has got it all.The gentleness of its handling of brutal truths is a glowing tribute to the excellence of all the actors,without exception, of the direction,of the photography of the script. This is not a film for cynics who are afreaid of feeling,especially feeling compassion. It's not a 'feel good film', it's a 'feel better' film, the 'feel better' that happens when we start to truly understand ourselves.In that sense,it seems unworthy to criticise in any way, as such criticism becomes simply a reflection.Either be swept along by it's meaningful beauty, or switch off in the first 10 minutes I'm 76, I've been around. This film is a beautiful essay about what really matters.

The story of Jadotville is, itself, a compelling story.A story of amazing resilience and the stubborness that is the mark of heroes. This film is worthy of your time simply because of the story itself, a story long hidden from the world by the supposed necessities of politics. So often,however, such amazing stories are told with a glamour and glorification that undermines the truth of the events. This film does not surrender to that mythology. It is a direct,raw,unequivocable scripting of a series of events and battles that reflect the determination of well trained men not to give in to feelings of hopelessness or defeat. Indeed, the script neither amplifies nor diminishes the power of their courage. Extremely well directed and superbly acted it refuses to allow your emotions to simply be an oberver of the circumstances.You become directly involved, such is the high quality of this film. I agree with xenonkuraz and believe this film will more and more be recognised as a classic iin it's genre. If you can stand to watch ordinariness become some of the greatest displays of valour as a result of good training ,you should watch this film. 157 relatively lightly armed men battled against 3000 (with a little air support) for many days. If those statistics don't grab you, then don't bother watching because you have no grasp of the reality. But if you do choose to watch this excellent film, I challenge you to stop watching after 15 minutes!

There is a majesty about the landscapes,the suspenseful snowed scenery that is in itself a thrilling background drama to the story which takes place within it.

A very believable and oftentimes undramatic story that transcends drama to take us into the depths of grief with the subtlety of descending snowflakes that build into a mass that could easily swallow us were it not for the absolutely superb acting that counterbalances our.emotions and keeps us from becoming buried in our feelings.

The script and direction ski around this story with the precision of an experienced and accomplished expert to deliver a truly memorable ride into the tragedies that unfold.

This is one of those films I know I will watch many times, not because I am a slow learner but simply because there are so many admirable qualities that I would like to be sure I have not missed any.

But for those with some mental stamina....just brilliant. The first thing that hits is the amazing photography and lighting.Symbolic clues coagulate to form the opening intros/titles,this hints at the amazing quality of script and plot that follows. Often, in such series, there's always one or two actors/actresses that don't quite 'make the grade' and interrupt the hallucinatory effect of the whole. Not so in this series. The acting is superb.Characters are quickly established in a very believable and acceptable form. This being so I think it unfair (even though I really want to) to pick out this actor or that actress for special mention.It is a homage to this series to resist that temptation as all were so,so good. Rarely do we do so, but we watched the whole thing from beginning to end...the call of the bed after a tiring day was not enough to drown out the urge to walk further into this incredible series, even just for a few hours. So we 'did our trip', took our energising journey into the beautiful literary landscape of this enthralling series, surprises lurked at almost every corner. So well produced.So well directed.so well acted. so well filmed and lighted.so well music scored...ah, well, the thing was just, well, brilliant.

See it.

If the purpose of any story is to illuminate the human condition, this fulfils that purpose superbly. If the purpose of any film is to take us into 'another world' of experiencing, this film fulfills that purpose extremely well.

Beautifully acted by a very talented team, exquisitely directed,it explores a really special world of ambition, expertise,intrigue and dedication to excellence.

A most fascinating, absorbing and interesting film.

See it.

and definitely lacking in the shoot-em-up, bawdy gratuitous sex scenes and Hollywood hype. This is not a film for the usual popcorn viewing brigade. Firstly, it is not (to it's enormous credit) a Hollywood produced film or even a big business film. It is privately funded and produced. Now, viewers will find this very hard to believe, for the excellence of scenery, costumes,attention to detail and cast role would certainly infer my earlier statements to be incorrect. Additionally, superb cinematography and scene placement produce sumptuous delights for the eyes.

Furthermore, Emma Thompson's script is a lesson on period dialogue given clarity and flow to a modern generation.

This is a film that demands your attention but will not pander to it. If you are not willing to give your mind and heart to it, don't blame the film. It's subtleties and nuances are exquisitely and delicately portrayed and I could find no area of the acting which in any way displeased me.On the contrary.

