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brianakarobin
Reviews
Black Hawk Down (2001)
Good movie
I just saw this movie last night, and thought it was an excellent movie. I liked it for many reasons, but mostly I felt it was an accurate depiction, and especially in that they did not try to make any of the rangers or delta force guys out to be some supernatural hero, but instead displayed them as they are more likely to be - human and vulnerable, and perhaps because of that, even more heroic.
I also felt like posting because I just read the last review (by Shea someone - forget now) and had some comments about that. The first are nitpicky - Tom Sizemore did not play the Delta Force character you mention - Eric Bana did (who later played in Hulk). Sergeant Matt Everston did not lead the raid by any means. He wa sin charge of one of the 4 Ranger Chalks, which think are kind of like platoons. An Army Ranger Captain was over the 4 Chalks, and a Lieutenant Colonel was in charge of the ground mission as a whole (both of whom participated in the mission, not just from the sidelines).
I also wanted to comment on their comment about it as well taking a negative stance on war (pro vs. con). I didn't think that it did. And there was also a statement that this was a war they should never have been involved in. I think that is a difficult thing to say. Perhaps the wrong move was to take them out when the going got tough. It wasn't that they were interfering in a civil war. It's that they were standing up for human rights. Warlords were hording food and hundreds of thousands were dying. Certainly that justifies some intervention, but we could debate to no end whether war is justified of not, and so I won't even go there. But it is easy to say they never should have been there, but also not fair to say that. I personally think they should have stayed, but this is my opinion, and not a fact.
Anyway, in short I thought the film was good, and based on documentaries of the same event, it seems to be fairly accurate in protraying the situation as it was in Somalia in 1993. A job well done.
The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
Great movie - despite the nauseating action sequences!
First off, I really enjoyed the Bourne Identity, and if you didn't like that one, than you probably won't like this either. I found the movie excellent, with a good plot and Matt Damon is again excellent as the torn former assassin Jason Bourne. I won't go into the plot, as I don't want to spoil anything, but the one thing I will say in a negative light is that all of the action sequences, and a few other scenes, are shot with hand held (i.e unsteady) cameras, and this nauseates me, literally. Not only does it make the action hard to follow, but it makes me sick. Not quite as bad as the Blair Witch Project in this regard, but the same idea. Fortunately, most of the scenes are with traditional steady cameras. I realize the director has a taste for hand held cameras, but using them for action sequences is a waste of a well-choreographed action sequence, as you can't see anything. However, the movie was excellent, and I recommend it.
3.5/4
The Singles Ward (2002)
A funny Mormon film
Although this movie would not be nearly as funny for non-LDS, as a member who has served a mission and has been to Utah and BYU several times, I found it quite hilarious.
Although the situations were certainly exaggerated, Singles Ward hits right on the mark. The movie is cheezy but funny and entertaining, using several classic Mormon stereotypes as its primary mode of comedy - the guy who says that every celebrity is a Mormon, or who is prideful in their calling, or who sounds like the inhaled helium before bearing their testimony - the list goes on. I have watched it several times, and having seen Brigham city, God's Army, and the RM, I find this the most entertaining.
The Testaments: Of One Fold and One Shepherd (2000)
Awesome!
I was able to see this movie when I was visiting in Utah in the Fall of 2003.
Although I can't remember all of the details, I do remember the feeling I had watching the movie. It was awesome. this is the most powerfully spiritual film I have seen, surpassing any of the other church films.
As for the movie, I seem to recall that the acting was quite good, the effects were excellent (especially compared to the BOM movie!), and again the story was powerful. It culminates with the Savior's visit to America, and the scene is touching and powerful. I absolutely loved it. 10/10
The Other Side of Heaven (2001)
A fair attempt at putting a wonderful book onto the big screen
I have read "In the eye of the storm", John Groberg's book about his mission to Tonga from which this movie was taken. Although, as is almost invariably the case, the book surpasses the movie in almost every important detail, "The other side of heaven" was nevertheless an enjoyable movie that was well made, with a good cast and outstanding scenery and effects.
In most respects, the movie was quite faithful to the book, and the only knock I have is that it seemed to shy away from anything that could not be explained in a worldly way. Although people who are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints might be sceptical of the ability of a missionary to heal the sick, I think that it is important to depict a true story in its truest form, and John Groberg truly worked miracles in Tonga. I think that the majority of believers in the world (and most critics seem not to be!) believe in miracles, whether they be through a young mormon missionary or any other faithful follower of God, and I think this would have only enhanced the story. Granted, since Hollywood was funding it, they probably have a different opinion then I do! One notable exception in the movie was when he was sinking in the water after they jumped form the boat in the storm, and it seemed that a hand came and pulled him up, but no one was there. Although it was not clearly stated, I think they were insinuating that the Lord was helping him, and it was nice to see they didn't ignore that aspect altogether.
Anyway, aside from all of that, it was an enjoyable movie that I think the whole family can watch and marvel at the difficulties people can face, and overcome, in their lives if they have the courage to try.