blimpy007 Reviews

W. (I) (2008)

Not what I expected from Oliver Stone

[5/10 · 17 October 2008]

Way too sympathetic towards "W" and other real life characters that have had a hand in ruining our country. Was not what I expected at all (guess I didn't really know what to expect). Wish I had waited for the DVD rental. Good acting all the way around though. I especially liked the actors who portrayed daddy Bush and Barbara Bush (of all people Babe's farmer "father" James Cromwell and Ellen Burstyn!). Rob Corddry was a real surprise too as Ari Fleischer. Cheney couldn't have been played any better than by Richard Dreyfuss...what a great casting piece! What I have come to expect from Stone in movies such as JFK, the People Vs Larry Flint, BOrn on the 4th of July, etc., well this just didn't come close.

Across the Universe (2007)

Beautiful, magical and meaningful just as much in these times

[9/10 · 16 October 2007]

I loved this movie...it exceeded my expectations. I am critical of anyone who does a Beatle's cover with very few exceptions but I must say that every song was done so well and with such depth that any criticism even by a member of the Beatles would be unwarranted (such a tribute!). The underlying symbolisms are numerous and I think it would take me many times of watching it (and loving it each time) to catch all the nuances displayed. This is a true work of art in an industry so caught up in violence for the sake of violence or what is thought will sell more tickets in the "so keep it mainstream folks" industry. This is NOT a mainstream movie and I'll bet that "Across the Universe" will go down as one of the first true and timeless cult music films of this new century.

The Passion of the Christ (2004)

Poetic License to the Extreme

[28 March 2004]

I wanted to see this movie to make up my own mind. Is it true to what is written and is it anti-Jewish? I would say that Mel Gibson's interpretation of the last hours of Christ's life was to say the least, a major stretch away from what is written in the Bible. The violence was unnecessary and quite revolting. One example (among many) is that I would think that if Jesus received this brutal treatment before, during and after he was on the cross, the others crucified at the same time would have received similar treatment (if this was indeed supposed to be a so called historic portrayal as stated by Gibson himself). I also believe that it was an extremely unfair portrayal of the Jews (since the only ones seen portrayed as sympathetic were a handful among hundreds) and it absolutely smacks of anti-Semitism.

So many important and enlightening aspects of the teachings of Jesus were left out completely and the focus was only on the most violent. Was that a violent period? Absolutely. Just as it is today. Did we need to see a human being (son of God) reduced to skeletal flesh like that to bring about the message of Christ? In my humble opinion, NO!

This is the most disgusting movie I have ever seen. Thank God, it is only one man's view of the Bible. I think our world is violent enough without pushing devout Christians into believing this is the format for enlightenment and reward.

The Blues (2003)

Excellent work except for "Red White & Blues" starring Tom Jones: What?

[28 December 2003]

I really enjoyed this series overall, but on the "Red, White & Blues" piece, I was absolutely dismayed and disgusted to see Tom Jones (and hear him sing) portrayed as ANYONE who had ANYTHING to do with the blues movement. Why no George Harrison (this being the British related blues) and why so little of Keith Richards (among many other British blues artists omitted)? There was plenty of Clapton, Beck, Mayall and a few others that were and are truly blues-oriented guys. Mr. Figgis ruined this one with Jones. What a turn off. I give all the others in this series a 10/10 and a 5 for Figgis version and only that much because he did include, although way less than he should have, a small sampling of the blues excellence that came out of Great Britain beginning in the '60's.