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Reviews
The Killing Fields (1984)
You have to watch this film
It must be impossible for anyone not to be affected by this film. Each and every component combines together to form not only a hard-hitting political statement, but also a focus on a deep and pure friendship.
Images of the injured, bloodied, distraught and destitute, leave lasting effects and obviously prove uncomfortable to watch sometimes, but they put us in the positions of the journalists who were stepping into the war zone of Cambodia at the time. In contrast, there is the compelling scene in which Sydney Schanberg plays video footage of Nixon blatantly lying about America's involvement in Cambodia and also shows Cambodians who have been injured by the fighting. While this still evokes feelings of sadness, it stirs up more angry emotions aimed at the dishonesty of the government, and, if looking at it from a wider perspective, most politicians. This is one of The Killing Fields' great strengths - its ability to make us feel a range of emotions throughout the course of the film.
At no point is there any attempt to glamorise the subject matter or try and put a Hollywood spin on it. For instance, when the group of journalists are captured by the Khmer Rouge and forced into the back of the tank, the close-ups show the sweat and fear on their faces in the near darkness, with no wisecracking lines or dramatic music, just the sounds of the tank travelling to an unknown destination.
The music moves away from the traditional sweeping classical score (apart from the hauntingly beautiful main theme) and relies heavily on synths and other electronic sounds. This actually works to great effect - possibly better than a classical soundtrack would - emphasising the confusion and fear of the people and the drama of the fighting. However it is John Lennon's Imagine, played in the final scene, that encapsulates the message of the film and provides a subtle yet powerful ending.
All the cast excel but it's Sam Waterston and Haing Ngor who particularly shine and make their characters' relationship seem completely believable. It would have been ridiculous to have asked Ngor to put any more into his performance, due to his own experiences under the Khmer Rouge regime.
To put it simply, you really must watch this film.
Lady in the Water (2006)
best to watch if you're a Shyamalan fan
Lady In The Water is very much like The Village it starts slow and dull but then you can't help being pulled in when things begin to speed up a little, despite the growing ridiculousness of the plot.
The bedtime story which the film revolves around, develops into something much more complicated and it does seem a little tricky to follow. Because of this, it's easy to become distracted from the magic of the story and just try and work out what's going on. Despite this though, it still keeps you drawn in enough to reach the climax of the film.
Paul Giamatti carries the film by playing the stuttering caretaker and helps to ground it a bit more. Bryce Dallas Howard is decent enough as the role of Story the narf, as are the rest of the cast, although none of them really stand out.
Shyamalan loves to use unconventional shots in his films, but, as with The Village, this is where the film falls. The majority of these shots are used in the first half and so it is immediately hard for the audience to connect with it. A more traditional approach is taken for the majority of the second half, which assists in building the climax and involving the audience more.
James Newton Howard's score is one of the best components of the film, although the two never feel like they fit together. The music seems like it's possibly too neat for it.
On the whole though, it is worth a watch if you're a fan of Shyamalan and understand his imagination and more unusual style of film-making. If you've never seen one of his films before, I wouldn't watch this one first.