Now I will grant that I'm an old guy and that I can remember in my childhood echoes of Edwardian-like darkened rooms and repressively collaborative furnishings, so there were echoes in the film I recognised that many a viewer today would not find relevant (hence, perhaps, some of the comments on this board).

But...and it's a pretty big BUT....to describe this film as anything less than superb, a masterpiece, a true pageant of excellence in every department...and done without major company backing...would be a gross misrepresentation of film making.

So, take that Hollywood!! Bam! Klash! Kaboom! So take that all you bigmoney film orgs! Kaboom. Good, indeed superb, films can be made without enormous expenditure and excessive hype. This is one of them.(but don't watch it if you only want to defend Ruskin or suppress the indomitable spirit of womanhood).

This is a dark, thick marmalade with a strong taste of bitter oranges.A very appropriate description for the Inspector Lewis series.

The Inspector Lewis crime mysteries are thick with counter plots leaving plenty of room for digesting many suspects in our thoughts.The scripts are strong and deliciously diverse. You are never quite sure what will arouse your mental palate next.The blending of the 'coaser'northern yet compassionate temperament of Lewis is delicately complimented by the more refined and almost zen-like and endearing intellect of Seargent Hathaway. The whole concoction gives a piquant flavour which is perfectly produced and acted within wonderful settings in Oxford that tempt you to rest in tradition but vault you into the present.Just as that marmalade on the toast in the morning launches you into the day as the flavour hits your senses

Standing in it's own right this series is amazingly good. It is not possible, however,to totally separate this series from the indelible Morse.It's like toast and marmalade.It is sufficient to say,however,that Lewis is as impressive as Morse - perhaps more so since Morse set the level very high. All in all a most excellent marmalade.

David Lean's "Lawrence of Arabia" has always stuck in my mind (and heart) as being a very 'atmospheric' film. An artistically appealing ambiance, tonally transcendental. I had not expected in my lifetime to see another film that had quite the same effect upon me. I was wrong and most pleasantly surprised.

'The Water Diviner' is a truly incredible story and most beautifully, atmospherically, lyrically told under the deft direction of Russell Crowe. There is, for the most part, an understatement of drama which entices the viewer to look deeper and find more hidden meanings in the nuanced script and performances. Script which is both intelligent and exceptionally moving without a drop of superfluous sentimentality to detract from the thrust of the story. It is a very, very 'human' story. Never difficult to relate to the various characters at some level, to the extent that I could almost feel my mind and heart were being read. This is really a film of 'audience participation' on so many levels. The acting performances are, without question,superb. Crowe solicited from the actors subtle and almost understated performances that added mystery and momentum to the telling. Olga Kurylenko, Yilmaz Erdogan and Dylan Georgliades are the more pronounced of these.And, of course, Crowe is superb. Yet all the key players have their own beautiful rhythm of realism to add to the telling.

Within the story hide many very human truths and realities. Beware of making any judgement about any character you see portrayed, for the film has a wonderful gift of clarifying, simply and directly, why a character behaves the way they do. It is a marvelous film for any student of psychology!

I give nothing away, except to say - watch the eyes of the actors and actresses.Their immersion in their respective rolls is clear to see in their eyes.

Bravo, Mr. Crowe. A superb film. Truly a masterpiece.

I am not a lover of most comedy films,accordingly I have not been drawn to most films starring Adam Sandler. This film I found at my local library and took it because Don Cheadle was in it. It is a staggeringly poignant film with superb performances.I am unable to find a criticism of any performance in the film. My criteria for performance excellence is simple: did the actor/actress succeed in losing their identity in favour of the character's. The complexity of character played by Adam Sandler is wonderfully exploited to the extent that it's almost a mystery thriller simply by virtue of Sandler's role-playing.You are never sure what is coming next and often are confused by the unexplained actions and behaviour.

Yep.I cried. There were scenes when the expressions, timing,delivery by actors were so powerful as to move my emotions to tears. One scene with Sandler is etched in my memory. Sometimes grief is so strong a force that it is the silence of it which demonstrates it's shattering power. (Remember Pacino in Godfather 3 when his daughter is killed?).

This is an excellent film. A film that deals with realities and not sentimental mush (though that does have it's place).

If you have missed this film...you have missed a very valuable life experience.

