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Reviews
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Offensive movie
For me, this movie had little merit, it only sought to perpetrate notions of racism. As an Indian, I would like to point out some of the misconceptions about the county presented in the movie. First, the filmmakers seem to promote the concept that all Indians are small, dark skinned, poverty ridden people surrounded by superstitions and ignorance. In comes Indiana Jones, the globe trotting archaeologist, and the people believe him to be a saviour. Of course, only a white man can protect them against evil forces, and bring back their lost 'fortune and glory' represented by a 'sankara' stone.
Second, it is preposterous to suggest that Indians feast on peculiarities like fried eyeballs, baby snakes and chilled monkey brain for dessert. We have culinary tastes as developed and distinctive as any other country, and the choice of food shown in the film shows Indians to be uncivilised and barbaric. third, the association of Goddess Kali with an evil cult practicing human sacrifices also shows the poor knowledge of filmmakers, who clearly did not know that she represents power.
Een vrouw als Eva (1979)
A sensitive and well made movie
Many comparisons have been made between this movie and Lianna(1983), a movie by John Sayles. The plot line is similar- in both movies a married woman leaves her home for pursuing a relationship with a woman. But the broad difference is that in Lianna, there was no conflict placed between her role as a mother and her own sexual identity, but it is this conflict which is addressed in the present film. The woman Eve faces a custody battle when it is revealed that she has an affair with a woman and is about to leave her husband. She emphatically states that her sexual identity has not hampered her maternal competency, and it is perhaps her argument that as a mother, she continues to be primarily responsible for her kids irrespective of whether she is heterosexual or lesbian, that she attains temporary custody. However, all her efforts to convince the court for permanent entitlement to her children ultimately fails, when the husband announces a second marriage. Undoubtedly, it appears to the court that the children would have a 'healthy' and a 'normal' upbringing in a heterosexual environment. Overall, 'A Woman Like Eve' was a progressive movie for its time, and even today continues to hold relevance as a commentary on a homophobic society and the difficult choices for women who choose to love differently, especially on lesbian mothers.
The Rain Killer (1990)
Good story with some undelivered potential
The Rain Killer is a mystery movie, the story revolving around a serial killer who seems to attack well-to-do women at night, that too only when it rains. When the police department fails to catch the killer after three murders, the FBI is roped in. The cop Capra( Ray Sharkey in a well acted role) and FBI agent Dalton( David Beecroft) are assigned to solve the case together. Both are hostile to each other, professionally trying to outdo the other, and personally as well, since Capra starts sleeping with the ex-wife of Dalton. Along the way, they get their prime suspect,a man named John Rosewell. Rosewell has spent the night with a stripper whose dead body is discovered the next day, and he is found to carry knives in his suitcase. The movie starts off promisingly, with tight suspense sequences and has an interesting premise. Unfortunately,it has not been developed well, the dialogues are corny and the ending plain ridiculous. It could have executed much better, but its still worth a watch. 5/10
Lethal Woman (1988)
Delporable. Only word to describe the movie.
Lethal Woman has a preposterous premise. The main character is Christine, an army lieutenant, whose Commanding officer rapes her when she refuses to obey his orders to "pull back a little" as her credentials are top-notch and the Colonel feels that it may make her male counterparts uncomfortable. She apparently puts up no resistance, neither does she shout for help( even when two duty officers are right outside the door.) Afterwards she walks down the building where her fiancé is waiting for her. Looking at her state, he asks her most casually-"did he rape you ?" as though it is normal to expect such occurrences. Then the fiancé walks up to the Colonel and demands an explanation, but keeps shut when he is threatened to be court martialed. When Christine fails to get justice in a military tribunal, she does the most fantastic thing that can be imagined. She buys a private island ! Yes, she buys one and recruits help from similar women who have all been wronged. Together these women invite their tormentors to their island on the pretext of an 'erotic vacation'( it makes sense, since all these women are the gorgeous supermodel kinds). Once taken there, the men are hunted and killed. Meanwhile, after the disappearance of 20 US military personnel in 7years, the Army finally realizes that something may be wrong, and begin to suspect the retired Lt. Christine's hand in it.Only then an army Major is sent on the trip to capture the"lethal woman" and her gang, before things get worse.One of the trashiest movies which you could probably see. Best avoided, it is no wonder this movie remains obscure on VHS tape, with no DVD release as yet.