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jysan2001
Reviews
Gong woo (2004)
Perhaps not the best movie, but genuinely cool experience.
Before getting a copy of this, I looked into the details. Gangster movie? Cool. A hit on a mob boss? Interesting. Andy Lau? Even better. Jacky Cheung, Edison Chen, Eric Tsang, Wu Chien Lien, and Shawn Yu? Awesome.
I almost thought, "What is this, Infernal Affairs all over again?"
So I had pretty high expectations. I started the movie. I was pretty impressed throughout with the camera work. There was a definite style in this movie. But the movie seemed to head nowhere. I was more eager to see what happens in each scene rather than in the movie as a whole.
So it follows two punks about to kill and a mob boss trying to find his traitor. Big Deal. For an 85 minute movie it seemed to take forever to get there. And throughout most of the movie all I could think was, "So what? What does that have to do with anything?"
Then the ending hits. If you've read any of the other reviews, you'll know that it completely changes the whole movie. I have to admit, it was genuinely cool.
But should a movie completely hinge on a single plot twist? I think not, though I admit I can't really see how they could have done it any other way.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Despite the smart twist at the end, you will probably feel a little dissatisfied. However, if you want to see some stylish film-making, great acting, and find out what the plot twist is, definitely check it out. The movie is definitely made for the experience.
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Can be an eye opener
Being still a teenager, I realize that I am still relatively young and may not fully comprehend the true impact of war, if ever. I know that many have criticized this movie for not truly giving the sense of war or whatnot.
In my view, this was not the purpose of the movie. Instead, I believe that this movie was made as a tribute for those lives lost in the war and to give the audience a more graphic taste of the battlefield. The viewer may only begin to get a sense of the horror felt by those involved, but I hope that most will never have to know such feelings.
Movie-wise, its terrific. Superb acting, exciting and twisting plot, emotional moments, and edge-of-your-seat action. I came away speechless with a better view of the true loss of war.
While the feelings conveyed are not as realistic as some would like, this movie is also not exactly a light-hearted take on war. I feel that Hollywood has a responsibility to accurately reproduce the historical subject being represented to the best of their ability, and this is achieved. The costumes, special effects, sounds, and sets are virtually genuine.
The bottom line: While unable to truly portray the experience of war, the viewer still comes away feeling solemn and respectful with a true sense of loss for those involved. The excellent production values are only a bonus.