An excellent portrayal of, for the most part, evidence based events bestows upon this film a dignity seldom achieved in war films. Furthermore, the integrity of the cast and director make for a very worthy and honourable tribute

The DVD version contains the 'special features' in which considerable hard evidence is given to substantiate the main thrust of the story. Clearly some review contributors here would benefit from watching this or doing some research here for example: http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0318799/bio

I believe this film will become accepted as one of the finest war films ever made and in my almost 70 years of life I have seen a lot of them. Like many, I have been fascinated by the contradictions in human nature that surface during the extreme circumstances of war. I do not have to agree with the reasons for war to acknowledge the dedication, courage and single-mindedness of individuals who rise above the norm.Nor am I required to make political points off their sense of duty.

Brilliant. A thoughtful and thought provoking film notable for the superb quality of all aspects. Perhaps a film that is not for 'younger gore and sex motivated audiences' but definitely a film for any who enjoy playing with the plot themselves.

Superb acting at all levels.Photography that transformed the banal and tinted the ordinary with interest.Direction that delicately unwound the many intrigues at a pace that was intellectually and emotionally exquisite.The film seems almost down-played, low key, unsure of itself.However, this is far from the case as appearances are usually deceptive and building character recognition with an audience takes patience, especially if the characters are 'out of the box' originals.

This is one of those films I know I will happily watch many times.There was a comforting 'humanness and humanity' about it and a sense of acute reality often denied in more brash and gawdy films.

I'm happy I got on this train.

I'm not exactly a fan of 'shoot em ups' that seem to be a modern film trend relying too much on body count.It was, therefore, with some trepidation that I ventured into 2 Guns.As a Washington fan and not unimpressed (like some here) with Wahlberg, I took the plunge. I found the whole movie to flow at a good pace with well written, witty and suspenseful dialogue. All the acting was at a very high level.I didn't see one character who did not absorb me as can often be the case. The story line was intriguing and held my attention exceptionally well. The action scenes were totally believable and exciting, with some very good stunts being pulled off. But, it really was the 2 W's that crowned it. The interplay and interaction of these two characters was fascinating.Sometimes a quip, sometimes just a glance, a facial expression.The level of acting from these two, ably supported by many other fine actors and actresses, produced a very memorable performance and film. I have no hesitation whatsoever in giving this a 10 and look forward to watching it again, a few times, to be able to further enjoy, at a deeper level, the intricacies and intonations profusely scattered throughout the whole film. It was also great to watch a film where someone could actually shoot instead of releasing endless rounds that hit nothing! Excellent entertainment with some fascinating twists.

Just brilliant.

If the purpose of a story is to involve the listener/watcher (and assuming that person is willing to get involved) then this film succeeds brilliantly.

If the purpose of a crime thriller is to keep you guessing about who did what and when and to whom and why, then this film does that...brilliantly.

If the purpose of acting is to lose you in a new character then this film achieves that objective,yep,brilliantly.

In short, I was impressed with this film, the complexities of the plot, the quality of the acting, the detailed direction, the cinematography,and the overall feel of the film left me brilliantly entertained.

Well produced, extremely well acted, beautifully presented. Worth seeing. So,what else would you need to know about this film? It is deliciously entertaining and an interesting exploration of Shakespearian authenticity.I am neither a Stratfordian nor an Oxfordian but have a fairly open mind about exactly who, and what, Shakespeare really was. In that context, this was a very pleasant film.It did not resolve any issues for me (I am an Englishman and have never.exactly, worshipped the Shakespeare of my school days, 50+ years ago)but did enthrall me like a good detective story. If the purpose of a film is to entertain, to absorb me into the story, this film certainly meets that criteria. I bought the DVD cheap and had it sitting around for 12 days (there is no significance to watching it on the Twelfth Night). Frankly it didn't look as interesting as others I bought at the same time.Which just goes to show that not everything is as it seems at first glance. That, I guess, is the main thrust of the film.

In a world of compromises and contradictions it is always joyously refreshing to watch a story unfold that disarms the contradictions and denies the compromises. So do not watch this film if you are surrounded by the clouds of comforting complacency. It is a beautiful story that challenges the ugliness of cynicism and predictable ritualised religion and the intransigence of 'adult thought patterns'.. It is well filmed, well directed and outrageously well acted.There are some incredible performances, given the genre and the whole film has that 'so believable' quality about it. It's just the kind of scenario you could imagine happening in your own street (one must allow for the period in which it is set). I bought it as a 'cheap offer DVD' a few years ago. I needed to watch it again tonight for the sheer refreshment of watching something that made my heart and mind both joyful and optimistic. It is one of my most used films for that purpose.

I often buy DVD's when they are a special low price,3 for a good deal. I have been very surprised that many of these low price films have been absolute gems. I bought this film as 1 of 3 and have not rushed to watch it.In fact, I only bought it because I saw the name Morgan Freeman who has never been a disappointment in any film of his I have watched. This film is not only a gem, it is a sparkling diamond. A beautifully told story with a mature and meaningful script.It is well acted with all performances being almost subdued,hinting always at something more,which added a special charm.Never a moment when the acting seemed unrealistic.Some exceedingly good performances.The character development is complex but good direction and acting enables one to quickly identify the core of the characters.Excellently directed and clever film technique, turning the everyday surroundings into a comforting homeliness,familiarity, whilst yet possessing something especially appealing. The story is entirely believable and the plot develops in intriguing and interesting ways. If you haven't seen it yet,then you are missing something of endearing quality. I have no hesitation in awarding a top 10 for this film.

In life (I'm 68) there are only a few films that really 'cut into your soul and plant themselves'. Most of the ones that do this to me are real-life stories.Gandhi,Lawrence of Arabia, one of the early Titanic films (I was about 9 years old I think). Desert Flower,for all it's minor failings as a film (I stress minor) planted itself firmly in my heart and will not depart. It shames my manhood (in a good way). It demands of me a greater tolerance of others and a resistance to methodologies/traditions that limit the full potential of another human being.. It tells an incredible story of an incredible woman with an incredible spirit. . Unimaginably important viewing.

Well directed, excellently photographed, superbly acted this well scripted movie is a mover - and that's what I watch films for, to be moved, to be taken to another place in my imagination or experiencing that can release feelings and emotions within me that touch upon the core of my 'humanness'. This film performs this task, and more, beautifully. I watched it 4 nights ago and have since watched 3 more movies, yet I find myself consistently and continually being drawn back into Memorial Day. My memory keeps thrusting this back into my consciousness. There are some wonderfully subtle family moments, ebbs and flows, currents and undercurrents, that are so honestly representative of most families. The family setting is very recognizable for most people. I am 68 and I can recognize many characters I have known in this film.They are clearly identifiable. It is,thankfully,not a 'shock and awe' film, but rather a very believable journey through the experiencing of 3 generations and the determined power of children to seek answers.Memorial Day is truly memorable.

I'm a DVD man.Films are my most important relaxation methodology. For me, the whole purpose of a film is to transport me into another reality, even a 'factually historic' film does this, for that reality was never subjectively mine. Occasionally a film comes along that is so incredible in it's ability to 'transform my reality' that it becomes embedded not only in my memory but leaves laser-like traces sparkling in my consciousness.

This was such a film for me.

No spoilers here, but some aspects of the photography are amazing,simply beyond surrealistic,more glowingly minimalistic in their utter magnificence. How the hell can you make a supermarket shopping trip into an adventure journey through a time-warped window of photographic beauty? Watch out for the car at the gas station scene. It's a visually structured scene that hit my eyes with astonishment.

The acting is superb.Yet, that word seems so inadequate to describe Sean Penn's utterly mind-blowing performance. I had to keep reminding myself that this was Sean Penn and these continued reminders simply made his performance all the more brilliant.

In the manner of an 'old Master',Paolo Sorrentino places layer after layer of subtle strokes to compose a mesmerizing work. He takes his time about it, as though each stroke of his brush must be precisely executed so that the whole may be that 'other reality' I seek in my film watching.

If you will watch this then you must prepare yourself to surrender totally into ' it's reality'- I found it well worth the capitulation.

The assessment of whether any film is good or bad is very simple for me: I just apply my golden rule 'did it carry me out of my own reality.' Not for me the analytical approach: was the story line sufficient?. the directoral approach effective? the action scenes technically efficient? the acting superlative? I have no need of such ego-driven parameters that cause me to trip and stumble out of the imagined world into which I have willingly walked.

When I pay my time (and money) to watch a film I simply want to be transported into a 'believable virtual world' of someone else's imagination. I simply want to be 'entertained', which is the real definition of the exercise in which I am involved.

This film performed this task admirably. It was thoroughly entertaining. If it had any spots or pimples they were in places of it's anatomy that I did not trouble to look. I was too busy being entertained and enjoying it and there were no aspects of it's menu that gave me mental or emotional indigestion at any point in my consumption.

Charmingly entertaining!